In South Africa, it is construction all over; free ways, bullet train, bus rapid transfer system, new power stations, stadiums and landmark features such as Mandela Bridge, expanded Durban harbour, houses etc. In Zimbabwe, the country has not made an inch forward, economically. The leaders, who are some of the most educated in Africa, are plying their trade only in skewed politics. Dr Arthur Mutambara, a robotics engineer who should have been leading in the creation of new ideas and products, finds solace in politics. The travesty is that when leaders have no vision, the nation suffers.

The African continent has failed to find its own economic path. The citizens' only instrument to force sitting governments to think harder on these matters is to vote the incumbents out and vote new ones in. It is this instrument which has been clamped down in Zimbabwe and other countries. Support of this quagmire, by African countries and by regional leaders saved to dement the ability of the Zimbabwean citizen to effect change of governments. The frustration of the ordinary citizen, who knows his or her life is wasted, goes to the nerve.

Although the Lancaster House constitution is cited as the source of devil, there was nothing inherently or materially wrong with it. Actually it served its day very well. From that start we needed a trajectory where Zimbabwe was going. The Lancaster House constitution provided that for ten years and allows the Zimbabwean citizens to change it after that. Instead the leaders planned that they had arrived and would go nowhere, and effected changes which suited them. It was these changes which contaminated it. None of the abuses happening in Zimbabwe is authorized by the many pieces of laws of that country, and the majority of the excesses are calculated malice.

Now that the constitutional process is starting, where to Zimbabwe. We have analyzed in the previous article that the burden of development requires not less than US$50 billion, which will not be available. So whether MDC or ZANUPF triumph in the coming political dispensation, the money will not be there. It is a long drawn walk to development, and nothing is guaranteed, as ingredients for development are still missing. We saw Malawi, Zambia, Kenya etc change their leaders and governments. These countries are still lumbering in poverty. The fundamental question of how to engineer development has not been answered. The constitution or democracy are not, by themselves, the development we seek, but are requirements, as a platform, for development. The fact that Zimbabwe did not perfect its constitution early, means it had not even laid the initial foundation for development.

Therefore, dependence on governments is fruitless. This has sunk very well among Zimbabweans who are trapped between their own government and SADC. South Africa, thankfully, gave refuge to Zimbabweans, but largely as a consequence of its own protection of President Mugabe. South Africa could not say there was a problem, without exposing President Mugabe. So the country crudely applied a dubious refugee program, which left the poor, sick, jobless between two hard rocks and the blind at the road intersections in South Africa.

True, it is known that social movements are the drivers of development, not governments. What is required, to reduce or to eradicate poverty, is increased production. There is a direct correlation between poverty and production. Poor nations have low production. Rich nations have higher production and necessarily better living standards and governance. Governance is enforced by the status of the citizens. Poor citizens are hapless although they are used by crafty politicians. To increase production requires training and funding. There is enough research about this. ZanuPF, MDC, the educated who focus on politics such as the good robotics professor, will not solve this puzzle.

Why, then, do we follow the politicians? In Zimbabwe the citizens have reached a state of confusion that they claim their needs from the donors, the British and Americans. In South Africa the citizens demand, rightfully, from their government. The spate of strikes and clear indication of dissatisfaction. The main source of dissatisfaction is joblessness. South Africa is trying but is far from discovering the recipe for increased production, which will necessarily increase job creation. A visit to the supermarket will show that few products are made by black factories. There lies the problem. Why are there no black products. The mainstream empowerment programs are of little national economic value, as there is no new product or increased production. Talk of nationalization of the mining industry, will reduce production. Mining is the only industry which tolerates political and other economic risks. To nationalize it would drive off the investment attraction into it.

So when will Zimbabwe start building freeways, power stations and houses? The Diaspora is looking at creating social movements which would answer their call, rather than look up to politicians. Time will tell, whether these social movements will solve the puzzle and move Zimbabwe forward from point one, because there are challenges of take off funding.