This Saturday, the 19th of April 2009, Zimbabwe will be 29 years old. It should be a cause for celebration, but instead it is an excuse for the ZANU PF Mutual Admiration Society to meet and congratulate themselves on yet another year of death, destruction, intimidation, theft and debauchery.

And their esteemed leader, Robert Mugabe, will deliver a “keynote” speech.

There was a time when “keynote” suggested that it would be worth listening to, but Mugabe is a man of few words - correction: a man of few new words - and when he takes the stage, the same old rubbish pours out of his mouth.

He will tell the people who do listen that the problems in Zimbabwe are because of the ‘illegal economic sanctions” and that the West wants to topple him from power. He will have a go at the whites, the farmers, the MDC and anyone else that doesn’t see things the way that ZANU PF does.

On the other hand, he will extol the creation of a power-sharing government. Even though he lost the election in March last year, he remains in power and has allowed a very small amount of power to be shared by the MDC - whilst preventing any small change to occur.

An example of his warped thinking is the need for a full audit of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, which he has personally blocked.

Mugabe is a recipient of much favour from the central bank - including the provision of valuable foreign currency at a favoured rate to allow him and his family to go on holiday in the Far East!

How is it that the country has to pay for the President and his family to go on holiday - whilst ordinary Zimbabweans live in holes in the ground without food, jobs, transport, homes, health services or money?

The inclusive government has shelved the local currency for a year. This means that the dollar, pound, pula and rand are acceptable tender in the country. So how do normal Zimbabweans - who do not have access to foreign currency - live if they are unable to make any purchases or pay any bills?

Local currency has been rejected by shops and traders for quite a while now. A broken currency which no longer works and has o value anymore.

Independence would suggest an ability to run the State without assistance, help or anyone overseeing it from afar. Zimbabwe has been run into the ground by ZANU PF in 29 years of dictatorship.

Celebrations would suggest that there is something to be happy about. There isn’t. No food, no jobs, no money - nothing.

But ZANU PF stalwarts will dutifully arrive at the National Sports Stadium in Harare, hungry to hear what Mugabe has to say, keen to put on a good face - and then feed those faces on food bought with illicitly gained monies.

They will want to celebrate 29 years at the top. 29 years of destruction.

And they want us, as Zimbabweans, to join in the frivolity. Not for me, thanks.

Zimbabwe is certainly not independent when every move a citizen makes is monitored by Mugabe’s goons - and there is certainly nothing to celebrate.

Robb Ellis
The Bearded Man