Minister Higher and Tertiary Education Jonathan Moyo
Mairos Mubvumbi
EVERYONE must be waiting to see what the New Year holds for them.
Unfortunately, this year, like any other, past or future, holds nothing for us except 365 days or 52 weeks or 12 months.
This means that this year has nothing against you or for you, but it just presents you with an opportune time.
It is like a quarry, you have the responsibility to carve out what you want out of it.
The onus is upon you to exchange the available time for success, wealth, riches, education, skills development or even for failure.
So you ought to take charge of your life notwithstanding the economic, political and social pressures around you, period.
Against the backdrop of constantly changing national politics and economics, making strategic plans and firm resolutions each year is no longer as useful as before.
The nation’s order of things is now unsure and indefinite.
Seasons have shifted or more specifically droughts have become a very common occurrence.
Payments dates for civil servants and those in the private sector are no longer fixed.
As for bonuses, they are no longer guaranteed as the Minister Higher and Tertiary Education Jonathan Moyo declared that they are not an entitlement.
Desperate words of uncertainty are being beamed daily from radio, television, and newspapers.
And everything around us seems to be in turmoil.
But all this does not warrant you to give up on life or to nurse feelings of apathy and hopelessness.
The situation calls for personal initiative and creativeness.
Blame-shifting will not help anyone. Neither will resignation bring food onto your table.
You definitely have to stand strong and in spite of everything negative ensure your survival.
Of course, it is indisputable that government has a very crucial role to play towards the prosperity and well-being of the nation and individuals.
For instance, government has a mandate to ensure that sound national and international trade policies and practices are in place; wealth and power are not concentrated in the hands of a few local or national leaders and that citizens have land to cultivate for both subsistence and commercial purposes.
Government has managed to put a few of these measures in place, but it is struggling with many other things and is being forced to look elsewhere for help.
It should be understood that the incoming foreign investors, like Aliko Dangote and the Chinese, will not be doling out money or things freely like how God dished out the proverbial manna.
Thankfully, though, there would be creation of some employment, but not everyone qualified or recently made redundant will be employed.
These investors will be here to make profit and that means their remuneration scales may not be to your liking.
Also, as Ken Mufuka has already pointed out in one of his previous postings in this paper, these envisaged foreign investments will take time to bear meaningful fruits.
The majority of Zimbabweans have sizeable pieces of land, but most of that arable land has been lying idle due to unproductive briefcase or cell phone farming.
Until we understand that agriculture is a serious business we will not do well in this sector.
Regrettably, those farmers who had serious plans this farming season have their hopes dampened by the rain factor, which is beyond the control of everyone.
Famines and droughts and other national disasters have been occurring since time immemorial.
It was famine that forced Abraham, as chronicled in the Old Testament of the Bible, to migrate to greener pastures.
Thus even the father of Christian faith had to have personal initiative in order to survive in hard times.
In the final analysis, each one of us must take responsibility for doing the creative best we can with our own lives.
As Zimbabweans we have been endowed with certain desirable qualities. For example, our resilience in difficult times is envied by many nations.
Moreover, our literacy and education levels are now very high despite lack of job opportunities. What is mostly required now in our situation is for individuals to turn their education, training and skills into entrepreneurship and self-employment.
Corporates will survive if they stick to their core business and reduce on testing unchartered waters. Being purpose-driven is now a better strategy than making resolutions.
One of the best strategies that ensure survival is going back to basics or sticking with the basic purpose of your existence. Most individuals and companies have already discovered the purpose of their existence, but it is essential that you stick with it.
To shine like a star, your success, your satisfaction and reward are all hinged on your life purpose.
Should you stray from your purpose, you lose the power of influence and the potential of greatness encapsulated within it.
Many who have discovered their purpose in life have failed to do their best in their different fields of calling due to distractions and unnecessary diversifications.
Some have allowed things, situations and other people to distract them and they have stopped pursuing their life purpose.
Others have thought of becoming the jack of all trades and unfortunately have spread themselves too thin to be of any remarkable influence.
Finally, there is need for versatility in our changing world.
Versatility does not necessarily mean diversification. It has more to do with developing new and relevant skills out of necessity, making prompt decisions and ad hoc adjustments in the way we do business in order to catch up with the fast-paced and rapidly changing world.
Life is a mirror for both the king and the beggar, you have to decide what you want and pursue that until a favourable break comes.
Otherwise, you only have yourself to blame as you have no control over all situations and other entities.
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