The people of Zimbabwe have
risked life and limb to elect Zanu PF’s political opponents on the
understanding, once in power, they would implement the democratic reforms the
nation was dying for.
Morgan
Tsvangirai and his MDC friends have had many golden opportunities to implement
the reforms, with the best chances coming during the 2008 to 2013 GNU. Sadly,
Tsvangirai et al took their eyes off the ball and they wasted all the
opportunities. They have failed to implement even one reform!
Mugabe
bribed the MDC leaders with the trappings of high office; the ministerial
limos, the generous salaries, a US$4 million mansion for Tsvangirai himself,
etc. And to show their appreciation, MDC leaders forgot about the reforms!
“Mazivznhu
eMDC adzidza kudya anyerere!” (MDC leaders have learned to enjoy the gravy
train good-life. They will never rock the boat now!) boasted Mugabe’s cronies
during the GNU, when asked why MDC leaders were not implementing any reforms.
After
the GNU, MDC leaders have abandoned all hope of implementing any reforms and
have since settled for a few gravy-train seats Zanu PF gives away as bait.
The
scramble for the bait seats has brought out the nation’s scum, the 2018
elections were a hotly contested affair with 23 candidates contesting for the
presidency alone. They all knew with no reforms Zanu PF would win 2/3 majority
in parliament plus the presidency; they were fighting over the remaining 1/3 or
so MP seats and the coveted title of opposition party leader.
Of
course, all of the opposition leaders contesting these flawed and illegitimate
elections knew their participation gave credibility to the rigged elections
and, thus some modicum of legitimacy to the resultant Zanu PF government. They
were doing it out of greed, as David Coltart, a MDC leader and minister in the
GNU, readily admitted in his book. The Struggle Continues 50 years
of tyranny in Zimbabwe.
“The
worst aspect for me about the failure to agree a coalition was that both MDCs
couldn’t now do the obvious – withdraw from the elections,” wrote Senator
Coltart.
“The
electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to
withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the
distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that
the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process
credibility.”
The
“obvious” thing for the opposition to have done in 2013, 2018 and ever more so
in 2023 is not participate in the elections without reforms designed to stop
the curse of rigged elections. The country’s opposition is but scum, they
participated in the elections then and they are already out campaigning for the
2023 elections!
"Good
leaders are not seen by the size of their promises, but by what they have done
to date. Conmen thrive on sweet promises, convincing you they can move
mountains for you when they can't lift a pebble for themselves. We stand by
that assertion, track records matter more than promises," Dr Nkosana Moyo,
leader of Alliance for People's Agenda. He was one of the 23 presidential
candidates in the rigged July 2018 plebiscite.
"Elections
came. The people chose. Did the people choose on merit or emotions? Did the
people choose on track record or future promises? In Bulawayo one leader was
not elected by the voters, but leadership is in him. He continues to innovate
and find solutions to community problems."
How
can people “choose on merit” if elections are not free, fair and credible?
The
country is stuck with this corrupt, incompetent and tyrannical Zanu PF
dictatorship for 40 years and counting because the thugs rig elections. How can
asking the nation to participate in these flawed and illegal elections for the
umpteenth time be an “innovative solution” to ending the rat race?
“Hupedzi
inyama yegakava!” (There is no one more stubborn than a fool!) so goes a Shona
adage.
Dr
Nkosana Moyo greed has closed your eyes, ears and mind to reason, reality and
truth. You are just a first-class village idiot, no different from Mugabe,
Mnangagwa, Tsvangirai, Chamisa and all the others whose greed landed us in this
hell-on-earth and is keeping us there.
Zimbabwe's
number one priority is to make sure we implement the reforms necessary for
free, fair and credible elections. It would be irresponsible to let the nation
be stampeded into yet another rigged election by those blinded by greed!
You have hit the nail on the head, there. Betrayal has happened too often, it has become the norm!
ReplyDeleteThe nation was promised "One man! One vote!" during the fight for our independence but by the time the nation was ready for the first vote in 1980, Mugabe made it clear the war would continue if he lost the elections. And ever since, Zanu PF has cheated and even used wanton violence to secure a landslide victory.
The people of Zimbabwe have risked life and limb to elect Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends into power on the understanding they would implement the democratic reforms the nation was dying for. They have failed to implement even one reform in 20 years. They sold-out!
Even seemingly respectable people like Professor Mthuli Ncube and Minister Kirsty Coventry have sold-out. Mnangagwa waved the posh ministerial car in their faces and they declared the 2018 elections free, fair and credible.
Someone once said many Zimbabweans will sell their own mothers for a price and be proud they had a mother to sell! Sadly, that is very true!
I salute the lady for holding Minister Sibusiso Moyo and Zanu PF to account; the nation is in this hell-on-earth today because for the last 40 years not enough Zimbabweans have had the courage to hold the regime to account. I would not put it beyond these Zanu PF thugs to punish the lady for criticizing the regime.
But then this is a regime that has punished us all and worse is yet to come - corona virus is going to hit the nation harder than it has hit other nations given our economy and health services were already in a mess before the outbreak..
The government is reportedly planning to release funds due to the MDC under The Political Parties’ Act to the team that is temporarily in charge of the MDC.
ReplyDeleteA local publication has reportedly confirmed the development.
MDC was weak and feeble before the court judgement and now after it, the party is even more divided and useless. This is a fault of MDC's own making, of Chamisa's own making!
The trouble with having a corrupt and incompetent government is that your pay for it during the good times in terms of lost opportunities and pay even more during the bad times as their incompetence invariably make the bad times even worse.
ReplyDeleteI have read Senator Coltart’s book, he has glossed over many issues such as why the 2008 to 2013 GNU itself was formed and why it failed to implement even one reform. In some cases, he has come up with some real stupid excuses in a desperate effort to rescue his narrative; why MDC participate in the elections knowing fully well that Zanu PF was rigging the elections was one such case.
ReplyDelete“The worst aspect for me about the failure to agree a coalition was that both MDCs couldn’t now do the obvious – withdraw from the elections,” wrote Senator Coltart.
“The electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process credibility.”
So, MDC leaders participated in the elections out of greed even thou they knew doing so gave the flawed process credibility. How stupid is that!
Of course, other opposition leaders like Dr Nkosana Moyo have participated in the elections out of greed and knowing doing so gave the flawed process credibility. What is shocking is Dr Moyo is itching to participate in the 2023 elections and has the chutzpah to call this an “innovative solution!” What a village idiot!
@ Bhani
ReplyDelete“Even those with political knowledge have failed us dismally actually they have legitimised the illegitimate Zanu PF. Zimbabweans claim to be the most educated in the continent but politically they are the dullest. Dr Nkosana Moyo is the only credible and honest candidate that can rescue Zimbabwe from this abyss but because we don’t vote according to policies and credibility but populism like blinkered donkeys.”
No, the reason why Zanu PF has been winning elections ever since 1980 is because the party has been rigging the elections. The very fact that people have been participating in this flawed and illegal elections even expecting to win them goes to show just how naïve, gullible, thick and slow they are. How is it possible that in this day and age anyone would have no clue what constitute free, fair and credible elections.
ZEC failed to produce something as basic as a verified voters’ roll. How can anyone be fooled into believing such an election process can ever be traced and verified!
How can Dr Nkosana Moyo be anything but a joke if he doesn’t even have the common sense to know without implementing reforms it will be impossible for Zanu PF to lose the elections! Your failure to see Dr Moyo for the political sell-out he is, makes you a very naïve and gullible electorate.
Democracy demands a diligent and well-informed voters and little wonder the country is in a real mess.