Which is the more important day?

Today is the anniversary of Zimbabwe's Independence Day. On the 18th April, 1980, many of us watched the ceremony, heard the speeches, and committed ourselves to the idealism and incredibly wonderful reconciliatory tones of Robert Mugabe as he implored all of us, all colours and backgrounds and pasts, to join together and make Zimbabwe a wonderful nation.

We tried ... a lot of us really did try ... and we invested lives, work, years ... so it is a bitter taste on this twenty sixth annual reminder of that day to know even more certainly than last year that Robert Mugabe has little interests outside of self-preservation, personal power, and self-enrichment. He has proven his true character, nailed his colours to the mast, and destroyed a wonderful country in the process. So now there is a Mugabe dynasty that is wealthy, and rules with the iron fist of a feudal monarchy. The multi-coloured diaspora of Zimbabweans all over the world is ample testimony to his regal character and the legacy he will one day leave his children.

Today, Robert Mugabe can truthfully stand and declare on national television that everything Zimbabwe is today is of his own making. Once economically vibrant, tourist friendly, progressive and just one of the most fabulous places to live or visit - his impoverished policies have created a small elite of the super-rich and a nation of brow-beaten paupers. With the lowest life expectancy of any nation on this planet. King Robert the First must be very satisfied with his life's work, wrapping the dismal truth in freedom platitudes and liberation rhetoric.

Today, apparantly, is also (in the USA) National Wear Your Pyjamas to Work Day ... which is probably a much more appropriate thing to do in honour of a country that so many of us wanted to work and make its mark on the world.

Stay in bed, children of Zimbabwe - turning out to the National Stadium today to hear more lies is just not worth it any more. Bona, Robert Jr, and Bellamine, we hope you will see past your daddy's pride and stubborness, and one day be part of the solution instead of part of the problem. Pamberi ne change! Pasi ne octogenerian dictators who may be very intelligent and fit but who should have gone away and let someone better lead Zimbabwe forward. Pamberi ne the povo of Zimbabwe who have suffered much under meglomania. Pasi the entrenched hypocrisy of ZanuPF. Aluta continua.

See this Wikipedia article...