The author recalls celebrating Zimbabwe's independence anniversary at Dambatsoko shopping centre in their youth, but their brother notes that real independence is still to come. The author had dreams that questioned the concept of independence. Their grandfather used to do well in business at Dambatsoko, where people would gather to celebrate independence. However, over time many friends have given up on the idea of independence as the country has been subjected to a wasted history and is now effectively an appendage of the United States, despite claims of never being a colony again. The author argues that Zimbabwe's leaders are the problem, having squandered opportunities and refusing to take responsibility for their mistakes.

1. THE ILLUSION OF INDEPENDENCE
A little while ago on the eve of Zimbabwe’s umpteenth Independence Anniversary I called my brother
and asked him if we were going to spend the night celebrating Independence at Dambatsoko shopping
centre.His response was a mild laughter and he said he was looking forward to celebrating
independence which was yet to come.I just recalled I had recently been having very bad and false
dreams on the concept of independence.I remember my portly but shrewd and very bad tempered
retailer grandfather of the late sixties tying the laces on his right shoe.He said he was going to
Dambatsoko to do business and he really did well in business back then though he was semiliterate.
Dambatsoko means ,loosely translated,monkeys’play place ,and that is where we regularly assembled to
celebrate independence.Why we,in our teens back then,joined in the euphoric celebrations and
thought things would remain the same can only be blamed on the childish responses to the unknown. A
lot of friends with whom we shared this ever retreating experience of a mirage ever retreating before
us have called it a day!We have been subjected to a history which is nothing but a waste of time,a
waste of lives and a waste of resources. We are now the unacknowledged new appendage to the
United States of America though we shamelessly ,and at every turn babble that we will never be a
colony again.Our leaders have squandered every opportunity to listen to good advice and now,day in
and day out,they think someone else is responsible for their errors.Are our leaders having problems?No,
they are the problem!