By Kabando wa Kabando
I have remained steadfastly supportive of my party leader and President. I have canvassed goodwill for his main rival. Conversely, I have been skeptical of his compatibility with his deputy.
With a cast of collegiate and conscious friends, in 2016 we initiated and rooted for the “Building Bridges Initiative (BBI)”. In 2017, with a leaner team, we unconventionally espoused the necessity of national dialogue.
We were ecstatic when the handshake happened. But times are quickly changing, context and circumstances shifting radically.
Recently, I have seen and heard many of my political friends, mostly men of my generation, question many issues in this regime. But notwithstanding our differing viewpoints, we choose tolerance and measured solidarity. Loyalty to country is beyond.
Travel with me on these themes to consider the following scenarios. Is the end of UhuRuto good? I think Yes. Is UhuRao stagnation desirable? My take, Not exactly. Is BBI becoming a detergent? Well, Probably; if so, tragically so. Isn’t the DP viciously fighting the DCI? Evidently of course, so, unfortunately. Are DPP and DCI disconnecting? Seemingly, and oh my, What a disappointment! Is the war on graft and “VIP” crime becoming a deception? Sadly, perceptively so. It makes many shiver.
Sacred cows syndrome so alive and the most aggravating consequences of the aforementioned missteps are: Vicious state capture continues unabated. Political murders extending beyond, or is it collateral damage? Looting spree by blue-eyed mercenaries, or do we call It bandit economy? Serious Safety questions stalling economic issues, where only mafia and pirates and barons of illicit thrive. Restlessness everywhere thus declining nationhood, denting patriotism. The youth question will burst.
Even the rich are crying as blue-chip companies collapse and leafy affluent neighborhoods get devalued by narcotics and stench of the unwelcome “poverty.”
We are unashamedly entering the notorious league of rogue states. Yet even amidst such gloom and despair, I remain unapologetically optimistic that my motherland will rise, spur and prosper.
It is near dusk, but even if the night of long knives come, I choose hope over despair. I choose to still support my President even as my concerns now border on dejection.
I belong to the political class, even without a portfolio. I will do my little bit — aka Wangari Maathai’s hummingbird. If you are in a position to talk out loud and privately and directly and publicly to the highest you can reach. I have.
But to be blindly loyal is to be silly, naive and irresponsible. Time to call out – on edge – loading logic and rationality and sobriety is our individual obligation.
Penning off but not backing off.
Let’s boldly face and speak the truth, or we perish of fear. The truth shall set us free. As leaders, let’s be unsettled and ask not what our country can do for us but what we can do for our country. If this means belling the cat, so be it.
Cry, my beloved country.
Kabando wa Kabando is a former Mukurweini Constituency MP.
