WHEN Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa swapped his political garb for clerical work last Saturday, the sermon of good leadership he delivered was a well-timed encomium to President Robert Mugabe’s call for leaders to shun corruption and serve the people.
Zimbabwe is on the verge of an unprecedented economic take-off that will be the mother of all rebounds.
Despite this, there has been little doubt that the country’s economic growth is being dragged by a lingering lack of seriousness by some members of our leadership whose objective seems to frustrate President Mugabe’s empowerment initiatives.
At the zenith of this hugely anticipated take-off should be a leadership that is alien to the vice of corruption, gluttonous pursuit of selfish and personal goals and unmitigated abuse of power.
On Saturday, at the Harare Pan-African Leadership Initiative’s National Presidential Prayer Breakfast, VP Mnangagwa drew from the Bible the inspiration that our leaders need to be imbued with in order to play their part in the country’s economic growth and development prospects.
Zimbabwe’s economy has the potential to grow significantly if those in leadership positions shun corruption and stop the abuse of power, VP Mnangagwa told the gathering.
“If we, in leadership positions, as the people of influence within our nation, conduct ourselves with righteousness, continue upholding justice, honesty and peace, then the entire nation will be transformed for the better,” he said.
“We have a crucial role to play in our constituencies.
“There is need to be guided by He who created humanity.
“I say this: Be guided and encouraged by Philippians Chapter Two Verse Three, which says, ‘Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves’.”
The Chinese, the Russians, the Japanese, the Indians and indeed everyone in the world is looking towards Zimbabwe, this great and blessed country about to soar to great heights.
They all are set to make their mark in this eternally attractive land of our fathers.
They all want to oil this nation and make it work again.
To achieve this, we need love, peace and harmony.
“One of our national goals is to build a harmonious and united nation, full of love and respect among our people,” said VP Mnangagwa.
To those leaders, desperately trying to foil this peace and harmony through sowing seeds of discontent, rotten seeds of divisions, there is God up there and this God we serve and trust will consume them and their divisive thoughts with His might.
Their frivolous attempts to dismantle what God has put in store for this great nation will forever be condemned to the edges of the dark ages of history.
God has put in place a plan to lift this country from the depths of despair.
He has placed his breath in the minds and hearts of the people of Zimbabwe to start dreaming again, to start believing again and to see the fruits of His love for this great nation.
What is going to happen in this country by way of economic redemption in the next coming few months will be an epitaph that will forever remain inscribed in our memories and in our hearts.
The Chinese are coming.
The Indians are coming.
The Russians are coming.
Aliko Dangote, that great Nigerian multi-billionaire is already here.
On our part, we need to rid of all evils of corruption and abuse of power and have leaders who love their people, leaders who have the interests of the people at heart.
“In this regard, our quest to combat corruption and abuse of power, especially among those in leadership positions, is testimony to what the scripture reminds us in Hosea 9 Verses 7-9; that indeed the days of punishment are coming and we need to be reminded continuously of this verse,” said VP Mnangagwa.
“Our job, as leaders, is to shepherd the country with integrity and guide individual capacities and development in the context of our Christian values as espoused in John Chapter 10 verse 11.
“The story of a good shepherd, one who leads by example, a leader of patience, a leader who empathises with people’s circumstances and corrects that which is wrong, one who is protective of his folk. Our great country needs these values.
“The need for humility among leaders and the country’s new Constitution for acknowledging the supremacy of God. I have always thought that it is enough for people to know that we lead, but now we might question ourselves: Who leads us?
“Fortunately for us here in Zimbabwe, under the astute leadership of His Excellency, President Robert Mugabe, we have adopted a new Constitution which begins with a preamble…our preamble acknowledges the supremacy of God.”
Rima remwando rapera.
Denga dzvene riri pamusoro pedu, tarirai chaedza pamberi pedu.
Ishe anokudai.
When the days of punishment — which are now beckoning — come, some in our midst will have nowhere to hide.
To God be the Glory!
Let those with ears listen.