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History will judge us harshly for letting this country down

Opinion & Analysis
WHEN celebrated author, George Orwell wrote his seminal book, Animal Farm, it is agreed he was writing about the Soviet Union, but he could have as well been writing about Zimbabwe, as the book captures what is happening in the country.

WHEN celebrated author, George Orwell wrote his seminal book, Animal Farm, it is agreed he was writing about the Soviet Union, but he could have as well been writing about Zimbabwe, as the book captures what is happening in the country.

Comment: NewsDay Editor

President Robert Mugabe is assisted by his son-in-law, Simba Chikore, to cut a cake to mark his turning 93 years during a surprise birthday party organised by his staff at Munhumutapa offices in Harare on Tuesday
President Robert Mugabe is assisted by his son-in-law, Simba Chikore, to cut a cake to mark his turning 93 years during a surprise birthday party organised by his staff at Munhumutapa offices in Harare on Tuesday

Just as with Animal Farm, the liberated animals agreed they were all equal, but before long, a vicious class system emerged, where the leader was deified and treated as above reproach.

In Zimbabwe right now, President Robert Mugabe is revered like a deity and criticising him is seen as sacrilege.

When the country attained independence, the ideals were that everyone was equal, but sooner rather than later, patronage, nepotism and tribalism became the country’s ideology.

One striking thing in the book is that the animals agreed that on Napoleon’s birthday, a gun would be fired, and today, thousands of people will gather in Matobo to celebrate a leader’s birthday.

Songs, poems and essays have been written about Mugabe and his birthday and, in true Animal Farm style, Zimbabwe has descended into a farce.

Mugabe can celebrate his birthday in whatsoever manner he wants, but it becomes worrisome when that day is elevated into public holiday status and distressed companies, parastatals and civil servants are literally forced to fund it.

Zimbabwe cannot afford such profligacy, but as many Zanu PF members have elevated Mugabe to immortal status, drawing parallels between him and God — such as youth league leader, Kudzanai Chipanga and the late Tony Gara — then no expense should be spared in pleasing him.

History will be harsh on Zimbabweans for letting things get to this state, for every leader, despite their conquests, is fallible and should be treated as such.

Future generations will ask how this generation and the one before it allowed one man to wield so much power and influence, to an extent that his word is taken as the gospel truth and those that oppose him are treated as second-rate citizens.

History should also judge Zanu PF very harshly for failing to regenerate and entrust one person with so much power, as this is a sure recipe for disaster.

Zimbabwe had so much hope in 1980 and looked like it would set a good example for the rest of the continent, but because we chose the wrong path, this country is now an example of how not to govern.

Mugabe and his party are in for a great feast today, as the country’s fortunes continue to plummet and an enduring question that will be asked well into the future is how this generation allowed the situation to become this desperate.