Zimbabweans need to stop fighting over who will drive us into the future

Former Movement for Democratic Change policy adviser Eddie Cross who is now a member of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s advisory council says Zimbabwe is like a vehicle with a large engine that is starved of fuel, needs a tuning and the replacement of all its filters.

Writing on his blog today he said: “It needs new tyres and to stop fighting over who will drive us into the future. The passengers need to agree on where we are going and then get on with getting there.”

The country which showed a lot of promise when Mnangagwa took over in November 2017 has been in turmoil since Mnangagwa and his ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front won the 30 July elections last year but MDC leader Nelson Chamisa disputed the presidential election result.

Chamisa, who argues that the country’s present woes are due to Mnangagwa’s illegitimacy, though he lost the election challenge court case, says he will continue to push the legitimacy issue because that is his trump card.

Some critics say what Chamisa is basically saying is that he would rather have the country burning than give in and accept Mnangagwa as the legitimate President.

Chamisa has called for seven days of national prayer from Monday before undertaking what he called “crucial and decisive next steps”.

Cross said what frustrates him is that there are solutions to all of the country’s problems.

“The answer is that we ‘make a plan’. We have lived under a lousy, self-involved government ever since I can remember and we have suffered under sanctions imposed on us by everyone since 1965,” he wrote.

“We have learned to be fast on our feet and to respond quickly to new problems and never looking to the State for anything except demands for our taxes.

“We deserve better but we do not waste time complaining or moaning about how badly off we are. I was at breakfast yesterday with two friends from Bulawayo and the place was packed, every table occupied.

“What does frustrate me, and I guess I am not alone, is that there are solutions to all our problems. Zimbabwe is like a vehicle with a large engine that is starved of fuel, needs a tuning and the replacement of all its filters. It needs new tyres and to stop fighting over who will drive us into the future.

“The passengers need to agree on where we are going and then get on with getting there. The Bible says that ‘a people, without vision, will die’ and a ‘house divided, cannot stand’ ancient words of wisdom from the very roots of our culture and faith. We need to follow their advice closely. “

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