There was absolutely no way that Bob Marley could have known how events would unfold in Zimbabwe, and yet we see hauntingly accurate near-prophesies of what Zimbabweans are going through in his song entitled Zimbabwe.
The most obvious example of this would be the line "we'll have to fight ... for our rights". How true this is. Not only have Zimbabweans been fighting for their human rights in their own country, but they have also been fighting for their rights to work and live without fear of being deported in the Diaspora.
Another haunting line (I can't think of any other adjective that could describe it better) is found when Bob Marley sings "... to divide and rule could only tear us apart ..." Life in Zimbabwe has come to a point where its every man for himself. And so stand the age old adage, united we stand, divided we fall, as the government has taken advantage of this social condition and made the country lawless. This is especially evident in the number of loop holes leaked to the public then suddenly made illegal, laws made to suit individuals rather than the whole.
More, yes, HAUNTING and the most eerie phrases for me are "... we'll find out who is the real revolutionary ... I don't want my people to be tricked by mercenaries ...". This could be taken as a warning for who the Zimbabwean people blindly chose to lead them in 1987. We definitely found out who the real revolutionary was not, or rather who the real fake revolutionary was. It's a shame how Bob Marley's greatest fear for his "people" was fulfilled.
So begs the question, what do we do now? Bob Marley's song seems to give us quite a few suggestions. He sings, "... arm in arm, with arms ...", "... we come together to overcome the little trouble ...", "... we gonna fight ...", "... African's a-liberate Zimbabwe ...". The words that stand out the most to me are "... every man got a right to decide his own destiny ...". This fills me with hope, hope because if we believe, if we truly believe like Jed in Enduring Love believed, we unite and throw away all fear, inhibition, excuses, then a change will come.
I shall end this self-indulgent piece by quoting, "... Brother you're right, you're right, you're right, you're right, you're so right ..."
"Everyone can do their bit. Often we are overwhelmed when we see a big problem and we think, 'what can we do?'. I always say that the sea is made of little drops of water. If each person does their little bit where they are, then the little drops can become a vast ocean." -Desmond Tutu. Taken from page 29 of Issue 33 of Live Magazine
C: Africa is potentially the richest continent on the planet. Do you feel we should be doing more to change the situation or do you think it is the job for politicians?
JJC: We need to stand up and say we are Africans and make a change for ourselves. We cannot rely on politicians because, lets be honest, they are only looking out for themselves. There is so much wealth but, when I go back home I find that the house I used to live in has not changed, there are still no roads and things just seem to be getting worse. We need to get out of the slave mentality of accepting what we get. Politicians do not even invest in the youth. They are not thinking about the future so the future needs to take care of the itself.
"Yes we can!" -Barack Obama
"Do what you can." -Chenai Takundwa
Please note: I would not, in anyway, like to impose my opinion on any other person or persons. This piece is merely the ramblings of an inexperienced, ill-educated youth. It is merely a "self-indulgent" expression of my long pent up emotions. A rant, for want of a better word. Please do not take anything of what I have written as fact.
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