Zimbabwe go borrow vessels to put your oil.

DR MENSA OTABIL

It is because of this great man that I am inspired to write this article. I attended
a church conference this year in August at which he was one of the speakers and in his speech he taught me that success and development comes from seeing the good that
others do and adapting it to your own life to produce excellent results. It is those good ideas that you borrow from others that he called vessels and your own vision or plan that you come up with and implement using those borrowed ideas plus your own ideas is what he called the oil, hence the title of his speech, "Go borrow vessels." Before you misinterpret this as meaning infringing other people's property rights, i.e copyrights, patents, programmer's source codes, plagarising, etc, let me tell you that he emphasised that you should only borrow the vessels and not the oil, meaning that you only borrow ideas and not how to implement the ideas.

Zimbabwe my beloved nation which happens to be experiencing the highest inflation ever in the history of the world could do very well by borrowing ideas from the qoutes from great minds that I have listed below as well as the great mind of Dr Mensa Otabil and then use those ideas to come up with responsive and practical policies that can revive the nation back to good economic health. Yes Zimbabwe needs to borrow a lot of vessels for it to succeed in coming out of the economic and political black hole that it is in right now.

NELSON MANDELA

Whatever the sentence Your Worship sees fit to impose upon me for the crime for which I have been convicted before this court may it rest assured that when my sentence has been completed, I will still be moved as men are always moved, by their conscience. I will still be moved by my dislike of the race discrimination against my people. When I come out from serving my sentence, I will take up again, as best I can, the struggle for the removal of those injustices until they are finally abolished. (Nelson Mandela on the day he was convicted, the conviction which led to his stay in jail at Robben Island for 27years)
From this speech Zanu PF and its green bomber militia needs to know that jailing, punishing, beating, maiming and displacing a person for his political beliefs will not change that person's beliefs and convictions.

I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not ended. (Nelson Mandela soon after he was released from prison)
From this speech the designated Mr President and his former ministers and governers who fought for the freedom of Zimbabwe should learn that they made a mistake of thinking that since they had won the war their long walk had ended and instead of continuing the walk by performing excellently in the different ministries they were responsible for they neglected their duties. The result was a decay in the country's instituitions.

This is one of the most important moments in the life of our country. I stand here before you filled with deep pride and joy - pride in the ordinary, humble people of this country. You have shown such calm, patient determination to reclaim this country as your own, and now the joy that we can loudly proclaim from the rooftops - Free at last! Free at last! I stand before you humbled by your courage, with a heart full of love for you. I regard it as the highest honor to lead the ANC at this moment in our history. I am your servant.... It is not the individuals that matter, but the collective.... This is the time to heal the old wounds and build a new South Africa. (Nelson Mandela when the political party ANC of which he was the leader won elections to make him the first black South African president.)
From this speech Zimbabwe's leaders need to take note that Nelson Mandela said, " I am your servant," and realise that they are there to serve the people, not for the people to serve them.


DR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR

We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people.
From "Letter from Birmingham Jail," April 16, 1963
Oh yes, the Zimbabwean police needs to repent for their appaling silence and lack of action whilst innocent people were being beaten up by the Zanu PF green bomber militia.

I decided early to give my life to something eternal and absolute. Not to these little gods that are here today and gone tomorrow, but to God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
From "Rediscovering Lost Values," Feb. 28, 1954
Zanu PF green bomber militia should take heed of what Martin Luther King Jr said and show their trust and loyalty to God and not to their little god whoever it is who sent them to beat up innocent people.

I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.
Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech, Dec. 10, 1964

We are prone to judge success by the index of our salaries or the size of our automobile rather than by the quality of our service and relationship to mankind. I am aware that there are many who wince at a distinction between property and persons--who hold both sacrosanct. My views are not so rigid. A life is sacred. Property is intended to serve life, and no matter how much we surround it with rights and
respect, it has no personal being. It is part of the earth man walks on; it is not man. Martin Luther King, Jr., The Trumpet of Conscience, 1967

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
From the "I Have a Dream" speech, Aug. 28, 1963

In my last article on this blog- of random thoughts and admissable banter I mentioned the need for all Zimbabweans to work on changing their characters to ones that are inducive to sustainable development of the nation and in the last three qoutes Martin Luther King Jr is saying qoutes that can help Zimbabweans to change their characters for the better.


MAHATMA GANDHI

Truth stands, even if there be no public support. It is self-sustained. Mahatma Gandhi

Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well. Mahatma Gandhi

As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world... as in being able to remake ourselves. Mahatma Gandhi

Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen and ask yourself if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him. Mahatma Gandhi

The last qoute from Mahatma Gandhi urges the designated Mr President and Mr Prime Minister of Zimbabwe to think of the plight of the common people (who as we speak are getting immune compromised because of lack of enough food) before they decide to disagree on cabinet power sharing issues that can easily be resolved using the rule of sharing equally.

ALBERT EINSTEIN

Any government is in itself an evil in so far as it carries within it the tendency to deteriorate into tyranny. However, except for a small number of anarchists, every one of us is convinced that civilized society cannot exist without a government. In a healthy nation there is a kind of dynamic balance between the will of the people and the government, which prevents its degeneration into tyranny. It is obvious that the danger of such deterioration is more acute in a country in which the government has authority not only over the armed forces but also over all the channels of education and information as well as over the economic existence of every single citizen. I say this merely to indicate that socialism as such cannot be considered the solution to all social problems but merely as a framework within which such a solution is possible. (Albert Einstein, 1947)
Einstein is warning Zimbabwe on the dangers of tyranny.

Try to become not a man of success, but try rather to become
a man of value."
(--Life magazine. May 2, 1955.)

A human being is a part of a whole, called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest ... a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. (Albert Einstein)
If every Zimbabwean would take heed of what Einstein said then there won't be any get-rich-quick schemes and black markets that exploit ordinary Zimbabweans off their hard earned money.


MOTHER THERESA


Life
We, the unwilling, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, for so long, with so little, we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.

Unity
There is a tremendous strength that is growing in the world through sharing together, praying together, suffering together, and working together

Love
It is not the magnitude of our actions but the amount of love that is put into them that matters.
Mother Teresa

Christianity
There is always the danger that we may just do the work for the sake of the work. This is where the respect and the love and the devotion come in - that we do it to God, to Christ, and that's why we try to do it as beautifully as possible.
Mother Teresa

Mother Theresa is advising most Zimbabweans who have done so much, for so long, with so little, that they are now qualified to do anything with nothing that their hope lies in living a Christ-like life in love and unity.


MARGARET THATCHER

Human Nature
We conservatives understood, and understand it: the socialists didn't, and generally still don't.
Our experience tells us that Man is neither as good nor as bad as he's painted. Given the right framework of laws, taxes and regulation, most individuals will apply their talents and energies productively. They will certainly make far more effort on behalf of themselves and their families than they ever would for an impersonal entity called "government". What government has to do is to set the right rules, so that the game - and it's never a "zero sum game", remember - is played to the best of every player's ability. That's on the positive side of human nature. And from it stems everything which the West has achieved and which the world calls progress.
But there is also a negative side to human nature. We conservatives have no illusions about the perfectibility of Man. Human beings are as capable today of unspeakable brutality as they ever were. And the march of science and technology has provided new means of cruelty. If there are no assured penalties against wickedness, some people will disrupt and, if their numbers are sufficient, destroy all the good things of civilised life.
And it's not just the under-class but the "over-class" that causes the trouble. If politicians or bureaucrats are given power that is unaccountable and unrestrained they will, in the long-run, be as corrupt as they can get away with. That's the best possible argument for limited government - and a pretty good one too against a centralised European Super-state.
Without me repeating what she has said, I am sure you all agree with me that from this speech by Margaret Thatcher, Zimbabwe can borrow a lot of vessels.

BARRACK OBAMA

Let us affirm the greatness of our Nation - not because of the height of our skyscrapers, or the power of our military, or the size of our economy. Our pride is based on a very simple premise, summed up in a declaration made over two hundred years ago: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights. That among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
That is the true genius of America, a faith - a faith in simple dreams, an insistence on small miracles; that we can tuck in our children at night and know that they are fed and clothed and safe from harm; that we can say what we think, write what we think, without hearing a sudden knock on the door; that we can have an idea and start our own business without paying a bribe; that we can participate in the political process without fear of retribution, and that our votes will be counted - at least most of the time. We can make sure that every child in America has a decent shot at life, and that the doors of opportunity remain open to all. E pluribus unum: "Out of many, one." (Barrack Obama)
Barrack Obama has stated clearly the beauty of democracy. Zimbabwe this vessel
of democracy needs to be borrowed and put into place in all governance systems so
that we make sure that all our children have a decent shot at life.

We've got a tragic history when it comes to race in this country. We've got a lot of pent-up anger and bitterness and misunderstanding. ... This country wants to move beyond these kinds of things.
Barack Obama
Speech on race, March 18, 2008.
Yes the British colonised Zimbabwe many decades ago, yes the West takes advantage of the developing nations and this can bring a lot of pent-up anger, bitterness and misunderstandings among the unforgiving hearts but Zimbabwe needs to forgive, forget and move beyond these kinds of things and concentrate on developing its economy.

In Africa, you often see that the difference between a village where everybody eats and a village where people starve is government. One has a functioning government, and the other does not. Which is why it bothers me when I hear people say that government is the enemy. They don't understand its fundamental role.
Barack Obama
Profile in The Independent Magazine, March 10, 2007.
As we speak ordinary Zimbabweans are starving, need I repeat what Barrack Obama said and say that the problem lies in an unfunctioning government.

I honor -- we honor -- the service of John McCain, and I respect his many accomplishments, even if he chooses to deny mine.
Barack Obama
Speech following Montana primary, June 3, 2008.
Barrack Obama is indirectly telling Zimbabweans that so what if you are political rivals, it doesn't mean that you shouldn't respect each other and each other's views and achievements.

GOD & JESUS

Gen 11:5 But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building. 6 The LORD said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.
If as one people speaking the same language the two parties MDC & ZANU PF solve this cabinet power sharing problem in a win-win way, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.

God said...) "He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, like the tender grass springing out of the earth, by clear shining after rain." (2 Sam 23.3b-4)
Zimbabwean leaders you are advised to let God lead you in all your decisions.

Select capable men from all the people--men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain--and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. (Exod 18.21, NIV)
Tsvangirai, Mugabe and Mutambara take heed of this when you are appointing ministers.

Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. (Ps 2.10-11)

*************************************************************************************

Let me conclude this article by quoting Albert Einstein to cater for those who might feel insulted, annoyed and challenged by this article and are hating my guts or my intelligence for writing it.
"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. The mediocre mind is incapable of understanding the man who refuses to bow blindly to conventional prejudices and chooses instead to express his opinions courageously and honestly."
(--letter from Albert Einstein to Morris Raphael Cohen, professor emeritus of philosophy at the College of the City of New York, defending the controversial appointment of Bertrand Russell to a teaching position, March 19, 1940.)