Arcadia Foundation

“Do you feel comfortable with all this wealth when so many people in the country are starving?”

“These things are God-given blessings. I know there are people starving, but these are the blessings from God”

The question – from BBC News reporter Sue Lloyd Roberts. The answer – from Ms. Chiyangwa, niece in-law to Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.

With a background in public relations, I know bad strategy when I see it. Flaunting the wealth of a corrupt leader’s family and openly downplaying the atrocity that is starvation is bad. Doing so while knowing the reporter will disseminate the message to western audiences who support sanctioning the nation for the very reason of broken aid promises and government embezzlement? Thats worse.

It has been just over a year since Zimbabwe’s inclusive government has been in power and what we’re seeing is a paralyzed government. A government that, with every bill, see progression impeded worse than the United States on health care.

The polarised lives of Zimbabwe’s rich and poor, an article posted on BBC newsnight, is excerpted below.

The timetable for political reform has slipped badly.

Only the former opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), have been holding outreach meetings with their supporters to discuss a new constitution, which is meant to pave the way for free and fair elections.

These meetings should have been concluded last November.

At a rowdy, dancing and singing MDC gathering two hours’ drive east of Harare which I went to, people were celebrating that they are able to meet at all.

“It was horrible before,” Susan, a local party organiser, said. “Zanu PF thugs would come and beat people. Now, we thank God that we can move freely and meet together.”

The meeting was addressed by the MDC deputy Prime Minister, Thokozani Khupe.

To cheers, she told the crowds that her party wants to restore political power to the prime minister and to parliament.

Zanu-PF are not holding mass, outreach meetings.

Back in Harare I found Paul Mangwana, Zanu-PF’s constitutional expert, at his legal practice putting finishing touches to what his party believe should be the shape of the new constitution – to put the power firmly in the hands of the one executive authority because of Zimbabwe’s wealth.

Four thousand white commercial farmers have had farms seized

“We have a rich inheritance – nickel, platinum, diamonds – every mineral known in the world,” he said. “We need to concentrate power in one, strong individual to safeguard those resources and protect them from being taken by foreigners.”

Indigenisation is the key to the Zanu-PF political philosophy, a philosophy which would appear to exclude white Zimbabweans.

Four thousand white commercial farmers have now had their farms confiscated and given to black farmers, many of whom are supporters of Mr Mugabe.

A diamond mine has been taken from its white Zimbabwean owner and is being operated by a government-owned company, protected by soldiers.

From 1 March, any company operating in Zimbabwe must ensure that the majority of shareholders are indigenous Zimbabweans.

My “minder” at the Ministry of Information was very keen that I should meet someone he believes is a model of a successful businessman in Zimbabwe today.

Philip Chiyangwa, Mr Mugabe’s nephew, bought several companies at a time when high inflation, price controls and shrinking demand made it difficult for them to operate in Zimbabwe.

Now a millionaire, he displays the full list in his “Native Investments” portfolio on full-length wall charts.

It encompasses everything from luxury hotels, foodstuffs to the window frame company he says he bought from Roland “Tiny” Rowlands.

He is optimistic about Zimbabwe’s future: “It is in our hands to take the country wherever it needs to go. Look at me – I have never left Zim for any other country, I don’t intend to leave this country, I am doing business here and I am successful here.

“If I want to buy a jet tomorrow, I will do it here. If I want to buy a Rolls Royce, I have one. If I want to drive a Bentley then I have one. If it’s a beautiful mansion house, I bought one. I built it myself,” he said.

Mr Chiyangwa invited me to visit the 35-room mansion where his wife, Elizabeth, showed me around the family car collection – her husband’s Rolls Royce and Bentley, her Mercedes and their daughter’s sports cars.

I asked her whether she feels comfortable with such wealth when people in her country are starving.

“It is a gift from God,” she replied, “it is a blessing from God. I know people are hungry and we are very grateful for what has been done for us”.

As Julius puts his children to bed that night, after another meal of potatoes, he could be forgiven for wondering whether it is not his turn, and the turn of millions like him in Zimbabwe, to receive such gifts and blessings.

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