Recently The Standard newspaper reported that the group stormed Econet Wireless to discuss where they could fit in. But is this the empowerment that we want? Is this the empowerment that our leaders sermonise about daily?
While it is clear that the group is another Zanu PF project, it is also important for the responsible authorities to engage this group and enlighten it on proper approaches to empowerment. Although this sounds rational it is very unlikely Minister Saviour Kasukuwere has done that or would do that in future. Whether by coincidence or by intention, during the very same time and day that the group besieged Easipark, Kasukuwere called the Mayor of Harare Muchadei Masunda and ordered him to give audience to the group because they were ‘’hungry and angry Zimbabweans.’’ Are such actions by individuals procedural?
Kasukuwere should have known from the onset that he was the man of the moment, and was in a better position to engage this group because its grievances fell under his ministerial portfolio, but his behaviour simply proved that the actions of the youths were a politically-staged gimmick sugar-coated to appear as a genuine cause.
Regrettably Kasukuwere is at the helm of an ill-informed generation; a generation that does not believe in work but believes that wealth can simply be stolen from others. Even to the disbelief of many, Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo flexed his muscles on this delusional group challenging its members to be a little bit more rational and innovative with their demands ordering the group to end its confrontational attitude. If Chombo, a well-known Zanu PP hardcore and top apologist of Mugabe, failed to gather sense on the motives of the group then one may not be condemned for labelling such a group a gang of opportunists masquerading as champions of youth empowerment.
There are a lot a feasible solutions and approaches at hand that may make the doomed black economic empowerment scheme workable but as long as there are people who believe they are more equal than others and hence deserve a larger stake in the economy, then catastrophic economic consequences lie ahead.
Kasukuwere needs to articulate clearly that empowerment does not entitle veryone to be an employer and investor. We still need a workforce that will operate these businesses. The minister should also learn from the land redistribution scheme fiasco. Eleven years after engaging in the land reform programme, the land question has still remained a case of unfinished business.
The land reform programme remains a crucial case study of how ill-informed and untimed policies can bring long-term effects and suffering on the masses.
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Politicians have a role of implementing economic policies in the interest of people who chose them to be in charge of daily administration of public affairs. The economic agenda is a crucial one and needs people’s input and consideration first to avoid unnecessary consequences that we have witnessed before.
There is still plenty of time to revisit our empowerment scheme and unearth all the aspects that citizens feel may do harm to Zimbabwe’s current and future investment.
That can only be possible if there is zero tolerance is employed on dreamers and hallucinators like Upfumi Kuvadiki.
