The ManicaPost
TRUE statesmanship hinges on sound moral leadership, selflessness, wisdom and consistency.
Following traumatic and distressing events of March 15, 2019 when Cyclone Idai made a landfall and ravaged Chimanimani and Chipinge districts of Manicaland, President Mnangagwa has been leading from the front.
He has demonstrated true statesmanship by recognising that he has both political and moral responsibilities to the affected people of Chimanimani and Chipinge.
Such recognition stirred him into taking sound and noble actions.
The President has visited the ravaged areas thrice.
In the early stages of the disaster he made sure rescue missions were done expeditiously and that the deceased get decent burials. He also ensured that the survivors’ fundamental needs were met.
He elected to listen to first hand horrendous accounts of the survivors. He lowered himself to the level of the most vulnerable victim, and gradually rose with them until such a stage when their lives and livelihoods would be fully restored and blooming.
Such actions demonstrate that the President is a hands-on leader. He opted to see it all by himself than to merely rely on reports from his subordinates. The actions are anchored on a foundation of firm, unchanging and fundamental first hand of truth.
Much praise must be showered on him and his conduct in the wake of this disaster, probably the worst natural calamity to inflict Zimbabwe in living memory.
The President deserves praise, especially the manner he rallied local, continental and international help. He was there to serve the country, protect the victims’ rights and make their life better.
Cyclone Idai’s associated economic, humanitarian and environmental costs are enormous as the loss of lives, homes, health facilities, schools, roads, bridges, farming land and livelihoods will exacerbate poverty, erode food security and ruin the survivors’ lives.
True, the rehabilitation of damaged roads and bridges, schools and clinics in Chimanimani is a Herculean task that may only be undertaken by Government as the leading actor.
However, what is encouraging is the fact that the President remains on the ground, and yesterday (Thursday) he was in Chipinge engaging and listening to the concerns, suggestions and needs of victims and key stakeholders.
He is a listening President and is sincere to the core, though storms, challenges and opposition try to buffet him.
He should remain steadfast like a peg hammered on frozen ground ― unwavering.
He made sure he was involved directly with the national response and befittingly declared two days of mourning and prayer for the people who perished and those affected by the cyclone.
A true statesman has a clear vision of what his country and people should be; knows where he wants to take them, and what it will take to achieve that goal. President Mnangagwa should be applauded for his ability to build consensus among political leaders to take the country forward.
A politician may have a bedrock of principles, a moral compass, and a vision, but if he lacks the ability to build a consensus around his vision, his efforts to change the course of history will largely be in vain.
ED demonstrated that rare acumen when he led a delegation of 18 political leaders to Chimanimani.
Only a true leader can do that.
It take a true leader of the people to enlist his rivals to support his initiatives, and their willingness to do so rests on the values they deducted from the leader’s vision.
His decision to engage other political leaders demonstrate a genuine commitment to maintaining peace, security and move the nation forward.
As such, we implore those truant leaders to sober up and align themselves with the President’s vision and the soundness of his philosophy.
We also look forward to the continued assistance of local businesses, organisations and other countries given that the odds that face Zimbabwe require the good will of the community of nations.
