By Aaron Gono
As the world daily sinks into the abyss and oblivion of uncertainty and fearing for our future, let’s revisit the devastation of previous wars.
After the second world war in 1945, an organization of independent states called the United Nations was formed to promote international peace and security. Hitherto some stability, peace and economic prosperity were enjoyed in the world; although economic hitmen were dictating the pace. And the major reason for the formation of the United Nations was to make sure, events of the first and second world wars were not to be repeated again. But groupthink and mind games are renewing the possibility of a third world war and why?
To make it an interesting read; let us first define “groupthink”, “it is decision making by a group (especially in a manner that discourages creativity or individual responsibility). During the Nuremberg trials from 1945 to 1946, we witnessed Nazi war criminals indicted trying to give all the blame to Hitler, Himmler and Goebbels, as the architect of the gas chambers. And in 2017, after the fall of Robert Gabriel Mugabe of Zimbabwe; we also saw some political miscreants blaming all bad things that befall Zimbabwe to Mugabe. Mind games are defined as deliberate actions of calculated psychological manipulation intended to intimidate or confuse the public.
The comeback of Donald Trump to the White House is mainly attributed to his rght-wing populism approach. He promised to deport all illegal immigrants back to their countries. He also wanted Americans to take their number one tag in all global issues; economic and industrial development. He also sounded as a peace lover and enemy of wasteful expenditures. And all the decisions are made by the president’s close advisors, J.D. Vance and Ellon Musk. All decisions from them are final; no room for critical thinking and dissenting voices and finally this leads to poor decision making.
During the reign of the late R.G. Mugabe, groupthink was cemented and till today the scenario has remained the same. When Dzikamai Mavhaire gave a motion in parliament for Mugabe to retire, he was demonised left and right and finally he was expelled from ZANU PF. Groupthink suppresses dissent, that’s how Africa is ruled today. Remember the song “Hondo yeminda” during 2001, in Zimbabwe. It was played in every radio station in the country after every five minutes, so that every Zimbabwean must conform to the land agrarian reform program.
Currently in Zimbabwe the 2030 slogan is being used by Geza to challenge the incumbent to desist from hanging on to power beyond his constitutionally mandated two terms. It is another good example of groupthink, whoever came with the idea had no problem to propagate it, as there is no room to evaluate the ripple effects of extending the tenure of the presidium beyond 2028.
It is a clear point that ZANU PF legislators are insulated from outside viewpoints. They don’t care what the outside world thinks. There is no one in the party who could say “this feat will give us problems, why not shelve it”. Conformity and consensus ruled the day. The so-called opposition members were also in favour of extending their stay at Mt. Hampden. They don’t just stay, they are perks for the stay. As long as we eat “Why worry Goromonzi, after form 6?”
Museveni of Uganda is also practicing groupthink the wonderful way; almost all cabinet positions are filled by his kith and kin. He is confident he is going nowhere, and possesses that nobody can ‘touch me mentality’. So every decision must come from him; pertaining the lives of Ugandans. He deposed Idi Dada Amin, but he is now faring better than him. It is Africa. Usually bad decisions are the result of groupthink.
As a true pan-Africanist, it was cool to hear Robert Mugabe blaming Tony Blair’s gay gangsters of wanting to topple him. Sure, Tony Blair’s groupthink also contribute to the current animosity between Zimbabwe and the West. He pretended to be a political guru, by disowning all agreements passed at Lancaster House. He was so smart to say “the current British hybrid were not part of the Pioneer Column”. That was what Bob wanted to hear, and he went berserk, leaving the British Commonwealth family in a huff, and also threatening to leave the Southern Africa Development Community.
So Tony Blair you owe Zimbabweans a great debt to repay. Some elements in ZANU PF don’t support the ED2030 agenda but they are silent, fearing for their future, so their silence is perceived as support for the cause. So it is the mind game that Zimbabweans find at this juncture. Geza is calling for demonstration that ED, must go. And some are asking if “it is not their war, alone”. What are Zimbabweans supposed to do now; accept the ED2030 agenda or Geza as their savior.
“A wise man gets more use from his enemies than a fool from his friends” – Baltasar Gracian.
