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NewsDay

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Zimbabwe needs an ambitious president

Opinion & Analysis
This is an imaginary conversation between two friends whom I will call Max and John.

This is an imaginary conversation between two friends whom I will call Max and John. Déjà vu with Kamurai Mudzingwa

Max: You know, Zimbabweans are easily thrown off the scent. John: What do you mean?

Max: I mean exactly that. We are made to concentrate on trivial and peripheral issues at the expense of the real matters. John: Can you get to the point?

Max: Look at the way the succession issue is debated even in the media by some people who should know better. John: You mean people should not talk about it?

Max: No, I mean the focus of the debate is completely wrong. Why should the focus be on who will succeed President Robert Mugabe? John: Yes, isn’t it what everybody is anxious about?

Max: That is wrong because such focus will only bring results you and me wouldn’t want. John: Meaning that the President should . . .

Max: Wait. Look at it this way. It is obvious that sooner or later someone will definitely succeed Mugabe, right? John: Yes, it is obvious.

Max: Then why waste time debating the obvious? John: What do you mean? Can’t you see it’s natural for people to want to know who will rule them?

Max: I think that is the wrong focus, people should think about the kind of President they want and work towards that end. John (laughs): This is Zimbabwe; people have no freedom of choice.

Max: Don’t be a pessimist. Stop exaggerating. The problem is that people don’t know the kind of President they want that is why it’s easy for politicians to impose leaders even at constituency level. We should have an ideal President in our minds so that we reject chaff. John: (laughs again) You mean all the people speculated in the media including those from the opposition parties are chaff?

Max: Ok let’s say they might all not be suitable if we are to change the fortunes of this country. John: So who is your ideal candidate?

Max: You’re wrong again it is not who, but what an ideal candidate should be. The person I have in mind should be ambitious. John: What do you mean? An ambitious President?

Max: I can’t remember which great author wrote that ambition is the ladder of success, but he was right. We need someone who has the ambition to be counted among the best presidents of the world. For example, someone who has the vision to go to China or India not as a begging president from Zimbabwe, but on almost equal terms discussing technological issues confidently aware that he would be listened to because of the technological advancement obtaining in his own country. We need someone ambitious enough to earn the respect of the whole of Africa, America and the European Union for having initiated the turnaround of the country’s fortunes using brains not brawn. John: That’s far-fetched.

Max: Why? Don’t be pessimistic. Are you saying the beautiful ones are not yet born in Zimbabwe? We need someone who has proved himself or herself. John: Meaning?

Max: Someone who has shown the courage to openly criticise the system whether he or she was part of the system or not. If he or she was part of the system the better because most, if not all, members in the system are cowards who can’t give constructive criticism to their leaders. We need someone who has proved that he or she can stand on his or her own feet to win an election outside a political party. Someone who even has the audacity to donate his or her hard-won seat to a political party of his or her choice . . . John: Are you talking about . . .?

Max: Wait, don’t rush. I know you want to throw in names. I am talking of qualities not individuals. My ideal candidate should be a unifier. I don’t care whether he or she is Ndebele, Zezuru, Karanga, Ndau, Kalanga, Korekore etc. The person should prove that he or she is a tactician who changes approaches according to situations. He or she should have proved that today he or she can be my enemy, but tomorrow we can sit down together and plan for the future of the country. The type of person you derogatively label chameleon. John: I begin to get the picture.

Max: Look at the names thrown around as the likely successors in the media from political parties. Some of them are so intellectually weak they are not even strategists. We definitely need a strategist as our President. The names you see in the Press represent some of the most vengeful persons ever known in this country. What will such people do when they get into power? First, they would want to “deal” with their perceived enemies while the country continues to burn, causing more divisions and creating fresh problems. But my ambitious type of person would see the opportunity to make a name for himself or herself on the international scene. He or she sees the chance to become the world’s consultant by turning around the fortunes of this country and uniting the peace-loving Zimbabweans. John: I now see what you mean by an ambitious President.

Max: Such type of person should be able to set the tone, make a name for himself or herself and  in the process do good for the country to go down in the annals of history as having been a great visionary. We need a person with the art of leading not ruling. John: You have convinced me. We should look for the ideal candidate. I now have no faith in all those we see published in the media daily as likely successors.