King Hez enters the fray

In Biblical times King Hezekiah prayed to be granted more time on the throne, believing he was indispensable to his people. He received 15 extra years in power but soon after that, in the year 650BC, Judah began to unravel.

It was a very long time ago, but his story has reemerged in discourse how modern rulers cling to power.

King Hez had been a reformer who freed his people from sinfulness, paganism and idolatry. Eventually his obsession over his personal wealth and his vanity and his arrogance brought him down, leaving the kingdom in poverty and ruin.

In Zimbabwe there is a sense the country is being run like a kingdom by the wealthy elite pushing for changes to the constitution to entrench their power and control.

True, the ruling party led the nation against minority rule and, like Hezekiah, was progressive at first. Now, though, the politicians flaunt their wealth and luxurious living as the populace struggle to buy enough food for their families every day.

Much like King Hezekiah and his corrupt courtiers, our shameless political leaders boast about their wealth.

The top government kingpin hosted his son’s marriage at the weekend and let it be known that US$ 20 million was splashed out at the event, most of it in gifts from the ruling elite and businesses in bed with them. The list is too long to repeat but excerpts show the father, Kuda Tagwirei, one of the country’s richest and most powerful men, contributed US$ 2.5 million.

Presidential investment advisor Paul Tungwarara gave the couple US$300,000 and minister for youth Machakaire provided a state of the art Land Rover Defender Octa worth as much as $400,000, according to reports from guests. The third most senior official in the Ministry of Finance George Guvamatanga, a former banker, gave $250,000 and 25 pedigree cattle. Member of parliament and gold dealer Scott Sakupwanya reportedly gave $500,000.

On her recent 18th birthday Tungwarara’s daughter Tino received a big suburban house as a coming of age present. She already had a nice car. Later on, she paid nurses $100 each to dance in front of her in the hospital courtyard and then arranged a treasure hunt in the rocks and foliage beside a traffic overpass, hiding $500 in $100 bills for poor locals to find. The nurses, by the way, had just been on strike over poor pay and the dreadful conditions in government hospitals.

These days my phone doesn’t stop ringing with calls from friends and colleagues – many of whom have lost jobs in the economic meltdown – begging for loans or gifts of cash to buy the staple maize meal, gas to cook it on, school fees for their children and other basic needs.

It is saddening that once proud and self-sufficient people face this hardship alongside the obscene  wealth at the top. They think I must be flush with funds which isn’t the case. I say I am not an ATM but they don’t really believe me. Old white dudes must be rich.

Unlike the government, I stick to a budget with my small retirement savings. Ask anyone at my local Pick and Pay supermarket that we now call Pick and Cry at the checkout till because of our record and ever-crippling inflation.

The government wants to change the constitution to extend the president’s 5-year term in office to 2030, make him or his successor electable only by members of parliament where the ruling party has an overwhelming majority. It has decimated any formal opposition by both foul and fair means –  bribery, violent intimidation, threats or simply by telling them they are impotent to change anything at all in CAB 3 (Constitutional Amendment Bill No3) before it goes to parliament for approval.

(Displays against and for the changes)

Opponents say the existing constitution requires a national referendum if it’s to be altered. No so, insists the government. It says public meetings have been held to discuss the amendment. Yes, that’s right but the gatherings have largely been disrupted by violent ruling party thugs encouraged and paid to do it.

One thug clearly identified on cellphone cameras viciously attacked a prominent human rights lawyer and stole his phone. No police action has been taken against him.

Parliament is set to resume sessions next week after adjourning to process written public submissions on CAB3. There have been 300,000 of the submissions that will take months or even years to process clause by clause.

These, from churches and other communities, don’t count as a yes or no referendum by millions of the voting public and are viewed as a ploy to imply democratic procedures are being followed.

Money talks loudly in the CAB3 debate. But in the end nothing was to save King Hezekiah from being banished from Judah.

Scott Sakupany’a Hermes Birkin briefcase said to be worth $16,000