Change is here.

As I looked at the window this morning all I saw was white. I mean it was so white that my eyes were blinded for a moment. My eight month old jovial son Themba enjoyed the moment. No one likes the outdoor life more than does this little man. Its his first snow season. It soon dawned on me that winter is here and here to stay. Everyone who lives in North America and some parts of Europe must know the hassle that goes around with adjusting for the snow season. Better for those who live in big cities where there is good public transportation like subway trains and buses. Too bad for us who live in small cities of the Midwest and do not have access to public transport. This is one of the few times when one seriously considers returning back home despite the economic decline. Can you imagine living in Alaska for six months. That is how we feel. Driving in snow is dangerous, some one's mistake can cost your life. The roads are slippery and the visibility is low.

Snow is a big thing here so much that the city council has billions of dollars set aside for dealing with it on roads and schools. Everybody will feel the high cost of staying warm. Winter exposes the poor among us. So for those in Zimbabwe and else where in Africa you have something specially that will not be taken away from you. The sun shine. Politically speaking things are slow for the much awaited Zimbabwean revolution. The prophets and politically scientist alike have predicted that something is about to change in Zimbabwe. We all been waiting for that day and hour. Hope does not kill. Goes the Ndebele saying "ithemba kalibulali". Some of us believes in time as a means of deliverance. Who knows how much more time we have to wait. It reminds of of the Israelites when they were in captivity. I believe Syria held them hostage and they could not plant or plough to feed their families. For the whole year their economy declined and hunger was looming. They cried aloud "summer is past, harvest is gone but we are not saved.

This is question I ask myself sometimes. December is congress month for ZANU PF which is the ruling party in Zimbabwe. Its where they organise and mobilise themselves. This party has organised structures and organ make no mistake. They have experts in funds raising. I wish they would put their expertise for the benefit of the economy and help alleviate poverty for the masses of Zimbabwean. 80% of Zimbabwe's population is is unemployed. The shelves do not have anything and people are dying in large numbers in hospitals. Its a crisis. On the other hand the the two MDC factions are still talking unity. There are talks behind the scenes. Mbeki is travailing for the birth of the new Zimbabwe. Mugabe has not changed only his bodyguards and cars. The factions within the ruling party are subsiding at least for now. Clearly there is not much to be excited about politically.

My own prediction is that change is coming but not as fast as we want. Vice President Mujuru and her faction which is backed by her husband the former General Solomon, who is also a business mogul is in good position. Emmerson Munangagwa is kept scratching his head waiting for an opportunity to come by his way. Despite his backing the boss for the candidature his record is not good. (Tsholotsho gang leader) Everybody is down playing their ambitions for Presidency, even Simba Makoni a respected business leader and a former Minister of Finance. The MDC factions need each other now more than ever. They are both not as popular hence the only way to reinforce themselves is by uniting.The elections are around the corner and the opposition is once again in its weakest since 2000 elections. ZANU PF has gained few seats them, even in places that were predominantly opposition. The economy is not getting any better in fact it get worse every day. We have the highest inflation in the whole world worse than the war tone areas like Du fur.

The civil organisations and trade unions are now politically affiliated or at least polarised. Not all though. Anything that the ruling party is giving us we will accept for now. My guess is that if anything happens to Bob, be it retirement or simply death itself, Mujuru will do a better job until the next general election. That is where the playing field will be plain. Free and fare elections are still a pipe dream. Zimbabwe will now be like Nigeria where there is always controversy and corruption among the Presidents.