As the Renewal Team and MDC leaders Morgan Tsvangirai and Welshman Ncube parties crash out of politics leaving the nearly 100 years-old Robert Mugabe to enjoy a power vacuum, Zimbabwe’s democratique may have its last ray of hope in one woman – Barbara Nyagomo.
The UK based Barbara Nyagomo, a professional nursing practitioner, social work specialist and philanthropist whose innovations have been reportedly copied by Joice Mujuru’s ZANU People First, and the Renewal Team, has re-invested herself back into Zimbabwe having left home in 1997, now to tackle ZANU PF’s waning stranglehold. Having birthed groundbreaking international initiatives, the 1Million Zimbabwe Voices, her soap making company, charity work in the UK and Uganda among other feats, Nyagomo has decided to sacrifice her life fighting for people’s freedom.
“I am returning home and have already started with the launching of PDZ – Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe,” the mother of two who is also an acclaimed academic explorer told ZimEye.com.
In Harare and Bindura ZimEye.com caught up with several youths at the University of Zimbabwe and Bindura who have caught onto Nyagomo’s flame.
Her Media and Liaison Officer, Leonard Koni told ZimEye.com, “Zimbabwe is endowed with vast mineral deposits and good arable land but its people have been reduced into beggars and are living in abject poverty. Our country used to be a breadbasket of the region but all has gone down the drain. Our roads are in a poor state. The service delivery system has collapsed and the garbage has not been removed for quite some time and it is now in its intensive care unit.
“Zimbabwe has the capacity to grow with a very good GDP. Since 1997 our leaders have failed to resuscitate the economy to its expected standard. We have been overtaken by such countries like the troubled Rwanda which is now enjoying its economic boom. Politics of patronage has killed the country. Corruption within the government sectors is so prevalent and very few people have been arraigned before a competent court to prosecute the culprits. Thousands of US dollars are being siphoned in parastatals and little action is being taken.
“We as Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe do appreciate a job well done by the revolutionary party in ushering independence to Zimbabwe. We also appreciate MDC-T for creating a democratic space in this political discourse.
“We have failed to recognize the new blood to come into leadership. We have witnessed the recycling of old leaders in the corridors of power and thereby creating a lack of new ideas. A healthy nation needs a fusion of new ideas and brains. We should think outside our quadruple if we are to achieve these millennium goals.
“The cash-strapped government relies heavily on donated drugs and it has also allowed cheap imports
into the country, leaving local manufacturers reeling under economic hardships.
“We as Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe condone such kind of leadership. Our cities have become eye sores. You hardly walk along the streets without hearing vendors touting for customers. Harare the once beauty and sunshine city has disappeared.
“The Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe has a vision to bring back the lost beauty of most of the towns in Zimbabwe. It is so sad to learn that some towns have turned to ghost towns. The industry is no longer there. We have failed to lure direct foreign investment due to inconsistency in our economic policies. We have failed to stimulate our industries and we have increased more imports instead of exporting finished products. We have crafted many economic blue prints from Esap to ZimAsset but nothing has materialised on the ground. Too much talk without action is the order of the day. There is miscarriage of leadership. The people have lost faith in their leaders. The government is still muzzling the discerning voices.
“The Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe denounce lack of freedom of expression which is being compromised. It is so sad to learn that our own Zimbabwe Republic Police has failed to locate Itai Dzamara a journalist cum political activist. The Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe embrace a society where a Kalanga, Shona, Ndebele, Chewa, Nambia, Tonga etc will interact , live in peace and harmony.”