KENYA and Zimbabwe offer an interesting case study for us Zimbabweans. Both Kenya and Zimbabwe had violence around previous elections, both were on the Sadc and African Union agenda for a number of years, both had governments of national unity, and both have new “people-driven constitutions” (which enshrined devolution incidentally).
Both had elections in 2013 and both elections were disputed — and that is as far as the similarities go.
In Kenya, despite the dispute, the country was able to keep moving forward. In Zimbabwe the country ground to a near halt as a result of elections and has now starting sliding backwards. In Kenya gross domestic product (GDP) marginally increased from 4,4% in 2011 and 4,2% in 2012 to 4,5% in 2013 and it is projected to grow 5,2% in 2014.
In Zimbabwe, after GDP of around 10% in 2011 and 2012 slowed to 4,4% in 2013 and is projected to grow by 2,6% in 2014. Kenya ranks 15th in Africa in terms of economic freedom while Zimbabwe ranks 46th.
Zimbabwe and Kenya for a time seemed to be going in a similar direction, now one grows steadily while the other continues in economic uncertainty.
Kenya has managed to move from political instability to talk of significant growth and investment including investments in the tech space as well as multi-billion investments in the pharmaceutical space such as UK-based GlaxoSmithKline.
Zimbabwe on the other hand continues to struggle even with deals such as Essar’s Ziscosteel multi-billion bid on the table (which would have been the biggest investment into the country post-independence).
It is indeed a tale of two countries, one is on the up and the other slowly going nowhere. Even with political disputes the country has found a way to keep moving forward, while the other is defined and held back by its disputes. In Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta congratulated his political opponents and called his presidential win, “a win for all Kenyans” and pledged to work for all Kenyans despite political affiliation.
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He also called on all individuals who won various seats to work first as Kenyans and extended a hand of co-operation to them. In Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe told his opponents to go and hang.
In Kenya, the space for Kenyans to work together is being created and encouraged as they apply the principle of devolution, in word and in deed, as they even now implement the concept of devolution through devolution conferences with one held this past weekend.
In Zimbabwe, there is a winner-takes-all mentality with Zanu PF now “ruling” compliments of Nikuv, with Zimbabweans at its mercy. Kenya moves on as all hands shift from political contestation to building their country.
In Zimbabwe, partisan politics trump the national interest. Instead of creating the environment for Zimbabweans to build their country through devolution so all Zimbabweans can be empowered to build their communities, the government is being taken to the constitutional court to implement devolution.
In Kenya, devolution is a mechanism to build their country, while in Zimbabwe it has been branded a political gimmick by those who opposed the MDC.
It is a tale of two countries, in a country as divided as ours as Kenya was, we cannot afford to not learn from our fellow Africans. Implementation of devolution will not only allow every Zimbabwean their birthright to participate meaningfully in their future, but ensure that even as we contest each other, we are able to quickly move on to nation building.
Devolution has not only helped Kenya to be in a different place in a short amount of time, but has helped numerous countries with ethnic, racial and political divisions to move forward.
I submit these words from Charles Dickens in A tale of two cities.
“I see a beautiful city and a brilliant people rising from this abyss, and, in their struggles to be truly free, in their triumphs and defeats, through long years to come, I see the evil of this time and of the previous time of which this is the natural birth, gradually making expiation for itself and wearing out.”
Devolution to us is a road that we as Zimbabweans must travel for us to move forward. Devolution when fully implemented will deliver power to the people, it is doing so in Kenya.
We must travel that road or wander in the desert for many years dreaming of our Canaan, dreaming of a time when we will be on our promised land.
Our children and their children must also taste of the land of milk and honey and know why we were called the breadbasket of the continent.
We call on the government to implement devolution and allow Zimbabweans the opportunities to build and contribute to their development.
The government need not think Zimbabweans need everything done for them but should know there are many capable, skilled and educated Zimbabweans in and out of Zimbabwe who love their country and can build this once great nation.
Devolution is still our revolution.
Welshman Ncube is the MDC president
