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Elliot Ziwira-Senior Writer

The political philosopher, Franz Fanon, probably had President Mnangagwa in mind when he implores in his 1967 book; “The Wretched of the Earth”, “Come, then comrades; it would be as well to decide at once to change our ways.

“We must shake off the heavy darkness in which we were plunged, and leave it behind. The new day which is already at hand must find us firm, prudent and resolute” (Fanon, 1967: 251).

Indeed, today marks a new dawn for Zimbabweans as the President keeps his word to be a listening servant leader accountable to citizens by presiding over the signing of performance contracts for ministers and heads of Government agencies; breaking ranks with the past.

This started in 2021 with all the 21 permanent secretaries in Government ministries having signed their deals, the performance contracts endeavour to foster a high-performance culture across the civil service through yearly evaluations. The evaluations will be done on delivery, efficacy, management and implementation. More action, less talk, is the new normal.

The idea, though, is not to dig deeper into individual profiles with that malicious eye for the speck in the nook. Civil servants, senior or otherwise, are only human after all. 

However, citizens’ expectations are that civil servants deliver on their mandate. Through this initiative, unlike in the past with its “heavy darkness”, citizens are given a chance to critique their leaders, as the results of how they would have performed are made public. 

There will be no glossing-over of non-performers.

The media plays a critical role here by constantly relaying information between the Government and citizens, and from citizens to the Government. 

Citizens should be kept abreast with information on Government policies, developmental projects and actions meant for their overall wellbeing, for them to be able to make informed decisions.

Information is key in a democratic society. Now, that is what citizenship means, for a country’s forte is its citizenry, and a nation-state’s aspirations are mirrored in its nationals, who can either reflect or obscure them.

Since citizens are not merely individuals, it is in their power to carry each other’s burdens on their shoulders, beginning with loyally paying their taxes and following up on how they are used. Because they are selfless, citizens should applaud themselves for playing a part in the shaping of their destiny, not least by being inquisitive, but seeking agency out of shared predicaments.

So, what then is a citizen as compared to an individual?

Generally, an individual is a single human being separate from a group, family, community or country. Driven on by individualism he/she is bound to selfishly think about himself/herself. The motivation is always the self.

An individual lives outside, or on the fringes of sites making up the nation, for to him/her none else exists, but himself/herself (ndiye chete chete).

On the other hand, a citizen is defined as a “native or naturalised member of a state or nation who owes allegiance to its government and is entitled to its protection (distinguished from alien); an inhabitant of a city or town, especially one entitled to its privileges or franchises” (Dictionary.com).

As the First Citizen of Zimbabwe, the President is not lost on this role of the citizenry.

Echoing Fanon’s imploration, in his inauguration speech on August 26, 2018 at the National Sports Stadium in Harare, he said: “I am your listening President, a servant leader.

“In this vein, those who will occupy public office at any level, under my Government will be required to exercise servant leadership in the execution of their duties, and to be humble and responsive in their interactions and dealings with the citizenry.”

Such are the traits of a democratic leader – such also is the quintessence of stewardship – such is what today’s momentous occasion speaks to.

Exuding servant leadership qualities, and giving a listening ear to citizens, since then and always, the President has continued to endear himself to his fellow countrymen.

Unwavering in his resolve, he has always preached peace, unity, harmony and non-violent engagement. Forever humble, President Mnangagwa submits to his fellow countrymen; acknowledging them, even.

Mark the words: humility, responsiveness, interactions, dealings and citizens! These words, such character traits, are the crest to ride on as the nation poises itself on the wave of a Golden Future Time which, in all fairness, begins today.

It is future enshrined in National Development Strategy 1 (NDS 1) and Vision 2030. Before the coming in of the Second Republic, citizens would be forgiven to think that ministers were indispensable people, accountable to no one, but themselves; that Cabinet were a kind of club where larger than life individuals meet to discuss the fate of citizens over glasses of whisky and in whiffs of rich cigar smoke; and that politics were an enterprise for the macho.

That is not President Mnangagwa’s idea of servant leadership.

Ministers are only human, after all – they are prone to folly and are dispensable; and politics is not only for the macho. As a man of action, the President has been to every part of the country, delivering on his promises – keeping hope alive through engagement with citizens -apprising them on the journey travelled.

Blending the exuberance of youth and the wisdom of experience, the President answered citizens’ call for balance in his Cabinet. As more women, youthful citizens and technocrats joined the political fray, they now have to commit themselves to delivery.

Going forward, they should strive to remain apolitical in their decisions and stay duty-bound, for they are citizens first, and, therefore, mirror the Zimbabwean dream in their visions.

It calls for boldness, integrity, honesty and accountability for the nation’s shared vision to come to fruition.

A revolutionary and visionary, it is not lost on the President that he is accountable to the people; and those who are on his side should equally step up to the plate.

When it comes to the people, and their democratic right to decide how they should be governed, President Mnangagwa never minces his words.

“I urge the party leadership to always listen to the aspirations of the people at every level. It is equally important that the party leadership and membership in general work concretely to achieve a better quality of life for our people,” the servant leader said at the 359th ordinary session of the Politburo on January 5 this year.

“It is after all the people who have entrusted us with the mandate to govern our great country.”

Yes, the people are key in a democratic society, for politicians derive their power from them.

Now, when it comes to democracy, and citizens’ role in shaping the phenomenon, persistent questions arise: What really does democracy mean? Do the ideals of democracy and governance, which seem to be borrowed robes from the West, adequately speak to, and impact on African realities?

Montesquieu (1689, 1755) puts democracy in context thus: “As in a country of liberty, every man who is supposed a free agent ought to be own governor; the legislative power should reside in the whole body of the people.

“But since this is impossible in large states, and in small ones is subject to many inconveniences, it is fit the people should transact by their representatives what they cannot transact by themselves (cited in Held, 2006: 66).

The people are crucial since they do not belong to politicians; they belong to each other as citizens.

Diamond (2009) and Montesquieu (1689, 1755) concur that the people’s will, as citizens, or through their representatives, are major cogs in a democratic society.

In Marx’s view, social classes also play a major role in what constitutes democracy due to materialism.

Since the people are a crucial part in a democracy, for it is from them that the Executive and Legislature derive power, it is apt, therefore, that the President, as an epitome of servant leadership, implored his lieutenants on his inauguration in 2018, “to be humble and responsive in their interactions and dealings with the citizenry.”

With ministers, permanent secretaries, chief executive officers of local authorities, heads of State-owned enterprises and vice chancellors of State universities now required to earn their keep through performance, the myth that Cabinet ministers and other senior Government officials are permanent officers is set to be debunked.

There simply is no more room for complacency, incompetence and aloofness as the new motto is, “What gets measured gets done.”

With citizens, who are the taxpayers, exercising their constitutional rights to question how their taxes are used, and how civil servants fare in delivering on the promises made by the President in the dawn of a new era in Zimbabwe’s politics, the excitement becomes palpable.

The rot at parastatals, local authorities and other key Government departments can only be curbed through accountability, meritocracy (where competency determines keep) and innovation, with deliverables constantly measured citizens’ way. 

Indeed, a new day is upon us, where the past no longer impedes, but reinforces the future, with politics giving reason a chance for the common good, as Vision 2030 beckons.