COMMENT: The more things change . . .

10 Jan, 2016 - 00:01 0 Views
COMMENT: The more things change . . .

The Sunday Mail

A common saying is that a week is a long time in politics.
This statement is usually attributed, though with disputation, to the late — and in these parts unlamented — Harold Wilson, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom roundabout the time Ian Smith was unilaterally declaring independence.
It is a saying to do with the belief that within the realm of the political classes, much can happen to cause tectonic shifts in politics within the space of one week.
For instance, a terror attack in New York City can spawn immediate plans of war, and their execution, against Arab masses on the other side of the world within the blink of an eye.
The saying assumes that there is much spontaneity in politics.
The truth is that much of what we see is structured, calculated and implemented with a cold ambition that belies the white heat of emotion often displayed at political rallies and other public for poseurs who have mastered the art of directing public sentiment.
So while some may say a week is a long time in politics, the French saying “plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose” is perhaps better suited to trying to sum up political developments within a phrase.
That saying translates in English to “the more things change, the more they remain the same”.
Of course, the private media in Zimbabwe are of the established view that much changes every week.
In fact, they believe in the spontaneity of Zimbabwe’s politics to the extent that the mere passage of 24 hours can mark a seismic shift in the plane.
And maybe 24 hours is actually too long a time.
The simple ticking of the clock from 23:59 on December 31, 2015 to 00:01 on January 1, 2016 marked the beginning of a new world for them.
It was a new age in which Government would collapse, all Zimbabweans would rush into the streets in mass demonstrations, food would disappear, the hospitals would shut down, schools would burn and civilisation as we know would come to an abrupt and screeching end.
Naturally, that cataclysmic and apocalyptic end of days would be the birth pangs of some ordo ab chao led by MDC-T, People First or whatever formation happens to be the flavour of the day for the private media.
Have we not gagged from this rancid tale force fed us ad nauseam since 2000?
We even get “analysts” like Gary van Staden of a “think tank” called NKC Economics looking to be taken seriously by parroting such “research” as if these are pearls of wisdom gifted to him by some higher power.
How different is this story from that one told by some so-called prophets who tell us year-in year-out that this is the year that President Mugabe shall die?
Is there any wonder why there exists in our body of language the phrase “prophets of doom”?
That is why we say the more things change, the more they remain the same.
The anti-Zimbabwe lobby remains stuck in its rut.
And while these merchants of gloom, who have no use beyond peddling their unattractive wares to a weary market, the rest of humanity marches on.
Behold President Xi Xinping has signed off a US$1,2 billion loan for Hwange Power Station’s upgrading.
Look, the Indian’s are doing what they can for Bulawayo Power Station.
Over yonder, Aliko Dangote and his crew are readying to start implementation of the billion-US-dollars-and-more initiatives in this soon-to-be consumed Zimbabwe.
And everywhere firms from Britain and other countries are complying with our indigenisation framework, signalling intention to invest in a country that the private media believes is in the throes of a doomsday crisis simply because it is now 2016 and no longer 2015.
Right thinking Zimbabweans are best served by ignoring the political quacks and economics voodoo high priests who want to see Zimbabwe burn.
Our energies are better spent in service of the socio-economic transformation whose signs are there, but which transformation requires unity of purpose.
Forward Zimbabwe!

CARTOON – 10 JAN. 2016

0901-2-1-CARTOON NEW

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