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Scramble for Zimbabwe!

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AS the scramble for Zimbabwe intensifies, one sees President Robert Mugabe as the ultimate magician at the centre of the epic act.
But Mugabe is no magician because magic is about illusions.
The man vilified by the West, has stood firm weathering storms and his resolute stance on matters of sovereignty has begun to pay dividends.
What he is delivering is real.
As The Saturday Herald columnist Nathaniel Manheru noted in his last instalment, ‘The Chinese are here. The Russians are coming. The Western world quakes, courts. But this is not a poem, can’t be. Reality is always deeper…’ Mugabe’s Zimbabwe continues to mesmerise the world including his critics.
The Russians have since come to cap what has been a resoundingly successful three weeks in the history of the country.
Yet the role and objectives of the West can never be understated in this context.
Long before this brace of game-changing overtures by these two key nations commenced, President Mugabe’s objective which is the betterment of the lives of his people had never been in doubt.
The West, our long time nemesis had seen this.
Their fight over land at the turn of the millennium was about Mugabe.
So too was the imposition of sanctions against Harare.
Sanctions were created to separate ‘that’ man Mugabe and ZANU PF from the people of Zimbabwe.
This intention was openly declared by the then US Secretary of State Chester Crocker.
Having shrugged off Morgan Tsvangirai in a largely one-sided electoral contest in the July 31, 2013 harmonised elections, there was always going to be focus, some of it unnecessary on President Mugabe and ZANU PF.
Prophets of doom predicted gloom.
Even as President Mugabe and his delegation were sealing mega economic deals in China they were not deterred.
Even as the announcement was being made that Russians would be coming to conclude a US$3 billion platinum deal in Darwendale, the song did not stop.
But the nation was not fooled or distracted, it could not be drawn away from the real issue.
Last week in Gweru during his speech at the official opening of the National Annual Conference of Chiefs, there was an enduring picture of Robert Mugabe.
He was composed as he gave traditional leaders a briefing of what transpired during his visit to China last month.
Former Bankers Association of Zimbabwe president, George Guvamatanga described it as ‘unstoppable moving train’ during the Zimbabwe/Russia Dinner on Monday night.
In Gweru it was not only a briefing, but a bricklaying process.
There was an aura of confidence and a signal of hope as President Mugabe told the chiefs to brace themselves for good times ahead.
The China trip briefing was not only about the chiefs, even youths who had come from surrounding areas were given a bite of the cherry.
Somewhere in that speech was a message of reassurance to Chief Musarurwa who had expressed concern over the Harare-Beitbridge road.
“Kunemi Chief Musarurwa, they (Chinese) are going to do roads… ehe we are going to have new dual carriageways Beitbridge to Harare, ichavandudzwa migwagwa iyoyo,” said President Mugabe.
He made another bold declaration of the anticipated turn of fortunes in the country.
“So these projects will be coming. You will be seeing them soon, but of course things don’t just overnight become shining,” he said.
The chiefs were told of the desperation of the West which is behind the scenes, making frantic overtures to court a flying Zimbabwe.
And President Mugabe said when it comes to business deals with the West, Zimbabwe will play the coy maiden who will be difficult to get; who will not be impressed by sweet-nothings.
The West has been jolted into action by the Chinese and dramatic entrance of the Russians into the picture.
“We continue to engage the people in Washington through our embassy here so that they understand the situation on the ground,” the American ambassador Bruce Wharton is quoted this week. There is an unsettled nervousness about the statement.
“We believe American companies can do better business than the Chinese,” he is further quoted.
But who stopped them coming other than the sanctions they themselves imposed on Zimbabwe?
The maiden who was abandoned by what she thought was a reliable and trustworthy partner has heightened the love, care, comfort, affection and attention of two of her long time friends (China and Russia).
Humiliated by the charm offensive of the two long-time friends, the abandoned suitor went on the offensive and started praying for the crown of the maiden.
“Saka varikutinyengerera iyezvinoizvi asi isu tirikumbodadawozve kana uchinyenga musikana haangakuti anokuda nezuva rimwe,” said President Mugabe in Gweru.
There was an array of emotions in Darwendale as Russia and Zimbabwe sealed a deal that will mark the rebirth of Harare as the investment place to be.
The constant nodding of the head from the Russian head of delegation Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov when President Mugabe delivered his speech summed up the whole story.
It was a story laden with prospects, possibilities and potential.
There was a message of feelings of Zimbabwe’s hearts to Russia and indeed China, the two pillars of our support since time immemorial.
They supported us during the liberation struggle; today they have once again led a new process in Zimbabwe, the scramble for Zimbabwe.
Lavrov himself was charmed by President Mugabe whom he described as an African legend and historical figure.
The coming months will prove to the world that Zimbabwe is an investment destination of choice.

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