It would be wrong to ignore the death of the mother figure of the latest struggle for Zimbabwe, for the New Zimbabwe. She was taken in the prime of her life, when all those things she has fought for, stood for and prayed for were all beginning to bear fruit.
For everyone who is married and yet has a risky job, profession or vocation as that which Tsvangirai has, you would agree with me that resistance at home incapacitates a man or woman from reaching their full potential, or if they are too strong willed to have their way anyway without winning over the support of their spouse, it often leads to such men (or women) having broken homes. That Susan Nyaradzo Tsvangirai was apparently by the side of her husband in all his tribulations meant that she should also have reaped somewhat the fruits of what she toiled for.
On the other note, many will have noticed that her six children are now mostly in their productive adult stages, maybe with the exception of a few. It is at this time that one slowly begins to wean off their children from material and financial support which would have so strained a parent for a great deal of time. Some children even begin to support their parents. Besides weaning off support, children at this time begin to marry and get married, a joyful experience for most parents. I wonder if she had had that joy yet before she passed on.
I have a few observations to make about this tragic death. It could as well have been an accident, or a carefully planned attempt on Tsvangirai’s life. I will personally believe that it was accident until fresh evidence arises. The reason I will conclude that it was an accident is the alarming frequency of accidents on the road in question, caused by trucks in particular and other speeding vehicles. If you travel say from Beitbridge to Harare on any day, you will most likely see evidence of a few crashes such as happened on Friday, usually fatal. And if you notice what I have noticed, such accidents usually happen on a straight patch of the road, like that Mhondoro-Ngezi turnoff. Every time I successfully complete this journey, I observe a few minutes of silent prayer to really thank God for travelling mercies.
My first observation is therefore that the state of Zimbabwe’s roads must be addressed as a matter of urgency. We notice this accident particularly only because it involves a high profile individual, but trust me, many families have grieved because of the poor state of our roads, in some cases entire families being wiped out. I remember a few years ago when a bus accident killed school children and teachers from Masvingo. A memorial service was later arranged by a group of churches in Masvingo where President Mugabe and his entourage were invited. I remember Mugabe’s speech where he said plans had been on the cards for a long time for the widening of our major roads, and vowing that such accidents cannot be allowed to continue.
Well, there was a feeble attempt to expand the road, from around Mbare to Skyline, and that was it. And I mean all our major roads. The Beitbridge – Bulawayo road has a patch of dust road that has been under construction for the better part of ten years, and boasts serious potholes; nay, craters. As the new government comes in, can we have a serious programme of rehabilitation and improvement of our road network? The good part is, it does not have to cost the government much. All they would need to do is to offer a private contractor like the BaKwena in South Africa who build roads, run and maintain them while collecting tolls. They would build private roads that are wider and more secure while the state roads remain in place, for those who would rather not pay tolls.
In Zimbabwe, however, such projects are frustrated simply because some of these players do not pay bribes, and so government ministers would rather there was no road if the company he awards a contract won’t buy him a Mercedes or pay some other stupid bribe. A lot of public infrastructure can be improved this way, in some cases the facilities can be transferred to the Government after an agreed period.
My second observation is that despite her contribution to the new dispensation of Zimbabwe in standing by Morgan Tsvangirai, nobody in government dared suggest that maybe Susan should be a heroine to be buried at the Heroes Acre. I mean, if Sally was granted national hero status by standing with Mugabe while mostly in her country of origin during his incarceration and all, where is the difference with Susan? Unless of course we are saying even Morgan is no hero of Zimbabwe either, and that if he had died as well we would have dug two graves in Buhera? I have always suggested we will need to exhume everybody at Heroes ‘ Acre and rebury by a criteria determined by the people, otherwise the history of this nation is being held hostage by a criminal cabal. I suggest we lay down the criteria of who becomes a national hero of Zimbabwe in the new Constitution, and not leave it to a few morally bankrupt individuals to decide from time to time.
My third observation is that our political leadership have had terrible fortunes with their spouses, very much to the detriment of the citizens. No wonder many deeply and genuinely mourn Susan Tsvangirai. Many in Zimbabwe are prepared to bet with their lives that if Sally Mugabe had been alive, Mugabe would long have retired to his Zvimba village latest by about 1995. Unfortunately, she passed away on 27th January 1992. Mugabe went on to marry a much younger and more ambitious woman in Grace Marufu: and the rest, as they say, is history. One cannot help but wonder how Tsvangirai’s remarrying will affect both his political career; and with it the fortunes of the Zimbabwean citizens. I know our culture is against such talk in these circumstances, but I am merely expressing the thoughts of millions.
My final observation is, Gono should use this funeral to reflect on his legacy. Firstly, it should remind him that we all die at some point, usually when we are least prepared to and when we least expect it. One cannot therefore assume they will have time in the future to correct their legacy. Gono has to right the wrongs he has perpetrated on the people of Zimbabwe by allowing them room to move on. How in his conscience does he continue to stay in his job when he knows that he is probably the major stumbling block to economic relief needing to come into the country for the betterment of every Zimbabwean? Those with power to help us have explicitly said so, that he must go. Political brinkmanship must have its limits, and at the end of the day, it is not about his principal wanting him to stay– it is about his own moral rectitude. His principal will be judged separately.
Gono is a highly qualified and able individual and would not struggle to get a job that makes him remain comfortable. Why, he could still take up his World Bank offer if at all it genuinely existed in the first place. He must not behave like some of these guys in politics who’s CVs read Zanu PF under ‘work experience’ and who outside Zanu PF would find they are unemployable. The point is, if you become a stumbling block to the progress of the common man – move out of the way.
Surely the worst of his reproach would have been to be chased away from Susan’s funeral for all his gloating about his extra-terrestrial efforts to keep the economy of Zimbabwe afloat. I mean, a funeral is a most sombre thing; even quarrelling relatives usually bury the hatchet for the duration thereof. If people cannot stomach you even at such a time, it is time to let go of whatever you are holding, even if its witchcraft. People are very quick to forgive and forget, and if what he really wants is political power, he then can always have a chance to rebound later.