How Economics Affects Our Politics

How Economics Drives Our Politics By Dumisani Nkomo The economic crisis which affected the country between the year 2000 to around 2010 which saw the economy being reduced to the pre federation period in the fifties also had a profound effect on the quality of political leadership that emerged during this period .The primary motivation for participation in politics and civics became money and survival .This period also saw the decimation of the middle class which traditionally drives and influences the nature and direction of political activity .New socio economic groups created by the or because or as a result of the economic crisis emerged during this time and occupied the spaces which the traditional middle class occupied .We had the “newly “rich Osiphatheni “[money changers]Amakorokoza [illegal gold miners] and flea market owners amongst others emerging as new “economic groups .In cities such as Bulawayo ,Harare ,Gweru and smaller towns such as Kadoma and Chegutu industrial activity drastically declined thus decimating the country’s labour force .Labour was the traditional stronghold of the then new opposition M.D.C which was lead a combination of middle class academics lawyers ,students activists and labour leaders with solid support from workers . Paradox The interesting paradox is that the initial economic meltdown of the late nineties gave rise to opposition labour driven politics but post 2010 politics has seen the virtual erosion of labour as an organized political force due to the economic crisis which caused the informalization of the economy and the emergence o new socio economic groups such as the informal sector ,artisanal mining communities and resettled farmers .This is aptly noted by leading Zimbabwean scholar and activist Brian Raftopolus who argues that the opposition failed to make inroads into these new socio economic groups .It is thus interesting that whilst the economic crisis gave rise to protest politics and with it the rise of the M.D.C ,the 2007-2008 economic meltdown resulted in de industrialization ,informalization of the economy and erosion of the power of organized labour which was the backbone of the M.D.C . The new political economy architecture resulted in the newly rich who were a minority and the new poor who became a majority .The new poor included large segments of the middle class including civil servants ,former arm workers and pensioners who saw their life savings eroded literally overnight . The economic crisis also gave prominence and pre eminence to the socio economic marginalization of Matabeleland which not only lost ten years of economic development in the first ten years of independence but lost another decade between 2000-2010 with massive de industrialization and unemployment coupled by lack of government prioritization of infrastructural development of the region .Political parties and pressure groups were thus created as a result of this marginalization with many pressure groups calling for an equal slice o the national cake .It was no longer just about Gukurahundi which had dire economic consequences abut a new form of Gukurahundi which resulted in economic exclusion and marginalization .The narrative of “Matabeleland politics is thus enshrined in the triune issues of distribution of power and resources as well as identity .Dominant however is the motif o economics which drives citizens to question the underlying political model or infrastructure that is responsible for the distribution and allocation of resources . According to Abraham Maslow ‘s hierarchy of human needs the basic motivation of human beings is that of having their physiological needs met i. e food ,shelter .After that other needs that follow are safety/security needs including protection of rights ,then social –emotional needs [love ,friendship],self esteem needs and finally self actualization based on talent and fulfillment .Unfortunately many of the political leaders that have emerged are driven purely by a desire to have their physiological needs met For them politics is not about meeting the basic needs of people but about having their basics need met by politics .This has seriously compromised the quality of leadership at a political level .This is not to say that politics should be for the rich since there are many poor people who can be able leaders and many rich people who still want more and will continue being corrupt .The point though is that we have an increasing and growing class of politicians who want to use politics as a gate way to economic survival who will cling to any political institution that offers them a chance to jump onto the gravy train or is it the “grave train “. Tragically the best of our minds and leaders are also caught up in the battle for survival with teachers ,lawyers ,doctors and other professionals literally living to meet their basic needs such as school fees rent ,food .etc Those who should be leading in science and innovation are also too busy trying to make ends meet meaning that the country will always struggle to make advances in science and technology which are the fulcrum of industrial growth .Whilst a scientist in China the United States or Canada is thinking on better ways to go to space our best scientists may be thinking of how to get fuel to get to town and where they will get money to pay rent at the end of the month . The country need leaders in every field including politics who are motivated by self actualization and a sense of fulfillment to provide leadership .We cannot have a country of Zimbabwe’s potential being led by followers who have the courage to lead but without the capacity to take the country to the next level The reality however is that economics will continue to drive politics in this country and whichever political party devises a strategy of addressing the people’s economic fundamentals “and shows capacity to deliver people’s basic needs will triumph in the next elections .In meantime the state of the economy means that the majority of people are struggling at the wrong end of Maslow ‘s hierarchy of needs thus creating an indelible link between the state of the economy and the state and quality of our political leaders .instead of attracting political craftsmen]women] and social entrepreneurs our politics will continue to attract political predators and economic vultures who want to feed on the economy . Mayibuye Dumisani Nkomo is a civic and opinion leader and Chief Executive Officer of Habakkuk Trust .He writes here in his personal capacity