We are a nation at war with itself. We are angry with one another. It does not appear we will let up our anger sooner. We are a fuse away from being involved in or experiencing an explosive situation. I am using the royal “we” here because even those thinking they are neutral, are actually not neutral because through their actions and/ or lack thereof, they are either fueling or abating the conflict.

The sooner we realise “united we stand, divided we fall” the better it shall be for us. We should not just stop at realising this saying, but in living it. We cannot live it so long as we are pointing fingers at each other and unwilling to understand the other side, and letting go of, or at best, reviewing some of our hardened stances to allow peace and prosperity to prevail.

At the current rate, it appears our differences are so stark and ideological that it seems the only way out of our bad situation would be through learning the hard way. We are truly at the crossroads. By Nimroth Gwetsa, 30 March 2018.

Our way out options are: lay down arms, negotiate and carve the mutually beneficial way forward, or sink into a deep hole of hardship and intense strife that we become too desperate to accept any solution that can pull us out of the abyss, even if that solution would not ordinarily be our first choice.

We have other unconstitutional impediments warring sides have to simultaneously resolve. These include dealing with people believing in “levelling the playing fields” through graft because proponents of apartheid amassed their wealth through looting of the state for which no criminal charges have been laid against them.

Among topical issues at the centre of our differences about turning around our economic woes are issues not only about capitalism versus socialism, but people excusing those who committed graft because they advocate for much advocated radicalism in the transformation of our economy.

Considering we are a constitutional democracy, voters have much power to effect meaningful change politically, and that power has been “delegated” to politicians as the people’s representatives in parliament. I could equally say much of our woes are attributable to our voting decisions and failing to hold power to account, but relying on others to do it on our behalf. Our “idolatry” in treating political parties as the panacea has also exacerbated the situation because it has hardened the hearts of many against accepting change and trying something new.

The arrival of the Economic Freedom Fighters to the political scene has somewhat altered the trajectory of our politics and entrenched views. Though we may not agree with some of their antics and ideology, we cannot deny their arrival brought about change that shook the complacency that was increasingly getting entrenched among traditionally larger parties. Their presence does not necessarily mean we are getting any closer to resolving our differences and enjoying the peace, but the volatile situation has demonstrated that we are going through different stages of grief about agreeing on the right strategy to finding lasting solutions acceptable across our sharp divide.

Insults, scare-mongering, drive to win at all cost, name-calling, panic, lackadaisicalness, shallow thinking, presumptuousness, “laager-mentality” and clinging to one’s kind, among others, will not help us resolve, but exacerbate our differences. When will we realise these practices will hinder us from finding lasting solutions suitable for all?

We do not have much time. Opportunities are passing us by because we cannot use our collective wisdom to tackle our problems, but are busy looking for opportunities and ways to hurt one another and hold on to our prejudices.

Amidst our current turbulence, I am glad to see many youngsters doing their best to improve their knowledge and skills through tertiary education. They may be struggling to secure employment for now, but just as they endured completing their studies amidst the volatility, they should, likewise, not despair. And where possible, they should push harder to find opportunities for lasting solutions, for “this too shall pass”.

And when we make it to the top one day, let us never forget where we come from so we do not look down on those still struggling to make it. Let us not be tempted to call those behind us names, or block their ascension because we want to lord it over them or fear competition owing to lack of confidence in own abilities.

This warning applies to everyone – employers and fellow employees alike, for there are employers also envious of their employees and actively sabotage their career progression by limiting their exposure to clients, and sometimes, humiliating or treating them unprofessionally. It is human nature to fight for and/ or defend our turf. We must always strive to increase our capacity so we are not threatened by sharing and/ or opening opportunities for others.

I’ve said this before and will say it again, that not many among us, would be like the Biblical John The Baptist willing to “become smaller” so his contemporary could be greater. That can only happen when one is “driven” by a higher power and purpose and has set eyes on contributing towards human development. It comes from understanding that personal development and achievement is greater when one lives to enable and develop others. But this is a discussion for another day[1].

When we do not increase our capacity, we stunt the growth of the coming generation and are easily threatened by them. This irrationality is owing, also to our competitive desire to want to be at the pinnacle, where it is not crowded. The vastness of uncrowded “space” at the top also enables achievers enjoy more freedom of movement and exercise choice.

Perhaps this is not the right timing for us to resolve our differences as we are closer to 2019, the year of our national and provincial elections. Many may be casting their eyes on settling differences through increasing their party’s vote tally, hoping to silence critics into submission by sheer numbers that would then empower them to effect their ideas about the country’s much-needed solution.

The outcome of the 2019 elections will, either way, deliver “shocking” results to many’s expectations. Some expect the ruling party to fare worse owing to many corruption scandals associated with its party members. But, the new leadership could also motivate the electorate to return and cast their ballots in favour of the ruling party.

Support for some opposition parties may shrink while others may grow by a large percentage. Either way, the results will determine the economic direction the country will need to embark on.

Let our contestations for ideas not create enmity among us, but ideologically and intellectually enriched citizenry so we could cast our eyes back on striving to being among the world’s best.

[1] See also: We are vessels, the sooner we learn that the better for us all