DEAR President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Your Excellency, in Genesis, a story is told of the Garden of Eden. It is said that in it, man does not have to work by the sweat of his brow to survive. There is a tree of life located in the middle of the exquisite garden from which man may eat of all he wishes. But, almost in the same breath, the story seems to contradict itself. Henceforth, it mentions yet another tree, the tree of knowledge of good and bad. Here, God instructs Adam in a do-or-die solemnity that as surely as he eats of its fruit, he will die. This story of two trees, one of life and another one of knowledge of good and evil is a popular Sunday school topic. Methinks you were taught it as I was. My mentor, the late John Kapeta, underlined that it was a telling allegory of transcendent insights for cardinal virtue. What adds spice to the story is the appearance of the serpent. After God and Adam had ended their conversation, which went on cordially, the serpent contradicted to Eve what God had told Adam. “You surely will not die,” slyly said the serpent. And, they ate at their peril. Apparently, people reap what they sow. Since time immemorial, the fate of destruction and death is inevitable for people who stray beyond the tree of life. As I see it, whatever people ultimately become, be it individually or collectively, is traceable to the choices they made. It is not mere coincidence that Jesus also affirmed the objective of bringing the Kingdom of heaven here on earth. He pleaded for the beauty and sufficiency of heaven to be replicated on earth. His prayer: “Let it be done on earth, as it is in heaven,” is indeed an earnest petition. Methinks at the heart of this story sits the universal principles of accountability and responsibility. Each time I study this account, importance of obedience and diligence in caring for whatever providence places in my care gets driven deep into my personhood. Also, I get the conviction that the imagery of the Garden of Eden is a portrayal of Zimbabwe. Given the beauty of her scenery and resourceful human and abundant natural resources, she is indeed a country of sufficiency. All things being equal, citizenry may eat all they wish. Recent discovery of diamonds in Manicaland confirmed the riches bestowed on the country. Indeed, Zimbabwe is an earthly Garden of Eden. Yet, sadly, citizenry wallow in poverty. His Excellency, it is due to fateful government choices that the country is in this socio-economic mire. Over the years, government has been blaming a long list of imaginary enemies for impeding viability. But, the basic truth is that its political choices have adverse effects on the economy. Like Adam, it transgresses God’s words, “You surely will die.” Yet, it blames others. As I see it, citizenry should have had a day of national prayer and fasting for deliverance from untoward government policies than from coronavirus. True, divine intervention has power of transmutation. But, methinks our prayer and fasting was a profanity, lip service. Frankly, the challenges bedevilling Zi