A dismal display of pomp and ceremony
There appeared to be much fuss over who would and would not get invitations to the grand opening to the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF). There was a time when this illustrious event showcased the best of what Zimbabwean manufacturing, tourism, commerce and industry had to offer. Exhibitors and buyers would come from across the continent and beyond to both buy and sell. The cattle arena boasted the best of the country’s national herd and was the venue for some of the industry’s major farming deals to be struck.
Today ZITF is nothing more than an embarrassing joke – a pretence that all is well in the state, and from what I was told yesterday I am relieved I was not one of the “lucky” ones to crack the nod to the opening.
My friend reported that the fuss over the invites was yet another joke, for the arena was packed with school children, not the expected entourage of business and civic leaders. This tired Zanu PF tactic is to be expected – when a crowd is needed bus in the kids.There is speculation that the opening of the Fair was not held on the usual Friday, for that would have meant holding it on a public holiday so more people would have attended. Then there could have been the embarrassing spectacle of Morgan being cheered in with huge enthusiasm and Bob arriving to a forced response, as happened at the Independence Day celebrations in Harare.
The master of ceremonies attempted to explain away the changed day of the opening by exclaiming that it is part of the many changes in Zimbabwe!
Friday was one of those beautiful start of winter, blue sky days in Bulawayo. A perfect day to gather in the main arena at the showgrounds and witness the arrival of the top dogs in the GNU. The crowd shuffled in and the wait for the dignitaries to arrive began; and they waited and waited and waited – two and a half hours of waiting in the sun, no shelter supplied for any but the dignitaries. Pity the poor presidential guard, suffocating in their no. 1 uniforms, standing statue-still through the long wait.
The master of ceremonies tried to inject some excitement by listing the pathetic number of stands visited by the president.
From time to time a female dignitary would saunter in and the MC would announce: “She is a lady. Our government is so aware of the gender issue!”
Skinny school girls strutted their stuff in the drum majorette display, a strangely popular sport in Zim’s schools, swaggering about, twirling their batons. But as my friend commented, it was sad to see them in tatty uniforms, and Matabeleland was certainly not offering its nubile maidens for display as is usually the case in previous years; indeed all the majorettes were pre-teens.
Finally the chief dignitaries arrived, both Zanu PF and MDC racing into the arena at top speed, circling the dry grass in their gleaming mercs, with Bob in his usual vintage Rolls Royce, choking all in the stands with their dust.
Bob was ensconced in a viewing box. Alone, remarkably erect for his geriatric status, cutting a desolate figure, the lone sentinel observing the devastated landscape of Zimbabwe’s shattered economy.
Zambian President Banda inspected the Presidential guard and this was the moment my friends could take it no more. They were devastated that their colleagues in the MDC parties were falling into the same status trap that has come to symbolise Zanu PF. The farcical pomp and ceremony, the cars, the uniforms, the dismal fly-over of jets.
They left in dismay, for they are only too aware that just a stone throw from the Trade Fair grounds, hospitals are battling to keep people alive with little drugs or expertise, children are starving and the future still stands so uncertain.
May 5th, 2009 02:51
It does indeed appear that the MDC component of the government is trying very hard to both behave and become more like the Zanu-PF component.
The hopeful thing is, neither the people of Zimbabwe nor the world at large are impressed by seeing this fruit of appeasement, seduction , or compromise – or whatever it can be attributed to.
The MDC govt behaviour ‘doesn’t wash’. Biti can tour the world as much as he likes, people are looking at what Zim IS doing ( with its own resources) rather than what it WANTS to do ( with others financing, of course.)
Thank God that Humanitarian Aid (only a word different from the coveted Development Aid) is still flowing into Zim, while you, MDC leaders, allocate precious time to enjoying mercs, perks and celebrations.
May 5th, 2009 03:36
We have to know that there are no philanthropists in this world. Most people do something for a reward, politicians included, so dont expect the MDC people to be unique. As advocated by many its time to stop looking to politics for solutions when it is the cause of the problems. Its going to be difficult but people have to find own solutions to problems bedevilling the country. I now believe that MDC are opportunists who made noise to get on board the gravy train. Expecting the world to care about Zimbabwe is a dream from which its time to wake from and face reality, NO ONE IS GOING TO HELP ZIM EXCEPT THE NATIVES many of the people expected to right the wrongs are foreigners there to plunder only.
May 6th, 2009 00:17
Article is in bad taste, l totally disagree with it, l was at the Fair, yes it wasn’t as glossy as the previous ones (for obvious reasons also evident country-wide) but to rubbish everything like this is truly in bad taste & no attempt was made to balance the article.
The school girls,mostly from poor western suburbs have always been skinny & their uniforms not the best but nonetheless energetic & full of life.Drum majorettes at the Trade fair have never been for the so-called nubile maidens but grade 4-7 girls in primary schools, lets be real.
There was nothing unusual about the way Bob entered the stadium , hes always been choking people with earth-surface track so no change there.MDC is in an inclusive govt arrangement that no-one wanted but nonetheless that is where we all are until a better solution arrives—- can we all accept that for now and move on.Yes its not the best but certainly was better than any other available option. So it means they do things together with Zanu Pf until the next elections—heeellllo!
Tell me what you would do tying to run a country under difficult conditions like we all have.Can we please accept that until an internationaly monitored election (free&fair) is done this will be the norm to expect…this is reality world. No wishing of Mugabe dead overnight, chnage is painful slow if you dont like then go to UK & see if u ll like it better there. This is our country (some of us) we will be patriotic & will not condone anyone tarnishing attempts to improve the situation. If we all did our best to get zimbabwe working again then all the better not this kind of unhelpful reporting. lm aware that you are totally entitled to you opinion & must be free after your comment but a positive approach will be more beneficial for the country.