Zimbabwe is in this political mess
because the country has had the great misfortune of having more than its fair
share of corrupt and incompetent leaders in both sides of the political divide.
During the fight to end white colonial exploitation and oppression, one of the
rallying calls amongst the blacks was “One man, one vote!” Everyone understood
this meant giving everyone a meaningful say in the governance of the country.
Long before Zimbabwe attained her
independence black nationalist leaders like Mugabe and his cronies want
absolute power for themselves and immediately set out to disregard the “One man,
one vote!” promise to the populous. It is shocking just how easily corruptible Zanu
PF members and supporters alike were; they ditched “One man, one vote!” because
Mugabe them a share of the absolute power and all the influence and wealth it
brings.
Little did these members and
supporters know that it was not only the ordinary Zimbabweans who would lose a
meaningful say in the governance of the country, they too would lose a
meaningful say in the governance of the country and the party Zanu PF. The
country has never had free, fair and credible elections and so too has Zanu PF.
And so, when the country’s economy
started to cough blood because of Zanu PF mismanagement and corruption the
ordinary Zimbabweans could not do anything to stop the rot because they had no
meaningful say in the governance of the country. Zanu PF ordinary members too
started to feel the ill-effects of the Zanu PF misrule but they too could not
stop the rot.
In a country ruled by a de facto
one-party dictatorship the opposition parties would be united one issue above
all else, the need to dismantle the one-party dictatorship and restore the
people’s freedoms and rights including the right to a meaningful say in the governance
of the country. Sadly. Zimbabwe’s opposition parties are so corrupt and
incompetent they do not know what they stand for!
“In a multi-party democracy, the
minority shall have their say whilst the majority shall have their way!”
twittered Obert Gutu, he is the Vice President of MDC-T, led by Mrs Thokosani Khope.
Mr Gutu, are you telling us that
Zimbabwe is a multi-party democracy and last year’s elections were free, fair
and credible and the majority had their meaningful?
The people of Zimbabwe have risked life
and limb to elect you and your fellow MDC friends, in all the different
factions, on the promise you would deliver the democratic changes, as your
party name implies, the nation was dying for. You now telling us that Zimbabwe
is a multi-party democracy. Just when did this political transformation take
place?
President Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF
cronies rigged last year’s elections confirming that Zimbabwe is still a de
facto one-party dictatorship ruled by corrupt, incompetent, vote rigging and
murderous thugs.
Zimbabwe’s economic recovery depends
on the nation implementing the reforms to dismantle the dictatorship and end
this curse of rigged elections. If we are to successful push for the
implementing of reforms, we must agree last year’s elections were rigged! Mnangagwa
is stubbornly insisting the elections were free, fair and credible and corrupt
and incompetent opposition leaders like Obert Gutu are encouraging him.
Before last year's elections the American made is crystal clear to Mnangagwa hold free, fair and credible elections and we will remove the sanctions. He blatantly rigged the elections it is therefore nonsense to say the sanction should be lifted.
ReplyDeleteSome of our African journalists are not doing the continent any favours by their failure to ask pertinent questions and hold our leaders to account even on a matter as self-evident as rigged elections.
Hariana Veras should tell us whether she believes Zimbabwe elections were free, fair and credible? What is the point of going all the way to Washington and waste everyone's time asking stupid questions!
By participating in the flawed and illegal elections last year MDC gave credibility to the process and now the party is fighting for a share of the spoils of a rigged election. MDC is helping to keep an illegitimate regime in power for its own selfish purposes!
ReplyDeleteThe National Transition Authority MDC is fighting for will get Chamisa and a few other MDC leaders into cabinet but will achieve nothing else.
Zimbabwe needs democratic reforms implemented a.s.a.p. and getting Zanu PF to step down is the only sure way to do this. MDC has sold-out big time in the past by failing to get even one reform implemented. MDC is selling out right now by giving legitimacy to an illegitimate regime. Stop it!
We should not be surprised to hear Obert Gutu or anyone of the corrupt and incompetent MDC leaders say Zimbabwe is a multi-party democracy. Others like Tendai Biti, Nelson Chamisa, David Coltart, etc. have not said the same but they too are guilty of pretending Zimbabwe is a healthy and functioning democracy when it suits their selfish purpose.
ReplyDeleteDuring the last GNU MDC leaders failed to implement even one democratic change because they did not want to upset Mugabe who was sharing with them the trappings of high office. MDC leaders have participated in elections knowing fully well that Zanu PF was rigging the elections and have afterwards pretended the elections were free, fair and credible.
Zimbabwe’s opposition should be united on the need for democratic changes to end the Zanu PF dictatorship. The opposition is instead united on selling-out on reforms for a few gravy train seats Zanu PF gives away to bribe them to participate in the flawed elections.
How can the world even help us end the Zanu PF dictatorship is we are the one claiming Zimbabwe is a healthy and functioning democracy and we do not want to see it changed! We are not only having to deal with the corrupt, incompetent and vote rigging Zanu pF dictatorship but have also to deal with the corrupt, incompetent and sell-out opposition!
Obert Gutu and his fellow MDC friends have never believed in delivering democratic changes no more than Mugabe and his Zanu PF cronies believed in delivering "One man, one vote!" MDC leaders knew promising democratic changes would get them elected into power but once in power they too had joined the country's ruling elite and were too busy enjoying the trappings of high office to think about the reforms.
ReplyDelete"Mazivanhu eMDC adzidza kudya anyerere!" (MDC leaders have learned to enjoy the gravy-train trappings of power, they will not rock the boat!) Zanu PF cronies boasted during the last GNU when it was clear MDC leaders had completely abandoned the task of implementing reforms.
Having betrayed the people during the GNU by failing to implement even one reform MDC leaders know their only hope of getting back on the gravy-train is to win the few seats Zanu PF gives away to entice the opposition to participate. Winning these bait seats does not dependent on antagonizing Zanu PF but the exact opposite.
Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF cronies know that their continued struggle hold on power now depends on rigging the elections but selling the flawed and illegal elections as free, fair and credible. Whilst the other MDC leaders are content to participate in flawed and illegal elections, Obert Gutu is going one step ahead of them in declaring Zimbabwe a multi-party democracy just to win Zanu PF favours!
@ Stop-a-thief
ReplyDeleteGutu is just one step ahead of his MDC rivalries in that whilst they all pretend not to notice Zanu PF has been rigging elections he is going one step further by claiming Zimbabwe is a multi-party democracy! They are all trying to impress Zanu PF to earn the few gravy-train seats Zanu PF gives away during elections.