12/05/2025
Something happened last week that deeply hurt me and made me even more worried about the state of our health delivery system in Zimbabwe, this time it was about a colleague.
I received a call from Njabulo Ncube, my classmate from journalism school and one of Zimbabwe’s senior journalists as well as an advocate for better conditions for journalists and media workers.
He told me that a colleague had run out of diabetes medication and had no money to buy more, the medication only cost US$240, but because their medical aid had not been paid and the colleague had also not been paid, they were now facing this deadly crisis.
Diabetes is not like cancer or heart disease, where you might have a few days to find resources without the patient facing mortal danger.
I told Njabulo that I was in Kigali and, since it was Saturday afternoon, it would be difficult for me to send the required US$240 for the medication.
I also said that we could not fundraise for one of our own on social media.
We needed to take responsibility and help a colleague, this was not a random person asking for help on social media, this was one of our own.
I decided that I would foot the bill and arranged for money to be made available in Harare by someone with a UK bank account, which I would repay from my own UK bank account.
I was with a Zimbabwean friend in Kigali, and we started discussing what this situation means for everyone else back home if a working journalist can find themselves in this dire medical situation.
If an employed journalist cannot afford medication because they have not been paid and their medical aid has not been paid, what hope is there for people in the townships or rural Zimbabwe who have nobody to call on for assistance?
We reflected on the project I tried to set up last year which was fought tooth and nail by not just people in ZANUPF, but even those in the opposition and even some journalist colleagues mocked me for trying to set this up with my own resources and help from Zimbabweans in the pharmaceutical industry in Britain. I have no desire to run for political office, all I wanted was to avoid a situation that our colleague found themselves in.
All these people that fight against big ideas for selfish reasons disappear when it is time to deal with a medical emergency, but this is not the central point for this story, it is about the quality of politicians that we elect both from the ruling party and the opposition, at times we are electing people without a full O Level certificate and expect them to come up with solutions and big ideas when all they want is a car and a piece of land from the state.
Today is the first day of 2025, a year that is going to be worse for many of our people because of the quality of public officials that we elect and the useless government that we have that doesn’t care if it’s people, they are more concerned about themselves.
Today is New Year’s Day, yet I have already received over 10 appeals for healthcare funding assistance just today alone, when I ask them to go to their political representatives who have power to do something, they say they did but got no response.
The purpose of being in politics is to serve the people, not to just draw a salary and enjoy taxpayer-funded cars and parliamentary and council privileges.
I urge all elected officials to take the lead in 2025 on social welfare issues, particularly healthcare for the communities that gave you the votes to take you to parliament and councils.
A journalist cannot continue being the only face of healthcare assistance for citizens while politicians ask for votes but fail to act once those votes are secured.
The purpose of politics is to improve lives by providing solutions to community problems, otherwise why are you in poltics?
I hope all elected officials will step up in 2025 instead of disappearing after the elections, as they perennially do.
It is far easier to assist people when there is leadership in their communities, collating information about those in need and the type of help they require, rather than citizens across the country sending messages to someone who is not even in politics and has no power other than to appeal for help through social media or his wealthy friends.
One person cannot manage hundreds of cases every month, it is simply impossible, and it is also insane for us to have a country where elected public officials disappear after elections and do not take part on bringing relief to those that send them to councils and parliament.
This is the responsibility of elected officials in parliament, who should be addressing these issues and holding the government of the day to account for its tragic failures.
There are many philanthropists and organisations willing to help citizens failed by the public health system, but it should be politicians seeking public office who organise and facilitate such efforts, and these philanthropists always prefer institutionally to support, something that both ZANUPF and CCC supporters and parliamentarians fought me for advocating.
Politics is about serving and not freeloading at the expense of the taxpayer, you have no purpose being in parliament or council unless you are a man or woman of big ideas whose main purpose should be to make life better.
Otherwise, what is the point of aspiring to be a politician if you cannot handle such basic responsibilities?
To the citizens of Zimbabwe, you get the political officials that you deserve, especially those in urban areas where there is very little rigging, if you elect political dross, you will get political dross and it will be your fault when you hit problems.
If you cannot get help from the politicians you elect, then you are part of the problem.
Do not vote for individuals who have repeatedly proven they lack leadership skills, simply because they are charismatic, on either side of the political aisle.
You cannot keep voting for ineffective individuals while expecting a journalist and other private citizens to organise healthcare solutions and address medical issues for you, it should be elected public officials doing that for you.
Assistance should come through your elected representatives. If they cannot deliver, why continue voting for the same people who have repeatedly demonstrated their incompetence to you beyond any doubt?
Both ZANUPF and CCC ignored calls for public interviews for their prospective MPs in 2023. Why?
Public interviews are the only way of assessing candidates instead of being dazzled by empty, meaningless slogans.
If someone wants to be a councillor, MP, or president yet cannot even raise US$10,000 to ensure a citizen gets healthcare where it is available, then why are they in politics?
Why are they pursuing public office other than to loot and get access to land, cars and other related perks that come with public office.
When did you last hear your elected member of parliament making noise in parliament about the state of healthcare in your community? When did you last hear parliamentarians making noise about wanting second cars? Last week or two weeks ago. What does that tell you about the quality of representatives that you send to represent your interests?
If you elect such useless politicians, you are on your own, and you cease to be a victim but an accomplice. Take back control of your life by voting for competent public officials.
Politics is about representation and public service, not gaining access to looting opportunities and getting cars and pieces of state land.
What is the purpose of your MP if they cannot even advocate for your immediate issues with those who can help, leaving citizens to fend for themselves?
I have documented how I have secured medical equipment, including radiotherapy cancer treatment machines, ambulances, fire engines, and more.
However, the people you elected could not even handle the basic administrative work, whether from the ruling party or the opposition.
Politics and elections have become a business in Zimbabwe, which is why prospective members of parliament and council are willing to pay huge sums of money in exchange for nomination in their parties.
Last week (or two weeks ago), members of parliament from both ZANUPF and CCC collectively demanded a second car for use by parliamentary committee chairpersons, a massive display of greed, considering they come from deprived communities and that they had just received brand new cars paid for by the taxpayer-YOU.
I want to end this post by sharing a story that shocked me about the state of representation in public affairs in Zimbabwe.
Multi-millionaire businessman Shingai Mutasa invited me to dinner at his home in Glen Lorne.
As always, we began discussing the state of the economy and what needs to be done and how it can be done so that we have better outcomes.
Mr Mutasa is likely the most prominent individual businessman in Harare Central, owning two hotels in the CBD (Jameson and Cresta Oasis), two insurance companies (ZIMNAT and Minerva), Joina City building, and many other assets.
The opposition has held this constituency since 2000, yet not a single representative for Harare Central has ever visited his office to seek assistance for people in this constituency or propose collaborative efforts.
I told Mr Mutasa that leftover food from his two hotels in the CBD could feed all the street children, who sometimes starve.
All the MP needed to do was approach him with a plan and either get a simple yes or no.
I also suggested that Mr Mutasa could assist in areas where healthcare was an issue in his constituency, as he also owns a healthcare company. We exchanged many ideas.
At the end of the evening, he remarked that such initiatives were easily doable. However, the MP for Harare Central at the time had never visited his office during the 20 years he had been in parliament.
This is what we mean when we say citizens get the government they deserve.
If you elect individuals whose sole goal is to enter parliament and enjoy taxpayer-funded benefits, this is the outcome you get.
The ZANUPF government has failed us, but there are simple solutions we can implement in our communities to make things work and better for our people.
For many years, there was no regular water in summer from community water sources at my rural village in Murewa.
In 2015, I drilled a solar-powered electric borehole, and now, when the local manual borehole that was drilled by my father in 1979 dries up, my fellow villagers can come to my rural home and access clean running drinking water daily.
It is even easier for parliamentarians, as they receive Constituency Development Funds (CDF).
With the power and platform of representing people as elected officials, they can easily negotiate with borehole drilling companies to provide services at cost or even as part of a social responsibility programme.
However, if all they do is sit in parliament demanding cars and perks, those with resources will not be motivated to act.
It all comes down to leadership.
To my colleagues in the journalism and media industry, we must look after ourselves better by setting up a fund for emergencies, ordinarily we report about others, we can’t and shouldn’t be the story.
Those fortunate enough to have resources, let us donate to this fund and house it at an organisation like Media Institute of Southern Africa Zimbabwe (MISA) or any such media related organisation so that we don’t have a journalist who ends up in a situation our colleague found themselves in again last Staturday.
I wish every Zimbabwean citizen both home and abroad and all friends of Zimbabwe a prosperous 2025 free of disease and suffering.
To anyone who wrote to me via inboxes, and I didn’t respond, please forgive, zvinondiwandira.
As we start 2025, remember that nature favours risk-takers; nothing happens on its own.
Do not waste time on useless conversations, trivial things, or pointless pursuits in 2025.
Surround yourself with people who add value to your life, not those who drag you backwards and only engage in tittle-tattle.
The universe reflects what you give it, do not expect much if you invest nothing in building your life. Don’t expect a great 2025 if all you invest is hate, jealousy and envy, cruelty to others and selfishness.
If you want to see a better world around you, you must start by being better yourself.
As one of our great leaders and founding fathers umdala Joshua Nkomo once said;
"The country will never die, young people will save it."
Best wishes to you all for 2025.
