1994 a few months before the inauguration of Nelson Mandela as the first democratically elected President of South Africa, the South African Broadcasting corporation ran some educational programmes about democracy, independence what it meant being free. I remember a an advert fronted by S'dumo a popular South African comedian that was teaching South Africans that although the government has changed little has changed in their day to day lives. Like for instance after Mandela's inauguration they would still wake up in their homes, continue to do what they were doing, going to work, kids going to school. It is on the same premise that MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai said that removing Mugabe would not necessarily mean that democracy would prevail in Zimbabwe.
Mugabe will go but it will take decades for the Zimbabwean society to rid themselves of Mugabe fostered environment of corruption, greed and selfishness. Its common knowledge that the delivery of basic services in Zimbabwe is dependent on your political allegiance and who you know. Even if Mugabe has gone the corruption culture is deeply interred in the edifices of the structures that MDC will inherit when they get to power. A mechanic at CMD (Government controlled motor vehicle repair service) drains petrol from a government vehicle and sells it on the black market leaving the tax payer to pick up the bill. A state security agent stationed at Harare Airport waves in goods imported by his friends without paying import duty preventing the government to earn money to use to improve people's lives. A policeman stops a driver on suspicion of drink-driving which is an offence in Zimbabwe, his suspicions are correct the guy is over the legal limit to drive instead of arresting him, he accepts a bribe to turn a blind eye again denying the government a chance to earn money through fines that in turn could be used to improve the police deliver better service for its citizens. A utility company ignores the official waiting list for anyone with a better colour of money, so a provision of land-line telephone depends if you are prepared to bribe. For many Zimbabweans stealing from the government is ok they view it a victim-less crime not knowing that delivery of service depends on it and that they the tax-payers are stealing from themselves.
A lot of people are concerned how MDC will turn out as a ruling party. History has shown us that a change of government in Africa does not necessarily usher democracy. Take Malawi after Banda, look at Zambia after Kaunda how MMD of Zambia succumbed to corruption and greed that they had fought to eliminate are things better under Mwanasa. Even the change of government has not improved the lives of people in Uganda ask Kizza Besigye like Morgan Tsvangirai had elections stolen from him by Museveni who has ruled Uganda for 22 years. Its been the same for Kenyans whose life has not improved by change of government. MDC is in a unique position, they can only learn from the mistakes in the region. As a party we should be able to take criticism without feeling threatened by the critics. MDC should also foster an environment that fosters democracy, freeing airwaves repealing repressive laws that endangers human rights and personal freedoms.
A massive re-education of people will be needed, it will need to imprinted on the minds of the police, army and civil servants that MDC led government will inherit that corruption and greed have no place in a new Zimbabwe and that anyone caught will feel the full wrath of law. As individuals Zimbabweans will need to rise above tribalism and chauvinistic attitudes to realise a first for Africa a truly democratic government.
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