[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Zimbabwe National Dialogue” google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]Preamble
- Zimbabweans were initially known for being very educated, honest, and hardworking. This has largely since changed; we are now by and large known for being very fragmented, self-centered, and corrupt. We exhibit a cultural identity crisis and our leaders from across the entire spectrum of society are mostly self-serving
- Most people are religious with a significant portion professing the Christian faith with varying doctrines and practices. Of great concern is the polarised and corrupt nature of this religious community especially the idolatrous elevation or hero-worshipping of Church leaders
- In a similar way, our politics is very polarised and partisan with total allegiance to party leaders without any form of patriotism to shared ideals or the nation. The dominant political cultural reality is all about the pursuit of preservation of power and privileges whilst those on the opposite or anonymous group are treated as enemies.
Reflections
The background summarised above speaks to the broken social order of today which is largely responsible for the retrogression and poverty of the nation. As such we need to first acknowledge this reality and adopt a united front in order for us to obtain renewal.
National Inclusive dialogue towards a negotiated settlement is the only pragmatic and realistic way forward.
National Dialogue
From the onset at Independence, we should have had inclusive dialogue to agree a social contract and a shared socio-economic, political and governance system which is compatible with our cultural development stage as Zimbabweans. This did not happen, hence today’s chaos of a cultural identity crisis and endemic corruption. We now have an opportunity through inclusive dialogue to underwrite a shared vision.
This open dialogue is about dreaming our ideal Zimbabwe; our cultural norms and ideals; and the ideal socio-economic, political and governance system. A system that will promote wealth creation, shared prosperity, justice and good governance. This open dialogue is also about mending relationships through national reconciliation and healing guided by the principles of restorative justice and forgiveness.
We have put together a substantive dialogue framework to guide us through the inclusive dialogue process. This is available as a PDF download on the ZiNRA website under About us/ Our Approach page. The outcome of this process will be followed by negotiations with the government of the day for implementation.
Shared Internal Responsibility
If we start blaming each other for past failures; this dialogue process will stall and fail and our retrogression will continue unabated. Following the example of Nehemiah in the bible let us take collective responsibility for the past; the present and also take collective responsibility to create a bright future together. We must also share responsibility to resource this campaign and not depend on charity.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]