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being turned down. The prospective suitor has to approach the issue with an open mind, telling himself, “what if she says no; what if her parents will not accept me?”

For students, as examination time approaches, there is always that nagging feeling of “what if I don’t do that well in such and such a subject?”
The same goes for job seekers. You might have an impressive curriculum vitae, but when you submit that application, it is only normal or natural to tell yourself, “what if they think that I am not the person they are looking for?”

The same will happen when you are invited for an interview. As you wait for your turn, the question will be “what if I don’t get it? What if I fail to answer some of the questions properly?”

That feeling of trepidation is sometimes exacerbated when you see the other interviewees. If you lack confidence in yourself, you will think that one of these other people will get the job, and not you.

The “what if” effect affects us in all spheres of life. It is there in politics, business, sport, the arts and entertainment and other areas.
Even children have it. When they do something wrong, the question that will bother them all day will be, “what if mum or dad beats me up?”

Fear, uncertainty and sometimes lack of self-esteem go hand in hand with the “what if” effect. In some cases, this is pushed by a crisis of expectations. Hopes are raised too high in the midst of a little voice that whispers, “what if you fail to achieve the desired goals?”

The flip side is when you attain that which your heart, soul and mind have been seeking. You have that “wow” effect that can best be understood in dramatic fashion. Many times you have heard people calling out, “Wow, I got it; wow, we did it!”

Today, Zimbabweans are saying to President Robert Mugabe, “Wow, you have turned 89! Wow, how ecstatic! Wow, how amazing!” There are so many wows about him and his lifelong journey.

His family will also be saying the same thing. Even his detractors, have since last year been saying “wow”, he is turning 89 and will contest in the mid-year presidential elections. It will be interesting to record all those wow moments from across the whole world.
The “wow” moments I have witnessed are genuine, and full of laughter, love and happiness.

Today, Cde President when they say “wow”, it is his 89th birthday, will it be well meaning?
As we look at a life well lived, a gracious blessing, we also reflect on the “what if” moments regarding the President’s life.
Despite staying at a mission school, what if he had refused to go to school? Even after attaining a good education, what if he had decided to dedicate his life in the classroom as a schoolteacher, like other people did?

There was a joke that used to do the rounds before the advent of social media. It was said that when the President’s mother, Ambuya Bona heard people criticising him, she felt so distraught and said, “Ko dai iye akangoita Headmaster paKutama aibveiko? Zvino izvi zvokuda kuswera achingotsoropodzwa navanhu!” (What was the problem if he had gone into the teaching profession and become the Headmaster at Kutama Mission? Does he enjoy people are criticising him?)

The old lady did not realise that in her “what if” moments, there was also a big “wow”. Her son became Zimbabwe’s first black Prime Minister and later President.

I reiterate, “what if’ he had had not bothered about politics? A whole industry that has fashioned itself around his persona would be non-existent.
What if President Mugabe and his comrades-in-arms had not bothered about liberating this country choosing to stay in their small houses in Highfield, Mbare and other places, and like other people saying that it was not possible to dislodge colonial rule, Zimbabwe would still be Rhodesia?

They would have also argued that why sacrifice their families’ lives; why suffer and be continuously harassed, and be detained every now and again? How would it benefit them and their families in the long run?

I see some of you arguing that there would have arisen another crop of liberators. A likely possibility indeed, but what if that crop of liberators never emerged? Would it have been a crop with the tenacity to fight and fight one, until final victory?

There would never have been those “wow” moments some of us experienced in 1980 from the time the freedom fighters returned from Mozambique right up to April 18, 1980 when the Zimbabwean flag replaced the Union Jack.

What if friendly nations had not offered material and emotional support and put their citizens’ life at risk through bombings by the Smith regime? Today, do those nations have that “wow” feeling about Zimbabwe?

One of the hallmarks of President Mugabe’s leadership is the policy of reconciliation. It was a “wow” moment for a nation just gaining its independence after a bitter and protracted liberation struggle. But, what if that policy had not been put in place? Would we have seen reprisals?

What if Zanu-PF became resolute on its policy of a one party state? Those who benefitted from the “wow” moment of the resultant multi-party democracy should picture what their fate could have been.

And, what if both Zanu (PF) and PF-Zapu had dug in during those years of insurgency? What if they had decided to sacrifice peace on the altar of political expediency? What sort of Zimbabwe would we have at the moment?

But, the wow effect that came after the signing of the Unity Accord Agreement on December 22, 1987 became part of the building blocks that Zimbabweans today are using to craft the future.

Today, with the Government of National Unity seeing its sunset moments, there is a wow effect that comes from the realisation that political parties had created room for dialogue and constructive engagement through assistance by regional and international groupings. We got this far because in between, there were some “what if” and “wow” moments.

As prospective leaders are oiling their heals in order to contest in the forthcoming harmonised elections, they should spare a thought for a man who has had his “what if” and “wow” moments. He has been demonised and also held in high esteem. As they eye those high offices, they should ask, “What if…”

President Mugabe, I am sure has hundreds of “what if” moments, but today, it is his “wow” moment. It is his day to reflect on the past present and future. It is a day where sometimes like everybody he will judge himself very harshly. But at the end of it all, it is a day where he can say, “Wow. Nanhasi munongondichengeta Baba, handinganeti kutenda”.

Happy birthday Cde President!