Zimbabwe is in the midst of a very slow painful economic recovery following a catastrophic downturn, with millions of Zimbabweans continuing to feel left behind. Some turn their anger to government or its supporters others target Chinese and Nigerian migrant workers. Some charismatic media personalities with a populist message attack mushrooming religious groups. Industries are closing and churches are taking their place. While churches recruit more people than industry but industry pays more while the church pays one. The others denounce the president and his allies for flouting the Constitution and steering the Country towards poverty. Meanwhile, many on the opposition warn that dictatorship is taking root in Zimbabwe.
This may sound like 2008 but in fact it describes the country in 2016.
The parallels between the two eras aren’t perfect, but in the 2008 as today—political rancor, social division, and the threat posed by “alien” ideologies sparked widespread violence or threat of violence And just as politicians and commentators in recent weeks have called for “unity” in the face of political and racial strife, so did they do in the 2008
These earlier Zimbabweans acted on their words.
During the late 2008 and 2009 an array of Zimbabwean politicians elites from business executives and government officials to clergymen launched a variety of efforts to build unity and national consensus. That put together all parties to form a Government of National Unity. These efforts continued into the early 2013.
Indeed, such campaigns are one reason that many today think of the immediate post unity decades as a golden age of harmony and concord and progress.
Anybody who has looked closely at these unity efforts to cement national cohesion, Would believe that while they offer a model, they also offer a warning.
A nation divided but united in a purpose putting all parties together is better than a nation divided in everything.
In July 2013 Zimbabweans went to the polls and awarded ZANU PF an untainted presidential term. It was one of the most lopsided elections in Zimbabwe history, with ZANU PF winning almost 66% of the vote.
Any sense of unity that the election provided, however, rapidly unraveled in the face of a new economic downturn, a party crisis, and emerging divisions in the Ruling party.
The early 2016 was marked by sit-down strikes, violent repression of workers, and attacks by vigilante groups on Demonstrators racial minorities, and leftists.
Pastor Evan Mawarire the charismatic social priest” whose populism had attracted an audience of millions Mawarires followers and members of other groups held mass rallies encouraged stay aways.
Meanwhile, Pastors and prophets preaching a mix of class and racial equality, made inroads in the people among artists and intellectuals, and in communities.
All this alarmed elites across the political spectrum.
People saw in government a busting, blood baiting, and surging intolerance evidence of what The Private press and others called Police Brutality.
Members of all groups urged Zimbabweans to unite around “shared” national values, although they often disagreed on precisely what those values were.
Temporary unity came with the demonstrations and police reactions to such demonstrations.
Opposition responded to this turmoil with numerous initiatives designed to promote social harmony and consensus. They were aided by a new infrastructure of institutions—some public, others private—that emerged immediately before and during Economic problems.
Such unity-building efforts did help to discredit open prejudice against corruption and minorities looting the nothing remaining in national coffers. For the most part, however, they failed to address the structural inequalities of wealth class that have haunted this nation for decades.
By marginalizing dissenters and casting all who questioned corruption as somehow un-Patriotic they protected existing power structures and left intact the social and economic status quo.
Very soon the resulting tensions could no longer be contained. This is a lesson that our current national leaders would do well to remember that change is certain.
Calling for unity excluding the ruling party is like goats uniting against lions. Demonstrations by parties uniting of opposition holding hands in a demonstration by opposition leaders will not change the situation in Zimbabwe.
A proper engagement without pride and prejudice will help our country.
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