The ManicaPost
Arthur Marara Motivation for success
So that I may clear the dust, I am not a candidate in the upcoming 2018 harmonised elections, so this article is not campaigning for me or anyone.
I am a registered voter in the coming elections, and I am going to exercise my constitutional right to vote on whatever date that would have been announced.
Have you attended any of my live sessions before? If not, I look forward to seeing you one of these days in a location near you, but here is my point. I do not believe in entertaining people when I am speaking, I believe in telling the truth.
The truth doesn’t kill
Zimbabwe needs us to start telling each other the truth.
The truth is never popular, and this is the reason why Africa is where it is today. We know people who are corrupt, or are involved in corruption and we keep skirting them around.
The moment we learn to tell each other the truth at whatever level, we will never be the same. If you are offended by the truth you are not mature enough and you are not ready to grow. If this article will offend you, you have a lot of work to do on and in you.
Zimbabwe is a gem
Zimbabwe is a nation which has been gifted with several endowments and natural resources, but that will not necessarily make us happy, until we master the art of being resourceful. I am going to be aggressive with you as we go through the year, because I believe that there is great treasure in you.
There is so much hype that has gripped the nation, and if you are on social media like myself, your phone might also be as busy with messages from WhatsApp groups concerning the various developments in the political arena. I have deliberately decided to write this article targeting the voters, and those wanting to be voted into power. Below I share my two “cents”;
Register to vote
“Bad officials are ones elected by good citizens who do not vote.” [George Jean Nathan]. This is a profound statement, which will speak especially to those people who do not want to vote. You cannot complain about leadership when you do not vote. I am glad that the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and all the political parties has been making calls for people to register and vote.
Zimbabwe needs your vote. If you have not registered to vote, I understand that the process is still open at the designated places. Use this opportunity. This is the right which the nationalists fought for during the time of the colonial regime. Now that you have it, you need to use it.
Vote people you know
There is this disturbing trend that you vote someone, and after elections you will never see them again. They never come to your community or to the constituency that they were voted. This is a sign of disrespect to say the least. If we do not take responsibility and take the leaders to account we have failed. I think the voters deserve to know why there is no water in the ward, or constituency. They deserve to know from their leaders why refuse is not being collected, and what they are doing about it.
They deserve to know why there has been no meaningful progress in the constituency. They deserve to know why there are potholes in the roads and sometimes why there are no even navigable roads to the areas that they only come to campaign for votes. Leaders must account and go to the people, and not for people to go to the leaders. If you have never been to your community, why do you want people to vote for you?
Do you know there are certain people you will never know exists until, elections time.
You think I am joking, ask people randomly who their councillor or House of Assembly Member is? MY advice is simple, vote people you know, and people who come to your community. Vote for people who want to see your community grow.
Do not vote oratory — Talk is cheap
I am a public speaker. I make a living from speaking. I can also sell your products if you want me to, because I have learnt and mastered the art of public speaking. I am very comfortable with crowds, but what is my point? Talk is cheap. Anyone can talk; you just need to prepare in time what you will talk about. Talk is cheap. There is a whole world of difference between talking and delivery. Do not vote speeches, vote action. Vote clear visions, backed up with plans of action. Do not vote oratory.
Read manifestos
Do you know people do not have the culture of reading political manifestos? What is your chosen party promising to deliver? How do they plan on doing that? What are the timelines like? We have one of the highest literacy rates in Africa, but we do not take time to read some of this material which is very important to decision making.
Do not give in to “bribes”
Election period is the time when many people at their most generous from branded t-shirts to rice and food items. Your future is more important that any piece of wool knitted together or a pack of 2kg rice. Wise voters do not clamour for rice and t-shirts, they clamour for means of production which will allow them to earn their own t-shirts and buy or even produce their own rice.
Politics is not dirty
I do not know who said politics is dirty. Politics is not dirty; it is the players who make it dirty. We need more people going into politics so that they can influence in decision making. The church usually pains me a lot, we pray for politicians and do not ask ourselves, why we do not have more people from church going into active politics.
You see, there is something called, decision making. If you do not operate at the level where decisions are made, you will not have any influence. There is so much talk of corruption, the solution, truth be told, is actually simple; let us have God-fearing people in positions of responsibility. We need people who realise that they are stewards, and what they are holding is for the people.
Do not vote “poor” people into power
No offence, but do you know there are people who actually see power as an opportunity to empower themselves.
This is a poverty mindset and the main reason for corruption in the country.
People with a poverty mindset are concerned about amassing wealth for themselves at the expense of the people they are supposed to serve. Why is it we have land barons, and many a times they are often connected to councillors or people in local authorities? The answer is simple, “poverty mindset”. True leaders look for opportunities to serve, and not to be served. True leaders; go into power to empower other people.
No to political violence
There is no politician worth dying for. Do you know that politicians do not even fight? They actually talk, and sometimes even enjoy coffee together. Why kill? Why maim someone? Do not be used as an instrument of violence to advance anyone’s agenda.
Whatever that you do whether good or bad, will always come back to you. God has a way of balancing the scales, even if you negotiate your way out without being traced; God’s justice system is functional. Let’s all pray for peace, and value each other’s life. Let us learn to be politically mature, we may differ in our views, but at the end of the day, we are all Zimbabweans even fighting for a better Zimbabwe. It is also the duty of all leaders to ensure that there are no incidences of violence that are made in their name.
Questions for all leaders
— How many people’s lives have changed because of your leadership?
— How many success stories have you recorded because of your leadership?
— How many people want to be like you because of the example that you set?
— If there were more people like you, where would Zimbabwe be now?
— Who will cry when you die?
— Who will cry when you tender a resignation letter?
— Will you tender a resignation letter and everyone celebrate or everyone will mourn?
— What will be said of your leadership ten, twenty, thirty years after you are dead?
— What will generations to come say about your leadership?
True leaders are generational thinkers. They think about the next generation. How they can make life better for generations to come. We are not going to be here forever.
The same way we read about Ian Smith and all those other people and adjudge their rule is the same way that some people will do our work now, and adjudge our work. Do not be on the wrong side of history!
Politicians think about the next election, leaders think about the next generation! Where do you fit?
Arthur Marara is a corporate law attorney, keynote speaker, corporate and personal branding speaker commanding the stage with his delightful humour, raw energy, and wealth of life experiences. He is a financial wellness expert and is passionate about addressing the issues of wellness, strategy and personal development. Arthur is the author of the “Personal Development Toolkit” among other inspirational books. Visit his website www.arthurmarara.org or contact him on +263772467255 for bookings.
