Zimbabwe: Its time to quit the demolition crew and join the construction crew.

I remember writing an article entitled, "It's time to quit the demolition crew and join the construction crew," long back on this blog for the mere reason of inspiring some reader out there. I want to copy and paste it below right now as a message to some media, some bloggers and some people who are digging deeply and groping for issues to criticise the Zimbabwean coalition government with. Don't get me wrong, I am not against constructive criticism, I actually think it is good since it helps in building the nation. What I am against is destructive criticism that is done for the mere reason of destroying what is being built so as to discredit the builders and gain ground in one's own selfish interest, be they political interests, asylum cases interests or for the mere reason of being vindictive over the commercial farms taken from white farmers without compensation or to feed one's hatred for Mugabe. As much as we all know how Mugabe's one party dictatorship tendencies and the gross violence by his Zanu PF youth yesteryears ago are all very wrong, I am sure most Zimbabweans will agree with me that the rebuilding of the nation that the coalition government is trying to do is a worthy cause that is in the best interest of every Zimbabwean and the least we can do is support the coalition government and we don't support them with destructive criticism, we support them with constructive criticism.


I have seen people with noble visions having their visions crushed by critics. There are two modes of criticism. There is one which crushes to earth without mercy and another mode which believes that no vision is entirely in vain and so scrutinises circumstances, motive and objective before it criticises and then help with advice. The first kind of criticism demolishes and the other helps to construct. For most of us the first kind of criticism comes more easily. It takes little thought, less effort and even less wisdom to kill with criticism. The demolition critics are interested in making themselves look good by making others look bad, they talk much and do absolutely nothing to help. When we find ourselves encountering this demolition criticism from ourselves or others our best defense is to try to ignore it and take it as an article of faith that even though we make mistakes we are great because at least we dared to try. The second kind of criticism which is thoughtful and careful coming from ourselves and others is invaluable because it actually recognises and encourages the worth of the efforts we are making, even as it points out how we might grow differently.

Years ago Theodore Roosevelt said this about critics, "It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred with dust and sweat and blood, and who if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory no defeat."

Visionaries and all coalition government leaders, when you get pelted by unfair criticisms as you stand for your vision just remember what Theodore Roosevelt said back then. To all critics, I say it's time to quit the demolition team and join the construction crew.