"In any country where talent and virtue produce no advancement, money will be the national god. Its inhabitants will either have to possess money or make others believe that they do. Wealth will be the highest virtue, poverty the greatest vice. Those who have money will display it in every imaginable way. If their ostentation does not exceed their fortune, all will be well. But if their ostentation does exceed their fortune they will ruin themselves. In such a country, the greatest fortunes will vanish in the twinkling of an eye. Those who don't have money will ruin themselves with vain efforts to conceal their poverty. That is one kind of affluence: the outward sign of wealth for a small number, the mask of poverty for the majority, and a source of corruption for all."

This quote by Denis Diderot,  a Frenchman of letters and a philosopher who lived from 1713-1784 always fascinates me in that, a man who lived in the 1700's, could describe in detail our current situation in Zimbabwe. For me, it correctly describes the root cause of the deterioration of our socio political values system that we are battling against.

Talent and virtue no longer produces any advancement and has been replaced by the ability of our citizens to worship their dear leader and profess their unwavering loyalty to a philosophy of selfishness, greed, non delivery, non accountability and theft. In our county it has become acceptable for the police to continually harass the public and demand payment. It has become acceptable for individuals to steal and cheat in the name of ZANU(PF). It has become fashionable for all, to continually do what they can to mask their poverty and live ostentatiously beyond their means and thus be open to corruption.

The potential of our country has been raped for the last thirty two years and what pains me is that, we still have to negotiate on the future of our country with those responsible for killing the self esteem and potential of the majority citizens of this country.

In imagining a new Zimbabwe, the critical issue that will determine our success will be banishing the old value system and those that have presided over it. More important I think, will be a spiritual awakening and renewal so that we may be able to all fight evil that has taken over our political culture. In my opinion, we must not be naïve to expect that all we need is a new constitution and free and fair elections. What this country needs is a new leadership and a new system of government that is led by God.

I have imagined a new Zimbabwe that cares for its people especially the orphans, the elderly and those that are socially and economically vulnerable. The Zimbabwe I imagine, does not have boastful, puffed up and arrogant leaders, but has humble individuals who seek no personal glory and are concerned with the amelioration of the living conditions of the majority. It has citizens who for once, are concerned with the well being of others and do not seek personal profit at all costs. We have to redefine success.

I have also imagined the feelings of anger and marginalization that existed amongst blacks under colonial rule. Brave Zimbabweans were prepared to risk their lives and join the armed struggle so that things may change. It must have been terrible, but do we not have the very conditions existing today?

I truly believe that what will determine our future success will not be the intelligent sounding policy documents and elaborate development projects and plans that we may pen, but the renewal of our minds so that we put God first. Sin has become too common and fashionable.

Despite the difficulties we face now I remain hopeful that surely our country deserves better and that, in the end, surely goodness will prevail.

Vince Musewe is an independent economist currently in Harare and you may contact him on [email protected]

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter