Political violence stifles economic development
The recent politically motivated violence that occurred in the country is a very disturbing phenomenon.
The scourge dampens what was expected to be a steady trend towards economic recovery and progress anchored by the inclusive Government.
Political violence does not serve any purpose other than to reverse the gains that the country has made in the last two years.
For once the people of Zimbabwe should learn to be responsible and forward looking.
We are all aware of the devastating effects of political violence on economic development, and people’s social lives through our experiences of the last decade.
Have we surely forgotten already about the abominable and catastrophic events of 2008 when schools closed indefinitely, the public health system collapsed with cholera killing about 4 000 people within a short space of time, and almost all Government services coming to a standstill?
Do we want to see a return to that traumatising socio-economic and political environment? Promoting political violence at this juncture means rubbishing all the gains the country has made and deciding to plunge it further into total oblivion. Can we really be that reckless?
Economic development is about creating and distributing wealth, raising people’s living standards, and improving social indicators, not sponsoring violence.
Political violence is barbaric as it destroys human lives, properties and social infrastructure.
It represents development in regression, or arrested development. It even becomes more retrogressive or anti-social when it becomes organised.
Organised political violence significantly lowers economic growth and merely saves the narrow interests of its sponsors.
The unbridled attacks on the general public and their properties including their livelihoods is an evil we should all condemn. Political violence means persistent poverty.
The violence that has rocked Harare in the last few weeks is clearly not spontaneous.
The intensity and pervasiveness of the violence has appalled the public as it points to the existence of “violence sharks” who are sponsoring it for their selfish ends.
We are seeing the emergence of groups of people who have become masters in perpetrating violence.
People who during the day speak convincingly against political violence but during the night deny themselves enough sleep planning the same violence they will condemn in the eyes of the public.
I am talking about “political violence sharks” that have become a new breed of faceless tormentors of communities and the general public.
Globalisation and the new technologies of information make news about political violence and other forms of social disturbances in different parts of the world available to everybody at a rate never seen before.
To think that we are witnessing the sponsored violence at a time when the country is pushing to attract investors boggles the mind.
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi was recently embarrassed in Spain as he was launching the “Zimbabwe a World of Wonders” rebranding campaign at the 31st anniversary of the International Tourism Trade Fair when news filtered through that tourism properties around Lake Chivero had just been invaded.
This was done under the pretext that it was part of the economic indigenisation programme.
We cannot be allowing political violence to make headlines in local and international media while at the same time calling for international investors to consider Zimbabwe as a viable investment destination.
The violence is clearly an insult to the rebranding initiative the Government has in the last two years been pushing for.
Looking at the resources that have been put towards this effort with entourages of emissaries being sent out to sell the country overseas it is perplexing to say the least.
But who in their normal senses are pushing for this uncouth agenda? What benefits do they intend to gain as a result of the violence?
Is it about gaining political mileage with embedded self-interests? Obviously, the people doing this are not motivated by national interests.
They are people clearly bent on taking advantage of the chaotic situation political violence brings about in order to indulge in uncouth activities.
They are people who see themselves losing out in a civilised political and economic order.
These are people who are itching for the return of the devastating socio-economic environment of the last decade and have no intentions of moving forward with the rest of the country.
They are clear saboteurs of the country’s progressive endeavours. The violence sharks are the people who have been at the centre of destabilising the country’s economic efforts at the slightest opportunity they get.
It is the duty of every responsible political leader to rein in their followers and stop this madness failing which makes one an accomplice.
The political leadership in the country should order their supporters to please stop the political violence and spare the nation a moment to recover from the near economic demise the country has survived. The culture of political violence as spread by violence sharks with embedded personal agendas should never be allowed to take root in the country. The experiences of Central African countries in this regard are telling examples.
For once, we should stop deluding ourselves and be clear on what we intend to achieve as a country.
The country cannot be driven back and forth by some unruly individuals who do not have any regard for national interests that indulge in all forms of manipulative political maneouvrings motivated by clandestine intents, and naively thinking that the public is oblivious to their uncouth intents.
The youths that are being used as cannon fodder in the political violence should know that the violence does not help them in any way. They should know that they are the future of the country, and the country’s hope lies in them.
The youths have far better responsibilities to accomplish that transform their livelihoods than engaging in violence that serves other people’s selfish purposes.
How then will they engage in, and reap the benefits of economic empowerment when they spent most of their time in dark alleys engaging in barbaric running battles against each other and, now and then coming out to terrorise their communities and the general public in the neighbourhoods?
l Bradwell Mhonderwa is the Managing Consultant of Business Ethics Centre, a Corporate Governance and Business Ethics Management firm. Phone 04-293 2948, 0712 420 090, 0912 913 875, or e-mail [email protected]
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