The Sunday Mail
The mantra Nyika Inovakwa Nevene Vayo (A country is developed by its citizenry), is as expressive as they come.
Editor’s Brief
Victoria Ruzvidzo
It is a statement that is quite easy to grasp to an average person and we have seen it in action in some instances.
However, there appears to be a belief that the “vene” here refers to the Government. Indeed, the Government has its shortfalls, but to expect it to do everything is unfortunate, retrogressive and a blinkered perception.
We have read and heard on social media and elsewhere critics blaming the Government for everything that is wrong or has gone wrong in this country and yet we need to look in the mirror and tell ourselves that we are all duty-bound to work towards developing our country.
We have some that spend hours and acres of space lamenting about challenges and yet, as the citizenry, we must indeed highlight problems, but also seek to proffer solutions where possible.
The phenomenal growth in agriculture has been attributed to joint efforts by the Government and the private sector
The mantra Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo depicts action.
We must all rally towards making our country better. We have individual and collective responsibilities that we must perform. One cannot sustainably ask the Government to do all.
We need to take agency. Vene means “its own people” and the Government is just one of the players. A lot is within our sphere of control.
The Government plays a facilitative role. It does not and will not bring bread to our tables, but it creates an enabling environment for us to work and have bread on that table.
For instance, it gives us land and the onus is on us to make that piece of land productive.
It is not the responsibility of the Government to then ensure every farmer gets seed and other inputs for free, save for communal farmers who need cushioning from the vagaries of the weather and other harsh factors.
Commercial farmers are businesspeople who must appreciate the rules of the game and do their utmost on their portions of land as vene venyika.
Obviously, this is the case in most instances, but there are pockets where low or no production is taking place and the finger is pointed at the Government, yet it can only do so much and go so far.
In many instances, we have people who feel, in Rhodesia, things were done for the people, including construction of roads, but the fact is that during those times, particularly on farms, it was not the Government that built the roads, but respective farmers would pool resources and construct, patch or refurbish their roads.
Then in towns, some firms would adopt certain roads and build them or repair as circumstances demanded.
There was a lot of cross-pollination in the private sector, with projects and programmes that ensured firms supported each other for survival of all.
Thank God this is still happening in some cases, but we need to up our game.
A few weeks ago, the Agriculture Permanent Secretary attributed the phenomenal growth in agriculture to joint efforts by the Government and the private sector, stressing the sector could soon contribute at least 20 percent to GDP on the back of support by the private sector.
This is as it should be.
Already, the sector achieved the $8,2 billion target three years ahead of schedule and output continues to break records.
This is a great example of what vene can do to lift themselves out of the quagmire.
In terms of infrastructure, the Second Republic has done immense work in terms of road rehabilitation, construction of dams, houses, hospitals and schools, among others, but it takes vene to make use of these in building the economy.
It takes vene to be responsible enough to care and maintain these in good shape and it takes vene to identify opportunities presented by improved infrastructure to grow the economy.
An elementary business student will tell you that infrastructure is foundational, both internal or external. Foreign capital does not go where that is obscure,
We cannot be a populace that is dependent, lethargic and insipid. It goes against our very composition, unless if we are lying to each other.
Zimbabweans are renowned hardworkers, so we must make deliberate steps to do our utmost in our respective communities to improve access to basic services, be it water or other such needs.
The Government has sunk boreholes all over.
The private sector or individuals can do the same,
The drug and substance abuse that has visited this country can be alleviated if we work harder as vene to stem the sources and introduce rehabilitative programmes, even at community levels.
We can do our best to keep our youths engaged in more productive projects so they desist from drug and substance abuse.
As vene, we can be our “brother’s keeper” in ensuring that the menace is nipped in the bud when we notice tendencies of drug abuse.
Indeed, we need a better-performing economy to have adequate job opportunities for university and college leavers , but there is so much that can be done to reduce redundancy.
As vene, we can come up with initiatives towards developing entrepreneurial skills within the youth so they can find space to also contribute towards developing this country.
Indeed, it takes the citizenry to identify any gaps or shortcomings and act to fill these.
Mourning about what the Government has or has not done has its place but more productive responses to challenges will ensure a better tomorrow.
Diasporans, for instance, are the vene who must put Zimbabwe on a higher pedestal in terms of technological advancement, skills transfer and branding the country so it can attract more interest in this country.
Not that this constituency is folding its hands, no.
It now sends home at least US$1 billion in remittances but, as vene, they can do more in terms of issues raised above,
We can equip our hospitals and schools better if the vene in the diaspora help us access these.
We can host more effective trade and investment seminars and attract more tourists if our diasporans help organise these.
We cannot continue to be misconstrued, underrated or dismissed as a failure if our citizens dotted across the world decide to tell the real Zimbabwean story — the achievements, hopes and dreams of a country confident of reaching the land of milk and honey by 2030.
The reputation of Zimbabweans is wide and global. We surely must stand up and be counted.
Our pedigree is there for all to see. We cannot talk about potential anymore, Let us demonstrate it.
Outside of that, we appear to be pathetic losers, who just conceive of a future they might tragically never attain.
We have one of the highest literacy rates on the continent, we have one of the most hardworking human resources, too. We rate highly in terms of intelligence and the wherewithal to achieve.
To top it all, we have natural resources which other countries cannot even spell. So, when we speak of Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo, it is clearly the obvious. It is great for the country, it is possible, so let us run with it.
In God I Trust.
What are your thoughts on this subject? How best can we take up the challenge presented by the mantra? Lets engage on: Twitter handle: @VictoriaRuzvid2; Email: [email protected]; [email protected]; WhatsApp number: 0772 129 972.
