SOUTH AFRICA; CONGRATULATIONS!!!

SOUTH AFRICA: CONGRATULATIONS

Who said South Africa is a violent nation? The just ended 22 April South African elections can only be described as free and fair. I am sure all the observer missions and individuals including myself agree that people voted freely. Yes there were few incidents of problems here and there. The loss of one life is something we should not ignore. There is above all need to congratulate South Africans for holding successful elections. Like Ghana South Africa is on its way to demonstrate that African elections can be free and fair and that our politicians accept defeat gracefully. ANC has been given another chance to prove itself and the world is looking forward to delivery of services to the needy millions in South Africa.

Millions of Zimbabweans (3 million plus) who are in South Africa must have marveled at the tranquility that characterized South African elections. The robust electioneering period did not translate into violent elections. That is what it should be in a normal society. Zimbabwe has a lot to learn from its southern neighbor. South Africa has been known to be very violent but the day of elections was characterized by peace. Some of us pray and hope that South Africa abandon the violent route. With the 2010 games so close it is Africa’s and the World’s wish that peace reigns along the shows of this rainbow nation.

Prophets of doom have been proved wrong for once in Africa. When a friend heard that I was coming to South Africa before election results were announced his ‘good’ advice was that I should wait to make my journey until after results have been announce because he feared there was going to be violence. If South Africa, such a violent nation can do it so peacefully, why not relative peace loving nations to the north including our own Zimbabwe a nation of peaceful people? It seems the problem we have in Africa is our violent leaders. We are all hopeful that the last crop of violent African leaders is going to pass and disappear for ever. We are tired of being forced by our leaders to be violent.

The contrast between the worst violent independent elections in South Africa in 1994 and the most peaceful 2009 elections show that South Africans are peaceful people after all. The violent nature of South Africans we have always known them for can be overcome if the new government delivers the services people have been promised. What South Africans need is decent education, provision of jobs and service delivery and this nation can be an example of a rainbow nation where individuals live side by side in harmony. If the above is not attended to violence will continue to escalate in this nation. A sizeable percentage of violent crimes are committed by foreigners and among them Zimbabweans. Once Zimbabwe welcomes back its people (criminals included) and other nations to the north settle to welcome their own South Africa should be left to cleanse itself from this violent tag we have always associated with it.

The whole world anxiously waits to see the cabinet line up of the incoming president Jacob Zuma. While changes are expected from the incoming government they should not be scaring investors and destructive to the already progress South Arica has witnessed under the leadership of Mandela, Mbeki and lately of Montlante. Zuma has to strike the balance between introducing radical changes and keeping the nation together. The example of its northern neighbor should never be emulated.

A once vibrant economy Zimbabwe was reduced to ashes and we have voluntarily turned ourselves to be a colony of America and South Africa. We have always vowed that ‘Zimbabwe would never be a colony again’ but surprise, surprise who has made us a colony again? Our leaders back home have informed us officially that we no longer have a currency and we are now using the US Dollar and the South African Rand for official transactions. This has put to rest the claim that ‘we will never be a colony again.’ We are indeed a colony again. Thanks to our leaders who are always right. History will judge them. God bless.