This week, global media companies ran several obituaries on the life and times of United States senator and former presidential hopeful John McCain. From the reportage one is left with no doubt that McCain left a legacy of a distinguished patriotism and statesmanship after having served his country during the Vietnam War.
What makes McCain a man of honour is not the spirited campaign during the 2008 election campaign trail in which he lost to the first black president in the US, Barack Obama, but what he did in trying to diligently serve his beloved country.
In his pursuit of inner convictions which he believed would make the world’s superpower great, the late senator occasionally voted against his Republican Party on important national issues.
He was a critical voice in opposing the repeal of Obamacare, and opposed tax cuts for the rich during his 2000 presidential campaign. From being a prisoner of war in Vietnam to pursuing bipartisanship in an increasingly divided Congress, McCain’s political legacy spanned several years.
Back home and exactly one month after Zimbabwe held its first elections after the resignation of former President Robert Mugabe, the nation remains anxious awaiting the first signals that turn despair to hope.
In a few weeks or even days President Emmerson Mnangagwa will be officially opening the 9th session of parliament in an environment that is clearly polarised if not toxic.
Constituencies who voted lawmakers into the country’s highest institutions of democracy are not expecting grandstanding but motions that will restore Zimbabwe’s yesteryear glory. Zimbabwe is desperately looking for policies that will take it from the miry clay; policies that will give hope to the thousands of college graduates that have never experienced formal employment. The vulnerable are also looking up to these often not-so honourable men and women to answer the proverbial bread and butter issues.
Like in other jurisdictions, politicians who draw respect from both sides of the political aisle while articulating issues that take this once great nation forward are needed now.
In fact, our politics should begin to return to the purposes and practices that distinguish our history from the history of other nations.
Instead of idly debating what could have been the outcome of contested elections, we need to deal with the central facts of what is immediately required for Zimbabwe to rise from ashes.
One of the lessons learnt from the historic elections–like what McCain once said– “anyone can be magnanimous and gracious in victory but few can do so in the face of defeat or disappointment.”
On the flip side the time for taunting and trolling political rivals is over. Instead of using this energy for expedience, Zimbabweans from all political parties should now look in the man in the mirror and see how best they can build a culture of tolerance, dialogue, trust and self-belief.
Anything short of this is not only energy-sapping but self-destructive and we only have ourselves to blame. One can only hope that through this confidence in key state institutions nationhood can be restored.
