ALL things being equal, the major decisive factor in the recovery of the Zimbabwean economy is its people’s attitude towards work. More than ever, we must come to the realization that the only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.
I have no doubt that Zimbabwe has vast human capital potential, wide resource base and a reasonably good infrastructure but the unfortunate thing is that untapped potential is of no value to the economy if its bearers do not maximize and release it during their life time. That is why the graveyard is the richest place because people are buried there with their untapped potential.
While I do not doubt that there are hard workings Zimbabweans especially in the Diaspora, I am also convinced that the attitude of laziness is reaching unimaginable proportions and this attitude manifests itself in how people want to be successful through deals, corruption and by waiting for international aid which comes with very unfavorable conditions.
In my previous article titled a Call to Freedom, I discussed different behaviors that manifest an oppressed mindset which include inferiority, lack of initiative and the tendency to accumulate unnecessary status symbols. In addition to that, laziness is also a manifestation of an oppressed mindset.
Whereas when we were under oppression while still working for our British Masters, we had no choice on whether to go to work or not especially for those who worked in farms and factories. The Master set the Rota and failure to comply with the Rota invited bad consequences.
When the Black people took over businesses, we thought we were now free to go to work anytime, hang our coats on the chair, get into the city and do some deals and come back at 4: 30 pm to collect our coats and go home. A clear evidence of this is seen in the Civil Service offices where members of the public are not seen as customers but as subjects of contempt. This poor attitude towards work meant that the infrastructure, regimes and procedures that the Master once set can now be ignored with impunity and people call that freedom.
Freedom is not doing what we want to do but what we ought to do. When we obtained our independence and recently true economic freedom, we were supposed to raise the bar in terms of dedication to work and excellence but we thought now that we were free, we could do away with working hard and following quality control procedures.
We thought we would just zoom to success without much work. We forgot that the only place where one can start from the top is when they are digging a grave. No new government in Zimbabwe will be able to turn around the economy unless people turn around their attitude towards work.
I have worked in the voluntary sector for years in the U.K. and one fundamental lesson I have learnt is that money is not the only reason to go to work. I work volunteers who volunteer their free time to see a difference in other people’s lives and as their citizenship role in developing their country because they know that the government can’t do it alone.
These people realize that Britain wouldn’t be where it is without the contribution of the voluntary sector which is why every successive government in the UK courts the voluntary sector.
The rebuilding of Zimbabwe calls for people who have the heart to serve their nation even if we don’t stand to gain financially from the service. I am appalled that in Zimbabwe, people in the charitable sector are the high earners whereas here in the UK where most of their money comes from, workers in that sector are paid pittance.
I like the government of Zimbabwe’s initiative and drive on Television 5 years ago encouraging people to till the land as the only way to prosper the country.
The momentum was commendable, but now people need to go beyond mere talk and begin to do something. If we get good rains, poverty will be a thing of the past.
I hope that this article will make us all to think wherever we are and realize that destiny demands diligence because nothing comes cheap but, “chemahara mushana”.
Arthur Gwagwa • arthurgwagwa@yahoo.com Subject: Response to Tawanda Fri, 09 May 2008 13:20:29 • Tawanda you are right, there are many very hard working Zimbabweans as well as well meaning Zimbabweans who are volunteering their time and money to help the less priviledged.
Unfortunately these people are not recognised because they are not glory seekers. I wish we could have more people like this.
I am also glad that you recognise that there is also a small but powerful group that is corrupt regardless of their political affiliation. Perhaps I got my terminology wrong but corruption, dirty deals and a short cut mindset are all manifestations of people who shy responsibility ( hard work) and therefore they are lazy.
I will not generalise though that all Zimbabweans are lazy.
Thanks Tawanda
Tawanda • tmchakanyuka@yahoo.co.uk Subject: n/a Fri, 09 May 2008 12:26:14 • Arhtur, i am sure you have gained valuable experience in your role with volunteers. Yes the Government can not cope with all needs and the voluntary sector plays a major role in the society. I have no doubt that volunteers are much needed and appreaciated here. However i think you are not well informed about what goes on in Zim. It is not just the ric that volunteer, i know people in Zim that are not well of who have volunteered. This is information or deeds that are never publisised, i am sure they do not do it to be known as the samaritan. I know people that have adopted orphaned children, not relations and raised, then as part of their family and encouraged them to keep in touch with the relatives who would not take them in. Now they have never recieved the amount of financial support that people recieve heren nor have they sought to be recognised by the President or 'Queen' for an 'OBE'.
LAZY is the wrong word to use for Zimbos, if you actually carried out research amongst all other African national, that is one word that one would not describe Zimbos. I agree with you though in a sense that some people have become complacent and seek quick ways of getting rich. The check systems are not in place therefore people have abused the word Independence thinking and acting that since we are independend we will do as we like in the workplace and expect to earn a full onths salary, not THA IS WHAT I CALL TAKING THE PISS................ We need to find a way forward to get things social and out psychology as we are a very hard working nation.... LETS THINKS OF WAYS TO RAISE OUR COUNTRY IN OUR INDEPENDENT STATE ZIM.......
Usadaro • n/a Subject: Go Home and see Thu, 08 May 2008 22:33:51 • Mr Arthur,
allow me to make as imple comment, please go home and lets see if you can write the same articles while in the same predicaments that people are facing here in Zimbabwe. am sure you never have to look for bread in Tesco or by the way you have at least 20 types of bread as i understand
Chakatanga Ndochakatadza • n_dbk@yahoo.co.uk Subject: The scourge of 'rich-quick' mentality among Zimbabweans Thu, 08 May 2008 22:18:42 • I will not bore the audience with lengthy points that add little or no value to the wisdom we desperate need as a nation.
First, yes there is no substitute for hard work if poverty is to dealt a permenant blow among our people. We once were hardworking but somehow lost it when we began to believe in the false 'virtues of the Mupedzanhamo era' - a time that started this whole cycle of new-found niche in the secondhand clothing 'industry', by whose practice all and sundry crossed borders to feed the latest craze.
Economic policies by the Governor have failed not because they are not potentially good and well-thught-out, rather policy becomes bankrupt when real productivity is not forthcoming. Say's Law - that supply creates its own demand, explains our greatest shortfall.
I do not under-estimate the current imperatives, where people's struggle for economic emancipation has been forcibly postponed by the dire need to the daily calls empty stomach. And, no doubt, this has taken us back a few years. However, we need to refocus and believe again in our known workmanship and hard work to rise from the ashes of a revolution that has taken a course not envisioned hitherto.
Let's stop this belief in 'deals' - a continuation of this lazy culture will and remains a single threat to the true values for which sons and daughters perished. they did not perish in order to pave the way for a few institutional elites to amass farmland, and set aside some for their own unborns, neither did they pave the way for sons and daughters of the soil to murder, maim or threaten each other in the name of MDC and Zanu PF. People rallied behind the liberation war to usher an era of constructive brotherliness, not mutual distruction.
The drive to make money without breaking sweat is one of the factors behind the levels of inflation that has made worldwide headlines. I include, among the agents of these ills, those who are in the money transfer 'business' - I know it's not easy to conceptualise the impact of this activity, but hey, it takes a minute of reflection to think through the concequences. the argument that we are keeping families fed back home through has since lost its lustre - we are deepening the quagmire in which our much-sought-after country finds itself. It is unbelievable that it is us the natives who seem ot know the value of our country, and as a result continue to pillage selfishly. That time is now to each take stock and amend our ways if the children and relatives we live behind are going to stand a chance of national identity.
Mbuya Chirambakusakara • n/a Subject: Nothing is free Thu, 08 May 2008 13:35:26 • Mushana wacho futi is not really free - you have to be basking under that sunshine on a piece of land paid for by someone one way or the other.
So there is no free lunch on this planet
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