About time to define the Zimbabwean dream

As Zimbabwe undergoes the current transition it is important that the national destination be defined .The definition of what Zimbabweans seek can easily be defined as the Zimbabwean dream borrowing from the world famous American dream . The American dream has been shortened to cover a life where one has a decent house, car, secure job and a happy family . However the full Dream includes the opportunity for one's children to grow up and receive an education and its consequent career opportunities. It is also includes the opportunity to make individual choices without the restrictions of class, caste, religion, race, or ethnic group. Now may be the time to define the Zimbabwean dream .I writing this article a looked at my personal self development as part of defining the Zimbabwean dream.


The recent trends especially on Zimbabwe’s education system and prospects to get a decent job make defining this dream important. This is particularly important to the “born free” generation -those born after 1980 who may not have had an opportunity to experience a normal Zimbabwe in their adult life. For that reason I will look at how things were slightly over a decade ago when I completed my University Education and started my career as a Trainee Corporate Finance officer at the then National Merchant Bank of Zimbabwe ( Now NMB Bank Ltd).

This is important in as far as it can show how an independent Zimbabwe was actually able to offer hope and a decent career for almost any focused young person who worked hard and managed to acquire some University Education.

In the mid 1990s getting a University place was almost a sure ticket to a decent life and the right step into starting on the corporate ladder. Once one was admitted to the University it was cause of big celebration as it was well known in advance that you will secure a Job which would not only pay a decent salary but possibly that came with a Company car even for recent University Graduates.

I was not one of the lucky ones who got a Company car but was still very content because my job offer included a provision that I would qualify for a car loan almost immediately and a housing loan once I proved to be competent .This was the market trends and it was normal. This is what kept many youngsters focused on going to school and believe in education .I secured my first Job whilst waiting for my results that was in May by graduation time in October I was driving my own car and within 12 months had my first property thanks to a housing loan from my employer NMB Bank .

There are clear lessons in this in that I wasn’t alone or an isolated case in terms of getting a decent job, car and house all within one year of completing my first degree. This was the Zimbabwean dream. The dream was based on the simple premise that you go to school , pass and you secure a job which would allow you to access opportunities and live a normal and decent life. This was well within range for most Zimbabweans since the opportunities existed and a clear incentive was well defined. This is not so long ago its slightly a decade back.

The Zimbabwe of today seems devoid of such clear incentives for the youngsters to hold on to the dream and seriously pursue education as a sure way to escape poverty and despair. As Zimbabwe seeks to redefine and re-brand itself it is important that the Zimbabwean dream be re-defined is such simple and clear terms and make it within reach for any Zimbabwean who has the will within themselves to improve their life.

America has been viewed as a land in which a person’s prospects in life are limited by one's talents and energy rather than by one's family wealth or political connections. Whilst there maybe certain limitations in reality it is important for any serious nation to have such visions be defined as a guiding light for its citizens .Its clear America has been challenged in various areas in terms of fairness but it remains critical and important that being an American one knows what the American dream is and when its lacking people can easily see it and then fight to correct that. A developing nation like Zimbabwe equally deserves such a well defined dream which will act as a guiding light for school kids till they reach adulthood .

Whilst the politicians focus on power sharing there is need for them to remember helping shape a national vision as defined by the Zimbabwean dream. This does not need to be anything fancy but a simple list of “ must have” for every hard working Zimbabwean.

As part of defining the Zimbabwean dream meritocracy must the central theme. Under a meritocracy society is supposed to reward (by wealth , social status and recognition) those who show skill, talent and competence as demonstrated by past actions or by competition and will to succeed and work hard.

There is need for defining the Zimbabwean dream which allows someone coming from socially - low origins, against all odds, to breaks out of the inherited social position, climbs up the social ladder and creates a new identity for himself. The critical factors in this rise must be hard work and a solid moral foundation. This needs to be a well defined national dream embodied in a national vision which will act as a guiding light for the country’s young citizens as they seek to establish their own identity.

Gilbert Muponda is an Entrepreneur based in Canada.

He is Founder of GMRI Capital He can be reached at;

Email: gilbert@gilbertmuponda.com . Skype ID: gilbert.Muponda

Twitter ; http://twitter.com/gmricapital

Phone: 1-416-841-5542