PARALLEL – SOUTH AFRICA & ZIMBABWE

Dear Sir,

For those with a passing knowledge of Zimbabwe’s recent history, the names Robert Mugabe, Hitler Hunzvi and Morgan Tsvangirai would readily come to mind.

Robert Mugabe , the president of the nation, ‘Hitler’ Hunzvi, the mouthpiece who stirred enormous anger among people who felt aggrieved at gaining nothing from the liberation war, and Morgan Tsvangirai, the trade unionist who opposed Mugabe’s regime because of its iniquitous practices and failure to deliver. Tsvangirai eventually went on to head up political opposition in the form of the UDM, and, until recently was in an uneasy political alliance with Mugabe.

What happened in Zimbabwe from 2000 onwards, when ‘Hitler’ Hunzvi (so named because his rhetoric) began his campaign, is that Robert Mugabe was duly compelled by Hunzvi to pay out hundreds of millions of dollars (when the Zim dollar was worth something) to aggrieved ‘war veterans’. To continue the system of patronage, by which Mugabe has always survived, he was forced to print money – his only resort in a failing economy. Shortly thereafter, Mugabe had no option but to legislate to dispossess commercial farmers of their land to enable him to continue with patronage by largesse. What happened to the Zimbabwean economy thereafter is a well written page.

Fast-forward to South Africa today. Replace the names Mugabe, Hunzvi and Tsvangirai with Zuma, Malema and Vavi. Every time Malema comes up with speech designed to arouse emotions of outrage in people, he is pushing Zuma into a tighter corner. His talk of ‘nationalising the mines’ (ostensibly the proceeds of which are to become the reward for those who have not benefited from the liberation war) has resulted in zero to negative investment in our mining industry, the single biggest employer of people. He is certainly stirring up anger and resentment in chunks on all sides.

The only voice in the Tri-partite Alliance standing up to the corruption in government /the ANC, the only voice highlighting the negative economic effects of e-tolling, as well as the abysmal state of service delivery is that of COSATU in the person of Zwelinzima Vavi (who has now been edged out of office). Indeed, ordinary citizen could be forgiven for thinking that Vavi was the only man with the fibre, integrity or courage to stand up to what appears to be a hugely dangerous situation for South Africa and all its peoples. Our country seems to have been hijacked by a class of individuals who are, without any compunction whatsoever, taking what they want, accountable and responsible to absolutely no one, and certainly not to the South African people.

Is there no end to this sorry story ? Does anyone out there have an answer ?

Sandy Johnston
Rivonia
Johannesburg