The crisis in Zimbabwe has been pigeonholed as a human rights crisis, the helpless victims versus all powerful victimizers tag suits some interests; but this label does not give full agency to explore all solutions, nor does it offer the overall picture of a crisis of political and fiscal control in which human rights violations are a warning sign of worse to come. I am sure the unwritten motto of the 21st Century is something like...dont blame others if you failed to find a way to help yourself.
Zimbabweans at home and abroad face a hard battle ahead. The work needed to be done to free the nation is real; pointless gestures and simplistic arguments do nothing but offer distraction away from that very real task.
The paternalistic view that economically the resolution to this problem must come from outside...contradicted when the world waxes lyrical about how terrible things are, and then states that Zimbabwe's present mess is for Zimbabweans to resolve.
The first post regarding this topic touched on issues relating to the need to create a strong community foundation. This post looks at the methods and psychology behind that same need.
The first post regarding this topic touched on issues relating to the need to create a strong community foundation. This post looks at the methods and psychology behind that same need.
The term ‘Strategy’ means different things to different people. For some, it is classical military front-line strategy; a master plan. For others, it is an amalgamation of flashpoints that create an overall ‘tipping Point’. However what is required by any useful strategist is a rapid cognition of systems and opportunities within competitive situations. It is the ability to condense information into important ‘bullet points’ within, detailed analysis.
In a world that increasingly presents power as the power of economic blocs, and credits skilled and organized human resources, decent service provision and sound infrastructure as the secret to success; any nation that functions upon the old foundations of fractious, cut-throat, internal competition and which is not designed to help people in complex situations where there is, at the same time, too little information and too many unknowns will lag behind.
Let us be clear African nations are not 'poor', because Africa the continent is poor. African nations are ‘poor’ because they are badly organised. An inefficiently managed social political mechanism will never bring forth any level of widespread ecomonic potential and because many countries are dominated by narrow-minded ideas relating solely to the retention of power; policies of ‘divide and rule’ remain the order of the day, drastically undermining the full development of national human resources potential.
The social political systems and structures of economic growth and governance absorbed by many of the continents nation states since their ‘Independence’ lacked credible nation building policies and strategies.
It often remains the case, that when describing the state of things the account of gross levels of poverty and mismanagement are qualified by counter argument that presents a carnival of the luxury exists on the wealthier side of the ‘African’ street, in the form of lavish consumer consumption that is an indication that progress exists, because some are leading an ostentatious lifestyle.
The educated opinion then becomes that, although conditions are tough for the majority, things are not really that bad when one considers the latest levels of investment, the mansions and various types of exclusive automobiles gracing the streets of various capitals. Observers conclude, on the evidence of that veneer of luxury, that, despite the gloomy picture often portrayed, Africans are progressing and competing with the competition at the highest global levels.
Frantz Fanon’s, ‘The Wretched of the Earth’ is a significant work with regards to this topic. Fanon was writing about things that he observed during the fifties and sixties about the behaviour of people in the aftermath of independence; on the behaviour of the state and elites in relation to the rest of the populace. “The accepted rule is that the greatest wealth is surrounded by the greatest poverty and nothing can be done about it”.
The educated opinion then becomes that, although conditions are tough for the majority, things are not really that bad when one considers the latest levels of investment, the mansions and various types of exclusive automobiles gracing the streets of various capitals. Observers conclude, on the evidence of that veneer of luxury, that, despite the gloomy picture often portrayed, Africans are progressing and competing with the competition at the highest global levels.
Frantz Fanon’s, ‘The Wretched of the Earth’ is a significant work with regards to this topic. Fanon was writing about things that he observed during the fifties and sixties about the behaviour of people in the aftermath of independence; on the behaviour of the state and elites in relation to the rest of the populace. “The accepted rule is that the greatest wealth is surrounded by the greatest poverty and nothing can be done about it”.
The lessons remain true today; those pitfalls that are still discernible and obvious. The flaunting of luxury by what is little more than an elite caste of privileged political gangsters, preying on national economies and calling it a celebration of success.
Allied to these is a ‘sophisticated’ well educated African imitation of the industrial middle class that exists in form, but without any real substance or understanding of their function within the wider social political eco system.
A general acceptance of injustice and underdevelopment as just the way things happen to be, must surely be an unflattering reflection on the condition of morals, common decency and principles within the society.
This is NOT an unnecessary rant against members of society that are doing exceptionally well, under the harsh circumstances. The major concern is that the self centred behaviour demonstrated at the individual level is largely a reflection of the behaviour of the state in relation to development.
Post-independence Africa has seen evidence of excessive incompetence spearheaded by nepotism, unchecked spending on status projects – the presidential palaces, mansions, tenders given to numerous non-productive projects. All to satisfy insecure political ego; feeding on the illusion of development and modernity, while productive sectors are neglected and eventually sold off. It is in this context that unsurprisingly, a large amount of money is spent on sprucing up the image of the tarnished and flawed for state visits while at a deeper level services are crumbling.
Sadly, for some people, these prestige projects – the mansions and flashy motor cars represent growth/modernity – even though many of the roads on which they travel are in disrepair and pot-holed or the nation lacks the power to light those mansions or drive its own manufacturing base.
The pursuit of individual wealth is okay, but not when that policy feeds into and is symptomatic of the larger problem – the absorption with superficial, unproductive ideas that exist at the expense of genuine national progress. Instead of talking up luxurious consumer goods as symbols of success in a country swamped by such poverty, it should be a cause for concern as a warning sign of something that’s gone out of kilter both at the individual and national level.
Rational judgment rebels against naked poverty, causing men and women to pursue and define success in the insubstantial and shallow terms of unbridled ‘conspicuous consumption’. This becomes the end in itself when resources could be channelled into causes that are more worthy, that could benefit the national good.
Fanon defined it as not harnessing intellectual and technical capital for the good of the people, says Fanon, this underdeveloped middle class becomes cynically bourgeoisie.
Instead of demanding the development of systems and products that would give their nations a competitive edge, the elite and counterfeit middle class in Africa simply put resources into exploring and pursuing the pathway of limited gain and wholesale self-indulgence, trying hard to keep up with the lifestyle of the middle classes of the industrial nations without ever offering trends and ideas of their own.
Little interest exists in developing anything which offers no immediate personal gain. The profitable spaces within the social economic system are subject to “raiding” tactics, developing a ‘gangster’ economy with those in the most advantageous positions seeking maximum personal advantage. The original excuse was that their behaviour was a demonstration of the effects of the past marginalisation. Progress is replacing the former masters and living their lifestyle, even if that means keeping alive the same system of divide and rule, conspicuous consumption and arrogant display.
Fanon wrote that African elites are, “senile before they know the fearlessness or the will to succeed of youth”. Their ambitions limited only to acquiring the superficial glitter that the world has to offer. That is why a new level of thinkers must replace the old.
It is the necessity of understanding what is important when we are drowning in day to day events; what information must inform our decisions for a productive long term end.
To succeed at a national level, decisions made in the moment, should come with the underlying questions regarding preparation to face the consequences of those decisions, making the right decision means making the mental room to comprehend all.
Effective strategy implementation dictates that eventually no one shall be an island cut off from all others. That in the end the group is a stronger engine of generating human progress than the individual. History shows this; over and over when people have combined their individual strengths to negate individual limitations.
Effective strategy implementation dictates that eventually no one shall be an island cut off from all others. That in the end the group is a stronger engine of generating human progress than the individual. History shows this; over and over when people have combined their individual strengths to negate individual limitations.
The stability of a group depends on two factors: 1) Cancellation of any policy of divide and rule, those blocs that succeed recognise the value of their own humanity and turn that recognition into a strongly shared mission (goals and values) and 2) Awareness of the natural potential that can be harnessed not just exploited; a widespread knowledge regarding national strengths in four key areas: environment, land, social make-up, and method has lead to those who know gaining ground over those who know too little.
Once people understand how the relative weaknesses of their individual position, can be offset by collective strength plans can be made and structures created to address any weaknesses. In comparing the five dimensions of a position, complete domination in one or two areas is less powerful than a slightly dominant position in three or more areas, and subjective impressions of positions are easier to change that their physical attributes.
To simplify what needs to be done:
· The way forward: Clarify the national mission and tie every other element to it. Any vision has to be clear and simple, a desire that most people share that they can contribute to investing in and building.
· Environment: You cannot sail against the wind. Natural opposition to stagnation will always mean a desire to make progress. To counter suspicion and fear plan and execute small achievements to build confidence, highlight these as stepping stones to achieving bigger schemes. Obstacles WILL be present but don’t constantly blame the politicians or ‘the other’, the key is to know where the mindset of each participant is at in relation to the plan. No matter how like-minded; each person has a SPECIFIC special interest; decisions should be based upon honest understanding of the objective and how this corresponds with personal gain.
· Methods:
Once people understand how the relative weaknesses of their individual position, can be offset by collective strength plans can be made and structures created to address any weaknesses. In comparing the five dimensions of a position, complete domination in one or two areas is less powerful than a slightly dominant position in three or more areas, and subjective impressions of positions are easier to change that their physical attributes.
To simplify what needs to be done:
· The way forward: Clarify the national mission and tie every other element to it. Any vision has to be clear and simple, a desire that most people share that they can contribute to investing in and building.
· Environment: You cannot sail against the wind. Natural opposition to stagnation will always mean a desire to make progress. To counter suspicion and fear plan and execute small achievements to build confidence, highlight these as stepping stones to achieving bigger schemes. Obstacles WILL be present but don’t constantly blame the politicians or ‘the other’, the key is to know where the mindset of each participant is at in relation to the plan. No matter how like-minded; each person has a SPECIFIC special interest; decisions should be based upon honest understanding of the objective and how this corresponds with personal gain.
· Methods:
a. Allow yourself the mental discipline to get rid of bad ideas and productively utilise mistakes. Any fiasco terribly executed in terms of setting, audience, and speech that hurts is a lesson, become brilliant by comparison when the bell sounds for the next round.
b. Study success to gain success, it is good to recognise that which is done well as well as shy away from that which was done poorly, the objective is to manifest a productive model.
c. Contrast different methods. Give ONLY what works and Be SPECIFIC, humble and approachable.
Strategic cognition requires seeing the environment from the clearest most objective perspective the balancing of opposing forces. Most of us are trained, incorrectly, that all suspicions are good. Thats bad. Strategic cognition demands seeing opportunity and potential even in the midst of seeming defeat and adversity. The surrender when things dont go exactly our way mentality that we are exposed to since birth, unfortunately, teaches the opposite. Admit it we’ve all gone along with much of this backward thinking.
This battle being fought by Zimbabweans is for the soul of the nation. Circumstances demand we give our best, if we remain distracted by empty rhetoric and futile gesture we will lose far more than our freedom.
Time within this struggle has shown me that what seems like substantive proposal is often feeble demanding vacuum; that often the issue is about being seen to be doing something even if ultimately it is a show that does nothing. Empty gestures DO NOT address the problem they HALT proper analysis and examination, by setting the terms of the question wrongly, they become instrumental in creating further setbacks.
The challenge is to understand the meaning of ‘success’ when weighed against opulent displays of ‘diversion’.
It is a damning picture that we do not feed or progress our nation but celebrate the buying of top of the range cars as a symbol of accomplishment. The infection now so deeply spread that those watching from the outside do so with envy knowing they want nothing more than to indulge mindlessly in those same superficial luxuries.
Colonialism has gone but something worse than physical subjugation has replaced it; something within the mind; we are trying to break out, but we cannot so long as we continue to build the high prison walls that help contain us and decorate them with false images and displays of progress.
Strategic cognition requires seeing the environment from the clearest most objective perspective the balancing of opposing forces. Most of us are trained, incorrectly, that all suspicions are good. Thats bad. Strategic cognition demands seeing opportunity and potential even in the midst of seeming defeat and adversity. The surrender when things dont go exactly our way mentality that we are exposed to since birth, unfortunately, teaches the opposite. Admit it we’ve all gone along with much of this backward thinking.
This battle being fought by Zimbabweans is for the soul of the nation. Circumstances demand we give our best, if we remain distracted by empty rhetoric and futile gesture we will lose far more than our freedom.
Time within this struggle has shown me that what seems like substantive proposal is often feeble demanding vacuum; that often the issue is about being seen to be doing something even if ultimately it is a show that does nothing. Empty gestures DO NOT address the problem they HALT proper analysis and examination, by setting the terms of the question wrongly, they become instrumental in creating further setbacks.
The challenge is to understand the meaning of ‘success’ when weighed against opulent displays of ‘diversion’.
It is a damning picture that we do not feed or progress our nation but celebrate the buying of top of the range cars as a symbol of accomplishment. The infection now so deeply spread that those watching from the outside do so with envy knowing they want nothing more than to indulge mindlessly in those same superficial luxuries.
Colonialism has gone but something worse than physical subjugation has replaced it; something within the mind; we are trying to break out, but we cannot so long as we continue to build the high prison walls that help contain us and decorate them with false images and displays of progress.
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