Zimbabwe is in this
political and economic mess because our political leaders have no respect for
the constitution, the rule of law, the truth, the freedoms and rights of others
and not even the sanctity of human life.
In November 2017
Mnangagwa and his Joint Operation Command (JOC) cronies staged a military coup to
remove the dictator Robert Mugabe after 37 years in office. It should be noted
here that it was none other than Mnangagwa and JOC, a junta comprising the top
brass in the Police, Army, CIO and Prison Services plus a select few Zanu PF
loyalists headed by Mnangagwa and Mugabe, who establish the corrupt and
ruthless de facto one-party, Zanu PF, dictatorship that had kept the dictator
and party in power all these years.
Chief Justice George
Chiweshe ruled the coup was “legal, justified and constitutional”! Who has ever
heard such a truckload of nonsense!
Mnangagwa, no doubt
aware the Zanu PF regime post military coup was illegitimate, promised to hold
free, fair and credible elections. This was one promise readily made but with
no intention to be honoured; the regime did not implement even one token reform
to ensure free, fair and credible elections. The putsch gangsters had risked
life and limb to wrestle power from Mugabe, they were not going to risk losing
it in a free and fair election.
Mnangagwa blatantly
rigged last year’s elections by denying 3 million Zimbabweans in the diaspora a
vote, coercing the 60% or so rural voters to attend Zanu PF rallies and vote
for the party, etc. ZEC has failed to produce something as basic as a verified
voters’ roll, for Pete’s sake. And yet Mnangagwa still insist the elections
were free, fair and credible!
Zimbabwe’s corrupt and incompetent
MDC opposition has undermined the people’s fight to end the Zanu PF
dictatorship by failing to implement the democratic reforms, even when they had
the golden opportunity to do so during the GNU. And by participating in flawed
and illegal elections knowing fully well the elections will be rigged and,
worst of all, that doing so would give the process some legitimacy.
MDC readily accept that Zanu
PF rigged last year’s elections and that the regime is, ipso facto,
illegitimate. The party has been pushing Mnangagwa to appoint Chamisa and one or
two other MDC leaders into the Zanu PF regime in retain for MDC’s endorsement
of the regime as legitimate. MDC are so desperate to push their power sharing
demands some of the party leaders are now threatening to overthrow Zanu PF!
"We are a committed
leadership that will give Zanu PF headaches and [Amos] Chibaya was not lying or
joking about the war and fight we are going to take to the doorsteps of
Emmerson Mnangagwa. We are going to overthrow him before 2023 that is not a
joke," said Job Sikhala, MDC Vice Chairperson at a Rally in Bikita.
Of course, that was a
very foolish thing to say, to say the least, especially when one is dealing with
a ruthless dictatorship like Zanu PF which is always itching for an excuse to
use brute force to maintain its iron grip on power. The regime has used such inflammatory
language to justify its shoot to kill policy in August last year and in January
this year killing 7 and 24 civilians respectively. We must now hold our breath
we will not have more killings.
Meanwhile Job Sikhala
may well face criminal charged for his careless remark!
“Section 22(2) of the
Criminal Law (Codification & Reform) Act does not make it an offence to
advocate for the mere “overthrow” of the government. The operative words are “by
unconstitutional means”. It is lawful to advocate for the overthrow by
constitutional means,” twittered David Coltart.
Well Sikhala did talk of
war or is Coltart now suggesting war is now a constitutional means the same way
Judge Chiweshe ruled November 2017 military coup was “legal, justified and constitutional”!
MDC is in no position to
wage a war to overthrow this Zanu PF regime, so it is nonsensical to threaten a
war one is in no position to fight especially against an adversary who lives by
the sword! Worse still, why would one resort to the extra solution of waging a
war when one can achieve the same objectives peacefully.
It is infuriating that
MDC has never implemented even one reform to dismantle the Zanu PF dictatorship
although they have had many golden opportunities to do so. And right now, it is
MDC who are giving this illegitimate Zanu PF regime legitimacy!
The tragic reality is
that the people of Zimbabwe trusted first Mugabe and Zanu PF and then Morgan
Tsvangirai and MDC to deliver freedom and human rights including the right to
free and fair elections only to be betrayed by each in turn. The truth is
neither Zanu PF nor MDC really care about a free, just and prosperous Zimbabwe;
they pretend to care just for the sake of winning the people’s vote. All they care
about is securing absolute power and the wealth and influence it brings.
@ Afrobarometer
ReplyDeleteEven larger majorities object to various forms of authoritarianism: 78 percent oppose presidential dictatorships, 74 percent oppose one-party rule and 72 percent object to military rule.
About four out of 10 Africans, or 42 percent, “demand democracy,” meaning they hold all four of these pro-democratic views at the same time.
These committed democrats are most likely to be found among urban residents, men, and people who have middle-class jobs, a university education, a strong interest in politics, and a habit of reading newspapers and using the Internet.
Many people have doubted the accuracy of Afrobarometer’s finding in the past and I do so still. 3 million Zimbabweans is the diaspora were denied the vote last year I do not believe 4 out of 10 000 Zimbabweans even noticed much less “demand” an explanation or anything!
The trouble with Afrobarometer is that its methodology is so shallow and superficial to finding does not make any sense. I will bet their finding failed to distinguish these “demanding democracy” from the MDC herd type who have been shouting for democratic change for the last 20 years but still have no clue what changes they want.
Zimbabweans are angry as a year-on-year price jump of around 100% has eaten the value of their wages and savings, recalling the horrors of hyperinflation in 2008. Hopes that living standards would soon improve under President Emmerson Mnangagwa have not been realized.
ReplyDeleteDaily power cuts lasting up to 17 hours and severe shortages of U.S. dollars, fuel, bread, and medicines are bedeviling citizens who had hoped the end of Robert Mugabe’s rule after a 2017 coup would herald a new economic dawn.
Thomas Muzondo, deputy chairman of the Apex Council, a group of public sector unions, told Reuters the government’s offer would see each of the 309,000 civil servants receiving only an additional 97 Zimbabwe dollars ($11.28) a month.
That amount would buy less than 20 litres of petrol at a service station. The lowest paid government worker earns 430 Zimbabwe dollars a month, enough to buy a vehicle tire.
“We totally rejected that offer so they [government Negotiators] will go back to their principals for further consultations,” Muzondo told Reuters.
“It was a total waste of time.”
He said the full Apex Council would meet in the capital Harare on Wednesday to decide its next step.
Awarding a worker paid Z$430 per month an added Z$97 or 23% pay increase when the year on year inflation rate is 100% will mean the work will be earning half what is earning now due to inflation Z$264 assuming inflation does not get worse. One thing that is set to fuel inflation guaranteed in government printing money to finance its expenditure. Where would government get the additional revenue to finance its 23% pay increase given the economic meltdown is getting worse and not better, other than printing money!
There reason why government imposed the Z$ as the only legal tender is now clear, to free the regime to print money to bankroll its expanding expenditure. The bad old days of hyper inflation and empty shop shelves are back!
If MDC had implemented the reforms during the 2008 to 2013 GNU then Zanu PF would not have rigged last year's elections resulting in the present constitutional crisis of no legitimate government.
ReplyDeleteThe MDC proposal of forming a transition authority (TA) will create a gravy train position for Chamisa, Biti and a few other MDC leaders but will not resolve the economic meltdown. Zimbabwe is a pariah state ruled by corrupt, vote rigging and murderous thugs. No one likes to do business with thugs even if a few MDC members are included in the pariah regime.
On the political from the TA will never implement even one democratic reform. If MDC failed to get even one reform implemented during the 2008 GNU, when they had the trump cards, what hope now when Zanu PF has all the trump cards.
Zanu PF is illegitimate and the only way forward is for the regime to step down. The MDC are the ones giving Zanu PF the excuse to hang on to power by offering to declare the regime legitimate in return for a share of the spoils of power! MDC are selling -out just as they did during the GNU by failing to implement even one reform in five years!
"Zimbabwe is on the way to recovery," said President Ramaphosa.
ReplyDeleteWell here is one other African leader who finds it difficult to distinguish between reality and fantasy! Zimbabwe is in this mess not because of the drought but four decades of gross mismanagement and rampant corruption. Nothing has been done to end the two cancers and it is naive to therefore blame the mess on the drought!
What Zimbabwe needs is to hold free, fair and credible elections as the pre-requisite for good governance without which the country has no hope of ending the cancers of mismanagement and corruption. We messed up this chance by failing to hold free and fair elections last year.
The party of power has proven one simple thing. ZANU-PF cannot reform itself. President Mnangagwa cannot introduce the sort of radical changes – to the economy and to society – without damaging the entrenched interests of party members.
ReplyDeleteInstead, his administration will live from day-to-day, with a baton in its hand, ready to strike at its critics.
This is all true, it is sad to say!
@ Chamisa
ReplyDelete“We've always urged ZEC to ensure the credibility of constitutional means to choose leaders. Rigging the electoral process nullifies the most vital way to choose leadership. The right to act is a fundamental right. We're the alternative and are entitled to express that alternative,” you said.
“We've seen time without number the manipulation of the electoral process and a resultant crisis of legitimacy in this country. Those in office undermined and subverted the constitutional process of a democratically electing government. That is the root cause of illegitimacy.”
Nonsense, MDC had the golden opportunity to implement the democratic reforms to ensure free, fair and credible elections and you lot failed to get even one reform implemented. How many times has MDC leaders dismissed those who have called for the implementation of reforms before elections! “MDC has stringent measures to stop Zanu PF rigging the elections,” you, Nelson Chamisa said before last year’s elections.
“Hon Sikhala and I come a long way. He is a Cde, brother and I know his love for Zimbabwe. He means no harm. He expresses himself in very passionate ways. He does so because he loves Zimbabwe. There are few men whom I know who are as passionate about Zimbabwe and freedom as he is,” you said.
MDC wants to sell “legitimacy” to Mnangagwa for the price of a few cabinet positions for yourself, Chamisa, and a few others; that is what you are all passionate about!
President Ramaphosa has no clue what he is talking about, Zimbabwe is not on its way to great economic recovery. As long as the country remains a pariah state ruled by corrupt, incompetent and vote rigging thugs, the country will never have any meaningful economic recovery!
ReplyDelete@ Don Chigumba
ReplyDelete“This piece seeks to demonstrate that ZANU-PF has been provoking citizens to revolt since 1980s. President ED Mnangagwa should change his party's dictatorship system of governance and electoral fraud. It is now clear that election system is failing to work in Zimbabwe because of stage managed rigging by ZANU-PF government/party. The failure of election is most likely to force young people to opt for Chimurenga struggle and violence just like what happened during the time of Smith. Smith did not allow ‘one wo(man) one vote'. The blacks were not allowed to vote, that forced Zimbabweans to go for the Chimurenga liberation struggle. ZANU-PF developed the same habit (of rigging the elections every election season) soon after independence. Quite a number of Zimbabweans see no hope in the Zimbabwe's election processes and another Chimurenga liberation struggle may be ignited. President ED Mnagagwa should be very careful and take heed of Sikhala's words,” you said.
Excellent except for one key point, MDC has had many golden opportunities to implement the democratic reforms design to stop Zanu PF rigging elections but has wasted them all. Right now it is MDC leaders who giving Zanu PF some measure of legitimacy by offering the regime legitimacy in return for cabinet position for Chamisa and one or two other MDC leaders.
Zimbabwe would not be in this mess still, if it was not for MDC leaders selling out at every turn. Get rid of these corrupt and incompetent MDC leaders and you will see there is no need for another armed struggle!
It will be unforgivable if Zimbabwe was to be dragged into Sudan type street protests or worse when all this would have been avoided if MDC had implemented the democratic reforms designed to stop Zanu PF rigging the elections.
ReplyDeleteWe do not need a war to remove an illegitimate regime! It is Chamisa and company who are giving legitimacy to Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF junta, get rid of these MDC sell-out and Zanu PF will fall!
MDC is a party of breathtakingly corrupt and incompetent individuals and for the last 20 years they have been a great liability to the nation's quest to end the Zanu PF dictatorship and not its champion. MDC leaders have blundered again and again even when Zanu PF was on the ropes and change was certain; MDC leaders have still managed to blunder and allow Zanu PF to recover.
ReplyDeleteMnangagwa and his junta knew the international community was not fooled by their calling a coup a "military assisted transition". The regime was illegitimate and just because no one made an issue of it did not change that reality. The regime had the chance to redeem itself by holding free, fair and credible elections. It turned out to be a bridge too far for the thugs.
International observers like SADC and AU confined themselves to reporting on how peaceful the campaigning period had been and carefully avoid saying anything about whether the elections were free, fair and credible because they knew they were not. Others like the Americans, EU, Commonwealth and many others condemned the elections and said why.
“The electoral commission lacked full independence and appeared to not always act in an impartial manner,” stated the EU Election Observer Mission final report.
“The final results as announced by the Electoral Commission contained numerous errors and lacked adequate traceability, transparency and verifiability. Finally, the restrictions on political freedoms, the excessive use of force by security forces and abuses of human rights in the post-election period undermined the corresponding positive aspects during the pre-election campaign. As such, many aspects of the 2018 elections in Zimbabwe failed to meet international standards.”
The only group to give their unreserved endorsement of the elections as having been free, fair and credible is Zimbabwe’s corrupt and incompetent opposition. Chamisa and his MDC friends have endorsed the elections process as having been free, fair and credible but would not accept Mnangagwa’s election victory. Chamisa claimed that he won the presidential race although he too failed to produce the documentary evidence just as ZEC failed to do the same for the rest of the other results. The truth is MDC have been using legitimacy of Mnangagwa as a negotiating tactic to force Zanu PF to share with them the spoils of the rigged elections. Chamisa and one or two other MDC leaders want Mnangagwa to appoint them ministers complete with the ministerial cars, generous salaries, etc.
Job Sikhala’s statement is just another MDC blunder; the idiots are threatening a violent confrontation with a regime that considers violence its speciality and has the means to deliver a knockout blow every time. Talk of a fool who will abandon the high ground to give the enemy the high ground advantage! I have no sympathy for these blundering MDC idiots, it is the ordinary people, the victims of the MDC blundering incompetence and sell-outs, I feel sorry for.
@ Hillary Ncube
ReplyDelete“So, what is your suggestion for a solution you can’t just blame everybody without any solution or suggestion on the way forward. What is important is for you to know who is the enemy and who is friend. We don’t want people who stand on the fence and blame others without anything to offer.”
It is foolish to be boasting of waging a war against thugs like Zanu PF who thrive on violence especially when you know you are not in any position to wage such a war. That argument is valid on its own and the solution is obvious – do not make foolish statements.
Patrick did offer a solution: MDC has accepted last year’s elections were rigged and should not try to rescue Zanu PF by selling legitimacy in return for gravy train seats.
The trouble with some people is that they close their eyes and will not see what is before their own eyes. The challenge is even greater when dealing with the intellectual eyes for it not all that one sees with the physical that is registered and perceived by the mind. And when you combine poor physical eye sight with a dull mind there is double trouble!
The worst enemy for us all to fear is ignorance and the best friend ever is the truth. Not everyone has the intellect to comprehend that!
Blessed are you who see and perceive, who hear and understand. Sadly, Zimbabwe has more than its fair share of those who neither see nor hear and hence the reason the country is in such a mess and, worst of all, has very little hope of ever getting out!
@ Francis Maposa
ReplyDelete“That's the truth my brother. These guys from zsdemocrats always criticize without offering any solutions. I for one am tired of Wilbert Mukori, Patrick Guramatunhu or whatever his surname and this Nomusa Garikai they are very good at criticizing. Their analysis are very good and to me they seem to having brains. They criticize both Zanu PF and MDC-A so I wonder which side are you? Come on form your POLITICAL PARTY so that we know which side you are.”
Good day to you, Francis, and thank you for the compliment!
Patrick has offered a solution to Zimbabwe’s political and economic mess – Zanu PF rigged last year’s elections, the regime is illegitimate and should be told in no uncertain term that it must step down. The only people giving Zanu PF some modicum of legitimacy is MDC who are ambivalent or the matter but only as a way of forcing Zanu PF to give them a few more gravy train seats.
Zimbabwe has 130 political parties and, as we can see, that has done nothing to stop the country drifting deeper and deeper into the abyss. The solution is not in having even more of the corrupt, incompetent and utterly useless political parties but to change the country’s failed political system to allow quality leaders to emerge.
Zanu PF has stifled all public debate and democratic competition to create a political system is nothing more that a sewage pond. Our political has become a dangerous game attracting thugs and brain-dead who would will never be elected if elections were free, fair and credible because they have nothing to offer. If we want peace, freedom, justice, human rights, economic prosperity, etc. then we must elect competent and quality leaders and to do that we must first create a democratic environment in which debate and democratic competition are encouraged. We must drain the sewage pond and refill it with clean water.
We should not be surprise we have corrupt, murderous thugs and sell-outs on both sides of the political divide, if you fish in a sewage pond you will catch frogs, crocodiles, etc. but not fish!
@ Francis Maposa
ReplyDelete“That's the truth my brother. These guys from zsdemocrats always criticize without offering any solutions. I for one am tired of Wilbert Mukori, Patrick Guramatunhu or whatever his surname and this Nomusa Garikai they are very good at criticizing. Their analysis are very good and to me they seem to having brains. They criticize both Zanu PF and MDC-A so I wonder which side are you? Come on form your POLITICAL PARTY so that we know which side you are.”
Good day to you, Francis, and thank you for the compliment!
Patrick has offered a solution to Zimbabwe’s political and economic mess – Zanu PF rigged last year’s elections, the regime is illegitimate and should be told in no uncertain term that it must step down. The only people giving Zanu PF some modicum of legitimacy is MDC who are ambivalent or the matter but only as a way of forcing Zanu PF to give them a few more gravy train seats.
Zimbabwe has 130 political parties and, as we can see, that has done nothing to stop the country drifting deeper and deeper into the abyss. The solution is not in having even more of the corrupt, incompetent and utterly useless political parties but to change the country’s failed political system to allow quality leaders to emerge.
Zanu PF has stifled all public debate and democratic competition to create a political system is nothing more that a sewage pond. Our political has become a dangerous game attracting thugs and brain-dead who would will never be elected if elections were free, fair and credible because they have nothing to offer. If we want peace, freedom, justice, human rights, economic prosperity, etc. then we must elect competent and quality leaders and to do that we must first create a democratic environment in which debate and democratic competition are encouraged. We must drain the sewage pond and refill it with clean water.
We should not be surprise we have corrupt, murderous thugs and sell-outs on both sides of the political divide, if you fish in a sewage pond you will catch frogs, crocodiles, etc. but not fish!