WHEN the Soviet Union collapsed in December 1991, the United States celebrated because for them this meant the end of bi-polar politics leaving one sole power as the world superintendent.
The United States would now whip the whole world into line without any fear of meaningful resistance from the Communists of the Soviet union.
The uni-polar situation suited the US Western allies since their big brother would always come to their side unchallenged in the new world political order.
Events in the world were soon to prove otherwise.
Little did the US and its allies realise that sooner rather than later from the ashes of the Soviet Union would emerge a Russia which could stand its ground both militarily and economically.
Little did they realise that a sleeping giant called China would soon emerge as the fastest growing economy ready to leapfrog past the United States.
Another unexpected surprise would be the emergence of BRICS as an economic grouping capable of flexing some muscle.
And to crown it all the discovery of minerals in Africa continues unabated against the background of loss of mining monopoly by their former colonisers.
What does all this mean?
It means in this multi-polar world there is no longer any single power that can determine the fate of all nations.
That is why countries like little Zimbabwe can survive and even grow economically despite determined sabotage by America and its Western allies.
How else can you explain punitive legislation like the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act which bars American companies from doing business with Zimbabwe.
How do Americans expect Zimbabwe to develop after instructing lending institutions to shun the country.
No wonder stakeholders who attended a breakfast meeting with Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa recently were skeptical about anything good coming out of the International Monetary Fund.
After all the United States is the major shareholder of this fund and their efforts to cripple our economy have been well documented.
And as if the British do not want to be outdone, we are all too familiar with the evil and illegal sanctions they persuaded their allies to impose on our country.
And the sole purpose of these sanctions is to make Zimbabweans rebel against their own government, if we are to go by what British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook once told Dr Stan Mudenge.
Despite the concerted effort to bring us down we are still firmly on our feet.
Only recently the Chinese pledged to finance a number of mega deals meant to revive our economy.
The Russians simultaneously weighed in with mega projects of their own, including a US$3 billion platinum project.
Mind you these are countries which at the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991 were considered to be economic midgets by the United States and its allies.
As pointed out above centres of power have proliferated.
And it looks like, though belatedly, the United States and its Western allies are beginning to realise that they do not have the divine right to dictate to the world.
It looks like they are now realising that even little Zimbabwe can forge ahead with or without their good will.
It was refreshing recently to hear Chatham, that British foreign policy think-tank, had invited Zimbabwe to help them shape their policy on the country.
There are also indications that the United States is making similar overtures towards full scale engagement.
May be they are now realising that the multi-polar nature of the world today leaves it in a situation where no one power has the ability to control each and every state.
It looks like reality is now dawning on the Western world.