The Sun Will Rise Again
By George Mujajati
Published by College Press Publishers (2014)
ISBN: 978 1 77900 630 1

THE repossession of land by Government from white farmers for re-distribution to blacks was welcomed and embraced by indigenes, but irked the white community.
Before the historic Land Reform Programme that began in 2000, about 4 000 white farmers occupied the country’s prime farmland, but after it was implemented, over 400 000 black households benefitted from the programme.
Whites saw this life-transforming exercise as a ‘robbery’.
For black people, it was a victory and fulfilment of the goals of the liberation struggle.
The land was simply reverting to its lawful owners.
The introduction of the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Programme followed to ensure people not only played a pivotal role in agriculture, but in all sectors of the economy.
Once again, the Government was under fire by those opposed to the empowerment of blacks.
Literature was published criticising the move by Government to empower its people.
George Mujajati penned the book The Sun Will Rise Again which according to the synopsis ‘boldly touches on all the topical concerns of modern Zimbabwe: indigenisation, corruption, economic and moral decay as well as the frustrations and betrayals that came with independence’.
The book centres on characters: Sofia, Fatima, Takundwa, Jeremiah and Nyati.
Through these characters, the writer depicts a people who have lost all hope after being betrayed by their Government.
Here goes another writer who is of the opinion that little has been done for the ordinary people by Government since 1980 when the country attained independence.
Mujajati questions the validity of black empowerment programmes introduced by Government.
According to the author, these were mere schemes to enrich a few politicians at the expense of the ordinary citizens.
This type of thinking is not only peculiar to Mujajati, but has been expressed by many writers who choose, for the sake of pleasing the white community, to ignore the benefits of such life-changing programmes initiated by President Robert Mugabe in order to promote the interests of the masses (povo).
“If the government was not careful, this version of indigenisation would create severe class polarisation and conflict within the black population of this country,” writes Mujajati.
“There was too much focus on ‘businessmen’ in the Nyati philosophy of indigenisation.
“What about students, workers, artists and peasants?
“Would these already marginalised groups have the same access to these multi-million-dollar indigenisation funds that the already established businessmen had?”
It is not surprising that Mujajati ignores the glaring facts that the Land Reform Programme benefitted over 400 000 black households, ordinary Zimbabweans who are now proud owners of land.
The Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Programme has birthed new black players in sectors such as mining and tourism.
Most were ordinary spectators (guests to their own party), but are now key players in the economy.
Through the character of Nyati, Mujajati brings out a valid point.
“The wealth of this country must be wrenched from the greedy hands of a few whites and must be given lock, stock and barrel to the black indigenous businessmen,” writes Mujajati.
“Our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers, who perished during the war sacrificed their precious lives so the wealth of this country goes into the hands of indigenous businessmen where it rightly belongs.”
Indeed the marginalisation of the ordinary black person in the then Rhodesia forced thousands of sons and daughters of the soil to take up arms against the Ian Smith regime.
And it was their wish that the attainment of independence would bring the empowerment of the black people.
It is nearly 36 years after the attainment of independence and strides have continued to be made to empower the people.
It is these strides some writers choose to ignore and water down as insignificant.
Mujajati, through the character of Nyati, highlights some of the challenges affecting indigenes in business.
“How can the black businessmen of this country prosper when the banks are always charging us astronomical amounts of interests?” questions Nyati.
However, the writer sadly downplays these challenges affecting resettled farmers and black business people.
Instead he blames the farmers for being failures.
This is what critics of the empowerment programmes want to hear.
Mujajati touches on the issue of culture and is of the opinion traditions and values of the people should be done away with as they were stifling growth.
“Those old and useless customs must be thrown out,” he says.
“They are dead, therefore they should be buried and forgotten about.” However, it is common knowledge that without a culture or guiding principles, people lose their identity and focus.
It is the culture and guiding principles to empower the masses that will continue to be upheld in Zimbabwe despite people like Mujajati who deem them insignificant.
It is possible the likes of Mujajati could be singing for their supper!