Zimbabwe needs national psychological safety

Nations that prosper do so on the back of the collective ingenuity and creativity of their citizens. Ideas and creativity thrive in a culture where citizens feel they have freedom of creative expression and freedom of speech without negative repercussions. This culture starts from home, the education system, the workplace and then permeates all facets of national discourse.

The Memory Nguwi ICWT episode has the nation abuzz with the importance of psychological safety in the workplace. As hugely important as this is, we seem to forget that   psychological safety cannot suddenly emerge in the workplace from a citizenry that does not practice it at home, at school, in church and our neighbourhoods.

In an article in the Zimbabwe Independent, Memory Nguwi argues that psychological safety is necessary for improved communication, creativity and productivity in the workplace. When people are not afraid to express themselves, they are creative and engage in robust disputation which allows the best ideas to rise to the top. Thus, a national marketplace of ideas is created which powers innovation and productivity.  Citizens cowed by intimidation and fear are not able to express themselves resulting in a stunted marketplace of ideas and low levels of entrepreneurship.

At an individual level we owe each other this psychological safety. We are all agents of psychologically safe places at work, church, parliament and cabinet. The quality of our conversations contributes to our national wellbeing, entrepreneurship and productivity.

We can’t expect miracles in the workplace because the same toxic and suffocating atmosphere pervades our work spaces. Our toxic conversations on social media and live spaces suffocate a multiplicity of views and ideas. As Nguwi says, “We can’t be creative until we are in a psychologically safe environment”. Our national environment needs each one of us to play their role in cleansing it of numbing toxicity and fear.

Our nation will only prosper when we are not threatened by ideas we disagree with or other people’s ideas. Zimbabwe will prosper when we tolerate all views and ideas within acceptable societal norms and values. We set limits to our creativity and entrepreneurship if we participate in closing down spaces for debate. Institutionalised and systemic intimidation and intolerance, particularly from the state and its actors, have badly affected our society.

Our political parties must be bastions of energy and creativity but, alas, they are straitjackets where members are expected to march lockstep in conformity with their leaders. The dullness that this produces explains our impoverished politics and economic collapse. Each one of us must look in the mirror and honestly ask ourselves how we are contributing to national psychological safety.

In Conversation with Bheki Makhubu

Bheki Makhubu, the award-winning eSwatini journalist, has been applauded globally for his courage in speaking against injustices in his country. He has paid a heavy price for standing up against King Mswati and the judiciary. In this week’s episode, Makhubu explains why King Mswati III could be on the verge of losing his people and the consequences of this shift. He also shares insights on the King’s relationship with former President Robert Mugabe. Watch his episode here..

Coming Next: In Conversation with Lesley Marange

Don’t miss the next episode with Founder and CEO of Glytime Foods Private Limited Mr Lesley Marange in conversation with Trevor.

Podcasts

• Dr Musa Kika, Executive Director Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum.
• Nigel Chanakira Banker and Businessman.
• Ambassador Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, Medical Doctor, Diplomat.