Of Zimbabwean Intellect and Nothing Much About It By Chief K.Masimba Biriwasha “Genius is more often found in a cracked pot than in a whole one,” – E. B. White Harare, Zimbabwe – MANY Zimbabweans pride themselves in their intellect so much it’s sickening. They think they’re so special they’re guaranteed a special place in the sun because of their famed intelligence. They’re also quick to cite examples of how their country has the highest literacy in Africa, and how many of their fellow country men and women occupy high positions in some leading institutions around the world. Many like to walk around thinking they know it all or whatever. They’ve an excessive or exaggerated sense of self-importance and are impossibly self-conceited – an offshoot of their highly rated intellectual prowess. Their egos are so inflated like their own currency which they abandoned so shamefully after failing to come up with solutions to salvage it. They think they’re so witty, like they’re James Bond himself, and perhaps they are that witty and intellectual and sharp, but they’ve got nothing to show for it. Surprisingly, most of them simply opt to be labourers of grand objects that simply do not utilise their so-renowned intellectual prowess. They also have so many excuses why they cannot pursue tangible solutions to rectify their deep-seated challenges, situations or problems. As I see it, it’s time that we begin to tear apart Zimbabweans’ obsession with their higher thinking capabilities. I mean, let’s ask it bluntly, why do Zimbabweans think highly of themselves when they’re providing no solution to their country’s decade-long political and socio-economic cesspit? The educational system that most of them pride in is in dilapidation and none can proffer credible solutions except merely fingerpoint. Their pride has done little to solve the country’s problems. They can’t at least innovate new solutions to old problems. If Zimbabweans have one of the highest intellectual capital in Africa, then why have they not engaged that capital to create, innovate and build new things. It’s simple: we simply talk, talk and talk beating our own chests to smithereens. All this egoistic posturing that is characteristic of the Zimbabwean is simply nothing but a shame. In light of this we should endeavor to use our intelligence to further help our fellow beings in their lives. We should keep humble and not laud over others with our self-bloated great intellect. Instead, we need to use that intellect for good in action. We must be innovators and creators, and not simply sit on the laurels of our intellect.
Posted on: Thu, 22 Aug 2013 19:08:29 +0000
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