By Edward Kambarami

“Sir, I am no sycophant or worshipper of power anywhere”

These words are attributed to Benjamin Franklin Wade, he was a US senator during the civil war reconstruction. History informs us Benjamin Wade was a peculiar character, a man who stood firmly by his convictions and beliefs.

Robert Mugabe with his critic turned bootlicker Psychology Maziwisa

He campaigned bravely for the repeal of anti-black codes, the abolition of slavery and supported black men suffrage. His work bears testimony to his liberated mind, a mind that envisioned a liberated society in which blacks and whites lived and worked together for the betterment of their country.

Humans like Benjamin Wade are a rare species, they are game changers and custodians of virtue on this fallen planet we call earth.

In the New Testament, Jesus described such spirits as the “salt of the earth: But if the salt has lost his savour, wherewith shall it salted? He asked. It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under the foot of men”, he retorted.

Men of principles are not half-hearted messengers of virtue, to whom personal interests stand higher than the absolute principles of human goodness. Indeed, true principals of human goodness are no sycophants or worshippers of power anywhere.

Brothers and Sisters! Do not suppose that by paying homage to Western figures such as Franklin Wade, Martin Luther King and others, we are laying ourselves an unpatriotic trap. No, we are not. The still voices in our consciences instructs us to honour the truth before our eyes.

It is a fact that integrity, honour, charity and other noble traits are not confined to territorial borders or boundaries. Indeed no nation or persons has a monopoly to these principles.

There are some who upon reading the above will say- How so? What about the West‘s appalling human rights record? These interrogators are justified in asking such important questions however let’s bear in mind that abominations that have been committed against the world by the West is not the subject matter.

Let’s reserve these issues for another day, another time.

Let us note in passing that the aforementioned noble deeds of these men are not the preserve of the West. Although very rare, our continent has its fair share of magnanimous men and women who refuse to compromise their ideals to garner privilege.

Sadly, today in our country, the disease of sycophancy is spreading like a deadly pandemic. It is now a norm in Zanu PF to see people renouncing their principles in a desperate attempt to remain aboard the gravy train.

It is extremely disturbing to see choirs upon choirs of sycophancy chanting in unison as they shout “see no evil, hear no evil, heil Gushungo, heil Gushungo. Surely these are sins of times that refuse to be hidden under anti-western rhetoric and neo-colonial discourse.

One such figure is Sycophant Maziwisa, sorry, Psychology Maziwisa. He is Zanu PF ‘s deputy director of information. A few days ago, Psychology Maziwisa suggested that President Mugabe should be ranked alongside Jesus Christ on the high tables of virtue.

The statements generated a lot criticism and anger from Christians and non- Christians alike. Despite the remonstrations, Maziwisa refused to repent. On this occasion, flattery took a turn into purgatory, his statements were condemned as deeply offensive hokum.

There is no need to hide a forest behind a forest! President Mugabe‘s liberation war glory has been darkened by the events of the last 33 years. His glory is trembling, it is aware that the end is nigh. During the liberation war, President Mugabe was a paragon of principles, he and other sons and daughters of the soil fought against white minority rule in our country.

They fought for a peaceful and prosperous Zimbabwe, a Zimbabwe in which the rule of Law was to be the alpha and omega. Credit to him, President Mugabe contributed immensely to the negotiations that ushered in a new political and social dispensation in Zimbabwe. The emancipation of Zimbabwe from the shackles of colonialism was the vehicle on the highway to a better Zimbabwe.

President Mugabe started off very well. It is unfortunate that he failed to remain on the narrow and strait path that led to Zimbabwe ‘salvation. Based on overwhelming evidence of his inability to remain steadfast, we are prompted to repudiate Maziwisa‘s fallacious statements that President is like Jesus Christ. President Mugabe falls short of Christ ‘s character and teachings in many ways and it is our duty to explore these deficiencies carefully.

At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus Christ instructed his disciples “[Come,] follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” Matthew 4:19. To follow Christ is to become more like him. It is to learn from his character. The New Testament provides fervent believers of Jesus Christ with detailed guidelines on how to follow and emulate Christ‘s character.

Let’s take President Mugabe, let’s sit him at the same table as Christ and see if he belongs.

First, the red hot issue of succession. President Mugabe turns 90 next year, he has been at the helm for 33 years. Please take note of the number 33. During this period, the nation has endured many storms, some if not most have been caused by his incompetency, lack of planning and foresight.

Zimbabwe is at a critical juncture in it’s history.

The economy has been crucified: The majority of Zimbabweans are unemployed, families across Zimbabwe are living in dire poverty, many Zimbabweans have fled to neighbouring countries and to the West in search of greener pastures, the future looks bleak and things are not getting any better.

The nation is looking up to President Mugabe to feed it with five loaves and two fishes. Why is President Mugabe feeding his loyal disciples only?

President Mugabe has any obligation to ensure that Zimbabwe‘s future is secured. Because of his age, one expects the President to appoint a successor to ensure that the nation does not sink in the sea of pandemonium after he is gone.

This has not happened, unlike Jesus Christ, the President is avoiding the succession issue. What this does is to create uncertainty and anxiety in the hearts of people, more so- it allows the spirit of confusion to possess our body politics.

During his Ministry Christ faced powerful enemies who were determined to squash his teachings by whatever means necessary. He understood that his fate was sealed, he knew that the hour was approaching when he would give up his life for his teachings.

In the book of John we hear Christ comforting his disciples, he promised them the gift of the Holy Ghost and then in a noble fashion chose Peter, the son of Jonas as his successor, the leader of the church after his death. (Matthew 16:18) President Mugabe‘s failure to appoint a successor is unequivocal evidence that he is indeed not like Jesus Christ.

This brings us to the second point: Jesus despised any form of corruption. He taught that our bodies and minds are temples of God. Paul in an epistle to the Corinthians reiterated the need to safeguard both body and the mind from the filthy that corrupts. (1 Corinthians 3:17).

Do you recall the occasion when Jesus was extremely angered by traders who were defiling the temple? Jesus drove out unscrupulous types out of the temple condemning them for turning his father’s house into a den of thieves. This trait is absent in our President.

For a very long time, President Mugabe has turned Zimbabwe into a breeding ground of corruption. It is disturbing that even law enforcement agencies are now viewed as part and parcel of this rot. As it goes unchecked, the corruption is turning Zimbabwe into a banana republic, the bane of Southern Africa.

President Mugabe needs to do the right thing, he has to deal with corruption inside the corridors of power, to do that he needs a whip and an iron fist.

The third point takes us inside the core of Jesus Christ‘s teachings. Charity, benevolence and forgiveness are central to Christian doctrine. President Mugabe is tainted by the Gukurahundi atrocities which took the lives of innocent men, women and children.

President Mugabe said the whole episode was a “moment of madness”, he is also unrepentant and is adamant that he did what was necessary to halt an armed insurrection. Surely, any competent observer will take his words with a pinch of salt. It is important to note that the President had various options at his disposal, he had pragmatic options to dissolve or resolve the issues amicably. Rather, the President chose violence over peace.

For a start, Joshua Nkomo was one of his associates. They fought for one cause, they both endured persecution at the hands of Smith ‘s regime. Both were key players at Lancaster House were a settlement to cease fighting was brokered. What changed? How did Nkomo turn into a Judas Iscariot overnight?

These are important questions that deserve urgent answers. In 1982, determined to crush Zapu opposition, President Mugabe told parliament that he was taking brute action against the people of Matebeleland. “Some of the measures we shall take are measures that will be extra-legal- An eye for an eye and an ear for an ear may not be adequate in our circumstances.

We might very well demand two ears for one ear and two eyes for one eye.” The words are emanated from mind devoid of charity and benevolence. Jesus taught his followers to avoid violence, “If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also” he taught.

Again, we see that Gukurahundi is undisputable evidence that President Mugabe ‘s character cannot be likened to that of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ spent his mortal ministry healing the sick and the infirm. He restored sight to the blind, lifted cripples and cleansed those afflicted with leprosy. What we are witnessing in our country is very saddening. Hospitals are ill equipped, there is no money to purchase medicine.

Zimbabwe‘s infant mortality rate is one of the highest in the world, yet the Leader of our country finds it justified to fly to Asia to seek medical treatment. This is contrary to Jesus‘s principles, it is indeed immoral for the President to escape the embarrassing state of hospitals at home because they don’t serve their purpose.

What about the poor masses of Zimbabwe? Where shall they go to seek medical assistance when ill? The nation needs healing, President Mugabe was/is expected to perform “miracles”, unfortunately he hasn’t.

We can’t go around waffling on about liberation war heroes who turned apostate, we are not a demented people.

Brothers and Sisters! Over the next four years, we are going to have to deal sternly with the likes of Psychology Maziwisa. We are required by principle to respect people‘s opinions however what we should not do is kneel on the altar of unknown gods.

What is at stake here is a confession, what’s required is repentance, nothing more. To get his sins forgiven, President Mugabe only needs to describe them as are. We have walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, numerous times we have seen an altar with the following inscription : Unknown gods.

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