Mbeki brokered stability inducing 2008 GNU, please repeat!" Rubbish, GNU was a failure and be insane to repeat P Guramatunhu

To herald the 2008 to 2013 GNU as a success is a grotesque misrepresentation of historic facts that will not be allowed to go unchallenged!

“Mbeki - who helped to broker the stability-inducing 2008 government of national unity between opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and ex-president Robert Mugabe, who are both late - was in the country last December to try and nudge Mnangagwa and Chamisa to hold talks,” reported the Daily News.

Rubbish!

The 2008 to 2013 GNU principle purpose was to implement the raft of democratic reforms agreed in the 2008 Global Political Agreement, the reforms were designed to ensure future elections in Zimbabwe were free, fair and credible elections and not a repeat of the blatant cheating and wanton violence of 2008! Sadly, not even one of the reforms saw the light of day. Not one!

SADC leaders made one last desperate effort to have the 2013 elections postponed until the reforms are implemented. 

“In 2013 the Maputo Summit, in June 2013, before the elections, the Maputo Summit was all about having the elections postponed – the SADC summit. I went there. I was there at the Summit and Mugabe pretended to agree to a postponement of the elections,” Dr Ibbo Mandaza told Violet Gonda. 

The SADC leaders got Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends, away from Mugabe, and warned them “If you go into elections next month, you are going to lose; the elections are done!”

As we know MDC leaders ignored the warning for exactly the same reason they had ignored implementing the reforms for the last five years - greed, as David Coltart, MDC minister during the GNU, ready confessed 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 (2013) elections,” confessed 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.”

Greed had the better of the MDC again in 2018 as they went on to contest the elections knowing fully well that not even one reforms had been implemented since the rigged elections of 2013 and therefore Zanu PF will rig those elections too. And that is exactly what happened. 

By participating in the flawed and illegal elections MDC has given some modicum of credibility and legality, as Coltart admitted, to the vote rigging and, per se, illegitimate Zanu PF regime. 

The Constitutional Court challenge of the 2018 presidential race result by MDC on the grounds that the vote counting process was flawed was an exercise in futility. The whole process was flawed and illegal and not just the counting. 

”We now have fresh evidence after the Constitutional Court determination of the dispute between us and Mnangagwa, particularly in the ZEC (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) report that was tabled in Parliament, wherein the commission is indicating that they flouted the law and the procedures of elections in announcing the elections of 2018,” said Chamisa in a recent SABC interview.

"We don't want to have a recycling of the same old problems. This is a vicious cycle that has to be curbed so that we will have credible elections.” 

ZEC had flouted the law by failing to produce something as basic as a verified voters’ roll, at least a month before nomination day. Chamisa and his MDC friends knew this and ignored this and many other blatant violations in the election process only to pick on the counting of the vote. This is just a time wasting gimmick, bolting the door when the horse has bolted. 

Chamisa is in SA to meet both President Cyril Ramaphosa and former President Thambo Mbeki “in a last ditch effort to foster dialogue between him and President Emmerson Mnangagwa”, according to the Daily News. 

The economic recovery President Mnangagwa had hoped for with his “Zimbabwe is open for business!” mantra has not materialised. The success of his mantra was premised on him keeping his promise to end corruption, to hold free and fair elections, etc., etc. He has failed to honour any of these promises and thus confirming that Zimbabwe was still a pariah state or be it under new management following the November 2017 coup. 

As long as Zimbabwe remains a pariah state, ruled by corrupt and vote rigging thugs, there will be no meaningful economic recovery. None!

Chamisa is taking advantage of the worsening economic situation to advance a false narrative that the country would be enjoying economic recovery if he had been declared the winner of the July 2018 presidential race. As a way forward, he is proposing a dialogue with Mnangagwa, presided over by a mediator, to negotiate a power sharing arrangement, Nation Transition Authority (NTA).

Since the electoral dispute is over the presidential result, MDC is proposing the party must share cabinet and presidential power with Zanu PF. Zanu PF will keep its parliamentary 2/3 majority since the parliamentary results are not disputed. 

As the main selling pitch, Chamisa insists the NTA will implement “comprehensive democratic reforms and end the curse of disputed elections”. This is nonsense. 

The NTA is a watered down version of the 2008 to 2013 GNU; with the same key players, Zanu PF and MDC, but with Zanu PF, with its 2/3 majority in parliament, holds the trump cards. The GNU failed to get ever one reform implemented in five years it is naive to believe the NTA will do any better.

It is therefore a lie to suggest that the 2008 GNU produced stability and worse still to suggest the NTA with Zanu PF and MDC,  GNU mark 2, will do any better. The way forward is for the vote rigging, and per se, illegitimate Zanu PF regime to step down so we can appoint an independent and competent interim administration to implement the reform leading to free and fair elections.

ARTUZ reject latest pay offer and insist on "US$ index pay" - before US$, first demand good governance N Garikai

"As ARTUZ we are resolute that our members deserve better salaries that are commensurate with their labour. We will not go back on our demand for a US$ indexed salary to the interbank rate,"stated the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) statement in response to the latest government pay offer.

"To save our country from the current economic malaise, we urge the government to urgently restore the purchasing power parity of civil servants to stimulate productivity.

"The genocide in the education sector was brought by the underpayment of teachers. Destroying  our education staggers the developmental plans of our nation. It is imperative that we urgently reverse the erosion of our education system."

The Zimbabwe economy has been shrinking for years now; this is a historic fact. And yet the teachers, doctors, nurses and all the other civil servants have been demanding that government, their employers, must improve their conditions of service. This is just unattainable, whether or not they deserve the improved conditions of service is irrelevant. The employer cannot improve the conditions of service when the source of funds is shrinking. 

What the teachers, doctors, etc. have not asked why is the country performing badly? And, as the follow up question, what can we do bout it? For the last 40 years they have avoided asking themselves these questions and meanwhile the country has sunk deeper and deeper into the morse. 

The answer to the first question is obvious; four decades of corrupt, incompetent and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship has left the country's once upon a time robust and promising economy in ruins.

The answer to the second question is equally obvious, the nation has been stuck with the corrupt and incompetent Zanu PF regime for the 40 years because the party rigged elections.

Zimbabwe is a pariah state governed by corrupt, incompetent and vote rigging thugs. And as long as the country remains a pariah state there will be no meaningful economic recovery. Period!

The problem of bad governance is one that affects us all and one we have ignored at our own peril. And so if our teachers, doctors, etc. are serious about ever being paid a living wage; they must first demand democratic reforms to ensure free, fair and credible elections and only thereafter can they ever hope to get a living wage. 

"Trump to add new names to sanctions list" - splendid, add Chamisa and Mthuli Ncube for a start W Mukori

“Trump to add more names on Zimbabwe sanctions list!” screamed the headlines in Bulawayo 24!

YES! YES! I scream back, static ecstatic with in delight!

The sanctions list needed revisiting for five good reasons:

1. to counter Zanu PF arrogance and misinformation.

"While the United States has been the top provider of humanitarian and development aid to meet the needs of Zimbabwe's people, the government of Zimbabwe has implemented a misinformation campaign blaming the country's woes on targeted sanctions programs implemented by the United States," the two senators said. 

In 2015 the late Robert Mugabe shocked the nation when he admitted the country was being “swindled out of US$15 billion in lost diamond revenue alone”. This after decades of denying corruption was rampant and blaming the country’s economic woes on sanctions. The best the regime has ever done was account for a few million dollars a year lost because of sanctions. Mugabe’s admission forced the regime’s propaganda into silence but not for long.

When it was clear Mnangagwa’s “Zimbabwe is open for business!” mantra had failed to bring the flood of investors and there was no economic recovery; the regime reverted back to blaming the sanctions. Last year the Zanu PF regime even managed to collar the other SADC countries to join it in blaming the sanctions for the country’s woes. 

No one in there right mind should therefore be surprise that the Americans have decided enough is enough. 

2. To assess the effectiveness of the sanctions and fine tune them

It is no secrete that sanctions have had little effect on the targeted Zanu PF leaders. The leaders have flouted the travel ban by having plane loads of delegates to every UN conference, for example. Another example, it was discovered last year that some banks had been business with the individuals and entities on the sanctions list. 

Sanctions work but only if they are rigorously enforced. 

"Given the developments in Zimbabwe over the last two years, we urge you to consider enhancing the tools at your disposal, including the use of targeted sanctions, to incentivise changes in behaviour by the government of Zimbabwe,” the Senate U.S. Department of the Treasury.

3. The third reason in to add new names to the sanctions list.

"An update to the list of the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list should incorporate a balance of new designations with appropriate removals,” said the senators.

The ongoing factional fighting in Zanu PF has resulted in large numbers of leaders being booted out of the party and replaced by new faces. The new sanctions list must reflect the chaos and musical chairs taking place in the party. 

There are two new groups of individuals that must be added to the sanctions list. First to be added on the list are the MDC opposition leaders. It is a matter of historic record that the MDC have sold out to Zanu PF by failing to implement the democratic reforms and then by participating in flawed and illegal elections and thus giving the illegitimate Zanu PF regime some modicum of credibility. 

Second on the list are the seemingly apolitical individuals like Professor Mthuli Ncube, Minister Coventry, Trevor Ncube and his fellow members on the President Advisory Council. They all know that Zanu PF rigged the 2018 elections. They knew that by working for the regime they will undermine the efforts to end the dictatorship; they did this regardless for selfish reasons. 

There is no deny that Zimbabwe’s economic and political crisis is a lot worse today than it was back in 2003; unemployment has soared to from 50% or so to 90%, poor health and education services then have all but collapsed, etc. The Americans, the EU and the UN have had to step in to feed 8 million Zimbabweans who would otherwise be facing starvation. 

The Zanu PF government of President Mnangagwa has paid lip service to economic and political reforms, to the food shortages, etc. All the regime cares about is how to retain its dictatorial carte blanche political powers so it can remain in office and continue the looting of the nation’s resources. 

The targeted sanctions were necessary to rein in Zanu PF leaders tyrannical rule back in 2003. The economic and political situation in Zimbabwe today is a lot worse than it was back in 2003, Zanu PF leaders’ arrogance and greed has increased in leaps and bounce. Now we need to impose the mother of all sanctions on these Zanu PF thugs before the regime drag the whole nation over the edge into the abyss!

"Lift sanctions and then engage of reforms" insist SADC - nonsense, sanctions cannot tramp good governance W Mukori

The Americans continue to exert pressure on SADC leaders to abandon the foolish notion that Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown is caused by the sanctions. 

”Zidera and targeted sanctions are different. Zidera aims at restricting debt relief and voting at international financial institutions and provides a roadmap for engagement," Cloud said.

"It is important to note, however, that the US has never invoked Zidera because Zimbabwe does not qualify for new lending consideration because it failed to do necessary economic and political reforms that would allow financial institutions to consider it for debt relief and new lending."

He also told Tax that Zimbabwe was suffering from corruption, mismanagement and looting of government resources, more than the effects of the sanctions.

"Ambassador Cloud and Dr Tax discussed how failed economic policies and corruption have created the current economic crisis in Zimbabwe, it's not sanctions," said US Embassy statement, following USA Ambassador to Botswana’s meeting with SADC Executive Secretary, Dr Stergomena Tax.

Dr Tax, no doubt fearful of her SADC Head of State bosses, was quick to denounce the statement as false.

"This was not part of what was discussed. Might be the position of the embassy, but definitely not Sadc's position," the SADC Secretariat counter blasted.

"Dr Tax reiterated Sadc's call for the immediate removal of sanctions on #Zimbabwe and the need to further engage on reforms that will see a recovery of country's economy.”

At the heart of the economic and political crisis in Zimbabwe is the repeated failure by Zanu PF to hold free, fair and credible elections, the essence of good governance. It is not that SADC leaders themselves dispute this fundament political reality that Zanu PF has been rigging elections because the regional body rejected the 2008 elections results because of Zanu PF’s blatantly cheating and use of wanton violence. 

SADC forced Zanu PF to sign the 2008 Global Political Agreement agreeing on the need for Zimbabwe to implement a raft of democratic reforms designed to stop the cheating and wanton violence. The 2008 to 2013 GNU was tasked to implement the reforms. Sadly, not even one reform was implemented in the five years. Not one! 

SADC leaders wanted the 2013 Zimbabwe elections postponed until the reforms are implemented. Dr Ibbo Mandaza, who attended the SADC summit in Maputo in June 2013 confirmed this. 

“In 2013 the Maputo Summit, in June 2013, before the elections, the Maputo Summit was all about having the elections postponed – the SADC summit,” Dr Mandaza explained in an interview with Violet Gonda. 

“I was there at the Summit and Mugabe pretended to agree to a postponement of the elections. If you recall, the postponement was based on the need to reform at least electoral laws.

“And after that Summit, Morgan Tsvangirai, Tendai Biti, Welshman Ncube, all of them were called to a separate meeting by the Heads of State of SADC in the absence of Mugabe, that same evening. And they were told; I was sitting there outside the room with Mac Maharaj; they were told ‘If you go into elections next month, you are going to lose; the elections are done!’”

Sadly, Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends did not listen to the warning and participated in the 2013 elections with no reforms in place. Zanu PF went on to blatantly rig the 2013 elections, as SADC leaders had rightly predicted. 

The July 2018 elections were too held with no reforms in place and, again, Zanu PF blatantly rigged the elections. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa of SA said the July 2018 elections “went well!” Only he can explain what he meant by that pithy and patronising remark when ZEC failed to produce something as basic as a verified voters’ roll!

SADC leaders must not be allowed to get away with the lie that Zimbabwe’s July 2018 elections were free, fair and credible; that is number one. 

Number two, they must not be allowed to get away with the suggestion that resolving the issue of sanctions is more important than resolving the issued of rigged elections. 

During the 2008 to 2013 GNU the Zimbabwe economy, buoyed by the prospect of the reforms being implemented and thus and end to country’s pariah state curse, register as much as 12% economic growth in 2009, up from - 6% the year before. The recovery occurred regardless of the sanctions which had remained in place throughout the GNU. Proof, if any was required, that restoring good governance will end the country’s economic and political crisis regardless of whether the sanctions are lifted or not. 

Instead of holding firm in demanding reforms before elections and the subsequent rigged elections, SADC leaders are now, not only, endorsing illegal elections but aiding and abetting Zanu PF’s propaganda of falsely blaming sanctions for all the country’s ill! 

There is overwhelming evidence that the economic and political crisis in Zimbabwe is a result of four decades of gross mismanagement, rampant corruption and tyrannical rule by this Zanu PF government. The economic and humanitarian consequences of the misrule have been widespread and tragic for the people of Zimbabwe and the whole SADC region. 

It is most dishearten that SADC leaders should, by mudding the issue of rigged elections with side issues like sanctions, stopping the search for good governance and stability in Zimbabwe. Shame on you! 

Sanctions are "anti vote rigging" USA reminds SADC leaders - closed their eyes to truth P Guramatunhu

The Americans continue to exert maximum pressure on SADC leaders to abandon their folly of supporting the Zanu PF anti-sanctions propaganda and embrace the drive for democratic reforms in Zimbabwe. 

“The United States Ambassador to Botswana Craig Lewis Cloud has defended sanctions against Zimbabwe saying they were targeted at officials abusing human rights and the rule of law,” reported Byo24News.

“In a meeting with SADC executive secretary Dr Stergomena Tax on Tuesday to discuss the sanctions against Zimbabwe, Cloud said his country is one of the biggest supporters of Zimbabwe in terms of aid, contributing well over US$2 billion, since its Independence.

"Today Ambassador Cloud and Dr Tax discussed the root causes of U.S. sanctions in Zimbabwe, namely human rights abuses and anti-democratic efforts," said the US Embassy in Botswana.

It is bad enough that we are having to deal with this Zanu PF government that has no respect for the truth, reality and reason and instead, uses its absolute power, to corrupt and distort the truth, reason and reality and impose them on everyone. 

There is a mountain of evidence, for example, to prove beyond all reasonable doubt that corruption and mismanagement are the root causes of Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown. Whatever economic hardships are caused by sanctions, they are a tiny fraction compared to those caused by the mismanagement and corruptions. 

Zanu PF has blown the effects of sanctions out of all proportion for it selfish propaganda purposes. It is disappointing that outsiders like SA President Cyril Ramaphosa and other SADC leaders have been conned into believing Zanu PF propaganda and lies. 

President Mnangagwa blatantly rigged the July 2018 elections. He denied 3 million Zimbabweans in the diaspora a vote (he claimed victory with 2.4 million votes) only to assure them they will vote next time. ZEC failed to produce something as basic as a verified voters’ roll, a legal and common sense require. 

The whole election process lacked transparency, could not be traced and verified, etc. And yet Mnangagwa maintained the elections were “free, fair and credible”! Sadly, SADC leaders, once again, believed the Zanu PF lies. 

Zimbabwe’s failure to hold free, fair and credible elections is at the very heart of the country’s worsening economic meltdown because the nation was stuck with the corrupt and incompetent Zanu PF. 40 years of gross mismanagement and rampant corruptions have destroyed the country’s once upon a time robust and vibrant economy. 

Zimbabwe is a pariah state ruled by corrupt, incompetent and murderous thugs who have rigged elections to secure their long stay in power. As long as Zimbabwe remains a pariah state, ravished by mismanagement, corruption and lawlessness, there will be no meaningful economic recovery. None!

Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown has pushed unemployment rate into the nauseating heights of 90%, a recent WB report revealed that 90% of the population now live in poverty and 34% in abject poverty. The World Food Programme, USA and EU have stepped in to source food to feed 8 million Zimbabweans who would be starving, otherwise. 

After decades of neglect, Zimbabwe’s public education and health care have all but collapsed. Teachers, doctors and nurses have stopped going to work because their wages do not cover their transport costs let alone food, accommodation, etc. 

There is no denying that Zimbabwe is a failed state and, more pointedly, in serious, serious economic trouble and the danger of social and political instability is real and immediate. 

Zimbabwe’s economic and political mess is a man-made problem - chronic bad governance born out of the country’s failure to hold free, fair and credible elections. The solution is self-evident - hold free, fair and credible elections. 

Zanu PF has usurped the people’s democratic freedoms and rights to impose the de facto one-party dictatorship complete with its carte blanche powers to rig elections. It is sad that even now with Zimbabwe’s very survival at stake, SADC leaders should continue to believe Zanu PF lies and propaganda at the expense of truth, reason and reality. 

The solution is for the illegitimate Zanu PF regime to step down so the people of Zimbabwe can implement the democratic reforms necessary for free, fair and credible elections. Zanu PF cannot be trust to implement the reforms because no tyrannical regime will ever reform itself out of office. 

Besides, SADC made that mistake of entrusting Zanu PF to implement the reforms, or be it together with MDC, during the 2008 to 2013 GNU and not even one reform was implemented. Not one!

"Thank you, Your Excellency Ambassador Cloud, for visiting the Secretariat and for the extensive discussion on impacts of sanction on the economy of Zimbabwe and Zimbabweans; and the need to walk the talk in supporting the ongoing political and economic reforms in Zimbabwe," SADC executive secretary, Dr Stergomena Tax answered. 

This is so infuriating! What “ongoing political and economic reforms”  is she wittering about when Mnangagwa has said the last elections were free, fair and credible and SADC itself agreed with him!

The sanctions are helping to highlight Zanu PF’s failure to hold free, fair and credible elections and hence the reason they must stay. 

Indeed, after nearly two decades of the sanctions, the Americans must review the sanctions to make them tougher and far reaching. People like Professor Mthuli Ncube, Minister Kirsty Coventry and opposition leaders like Nelson Chamisa and Tendai Biti must be added to the sanctions list for working with Zanu PF knowing fully well the regime rigged elections. 

The West must seriously consider imposing sanctions on some of the SADC leaders. By believing Mnangagwa’s lies and propaganda, these leaders are closing their eyes to the truth, reason and reality and it is the ordinary people of Zimbabwe and of the whole SADC region who are paying dearly for the folly. Something to force these leaders to open their eyes will not be amiss!

What Zimbabwe needs is to implement reforms and a chance to elect competent leaders - that is not too much to ask.

"Zimbabwe is a banana republic" said Chamisa - true, he is Mnangagwa's surreptitious junior partner P Guramatunhu

Two weeks ago the British government hosted a UK - Africa Investment conference. 21 African countries attended the conference and Zimbabwe was not invited, according to Chamisa.

“Zimbabwe was not invited. Why? Because we have become a pariah state. We have become a banana republic,” Chamisa told the world during his State of Nation Address last Tuesday.

“We are a ‘don’t touch’!

“People do not want to do business with us. We don’t commit to our commitments. We indicate left and turn right. We are so inconsistent. We promise reforms but then we give people hell.”

Zimbabwe is indeed a pariah state, a banana republic. Not only do we have a corrupt, incompetent, vote rigging and tyrannical ruling party, Zanu PF; but worse still, we also have a corrupt and incompetent opposition. MDC, just like Zanu PF, has indicated left and tuned right again and again and thus undermining all efforts to bring about meaningful change. 

The people of Zimbabwe have risked life and limb to elect Nelson Chamisa and his MDC friends into power on the understanding the party will bring about the democratic changes, as its name implied, the nation was dying for. After 20 years, five of which MDC was in the GNU, the party has failed to get even one reform implemented. Not one!

Worse still, MDC has continued to participate in flawed and illegal elections knowing fully well that doing so would give the illegitimate Zanu PF regime some modicum of credibility. They have participate in elections even when ZEC failed to produce something as basic as a verified voters’ roll; a legal and common sense requirement, for Pete’s sake. 

“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,” confessed David Coltart, MDC Treasurer, in his book The Struggle Continues 50 years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe.

“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 Americans, Canadians, the Commonwealth, the EU and every other country, organisation and individual with common sense, condemned Zimbabwe’s July 2018 elections as a farce. 

“The electoral commission lacked full independence and appeared to not always act in an impartial manner. The final results as announced by the Electoral Commission contained numerous errors and lacked adequate traceability, transparency and verifiability,” stated the EU Election Mission final report. 

“As such, many aspects of the 2018 elections in Zimbabwe failed to meet international standards.”

An election process that failed to meet international standards because it contained numerous errors, was not transparent, etc., etc. CANNOT produce a legitimate presidential and parliamentary result and, per se, a legitimate government and opposition. 

Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF cronies blatantly rigged the elections to hang on to power. After decades of misrule they knew the people would jump at the opportunity to finally remove them from office. And so holding free, fair and credible elections was simply a luxury Mnangagwa and company could ill afford. 

As explained above, Nelson Chamisa and his MDC friends participated in the flawed and illegal elections for the sake of the few gravy train seats they knew Zanu PF was giving away as bait. Unlike the other opposition parties, Nelson Chamisa and his MDC have withheld endorsing Mnangagwa as the winner of the presidential race to pressure the latter to concede a few cabinet position to MDC. 

So MDC does not care that Zanu PF has been rigging elections and turning Zimbabwe into a Banana Republic as long as Chamisa and friends get a share of the spoils of power!

The real losers in the Banana Republic of Zimbabwe are the ordinary people who have been stuck with the corrupt, incompetent and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship for 40 years and counting. Four decades of gross mismanagement and rampant corruption have destroyed the country’s, once upon a time, promising economy. Unemployment has soared to nauseating heights of 90%, basic services such as health care and education have all but collapsed, etc. 

As long as Zimbabwe remains a pariah state ruled by corrupt and murderous thugs backed by equally corrupt and sell-out opposition there will be no meaningful economic recovery. None! 

The people of Zimbabwe have known, to end the curse of rigged elections and pariah state, the  the country must implement the democratic reforms designed to stop the vote rigging. For the last 20 years the nation has risked life and limb to elect MDC politicians into power on the understanding they will deliver the reforms. After 20 years it is now clear that Chamisa and company have sold-out on reforms and the people must accept this political reality as a matter of common cause.

Yes, Nelson Chamisa promised to fight for comprehensive democratic reforms. But the National Transition Authority (NTA), he is calling for, will have less political power than the SADC sponsored 2008 to 2013 GNU. For one thing, by signing the 2008 Global Political Agreement, Zanu PF committed itself to reforms. The NTA is not calling on Zanu PF to make any such commitment.  

If the 2008 GNU failed to get even one reform implemented it is naive to believe the NTA will do any better.

 “We have become a Banana Republic!” This is the beguiling and exasperating duplicity of MDC, the party publicly denounce the Zanu PF dictatorship and yet it is none other than Chamisa et al who are keeping Mnangagwa and company is power - for thirty pieces of silver, of course! 

Whilst Zanu PF remains the major partner in Banana Republic of Zimbabwe, the party has since the 2008 GNU surreptitiously acquired a junior partner, MDC! MDC has long stopped fighting for free, fair and credible elections, this is the political reality Zimbabweans cannot afford to ignore for one more day longer!

"MDC 2020 Agenda will not end sanctions" - more important, will not end curse of rigged elections N Garikai

There is a mountain of evidence proving that the root causes of Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown are 40 years of gross mismanagement and rampant corruption. The reason why the nation has been stuck with this corrupt and incompetent Zanu PF regime for all these years is because the party rigged elections. 

MDC has had many golden opportunities to implement the democratic reforms which would have ended the Zanu PF dictatorship. Sadly, MDC leaders has proven to be breathtakingly corrupt and incompetent. 

Zanu PF has always wanted absolute power and has murdered over 30 000 innocent Zimbabweans to secure the de facto one-party, Zanu PF, dictatorship. And it was and still remains the only chief beneficiary of MDC’s failure to implement the reforms; but would not think so given the torrent of abuses from Zanu PF leaders and its apologists have been heaping on the MDC leaders. 

Zanu PF leaders have dismissed MDC leaders as puppets of the West, amount the many other derogatory things. 

But Zanu PF is not averse to doing a volte-face; make the MDC puppets their masters of their western puppeteer masters; just to suit the party’s irrational narrative. 

“In his (2020) state of the nation address the MDC A leader shocked the nation by his loud silence on sanctions,” wrote Dr Masimba Mavasa wrote. 

“ZANU PF has always said the opposition is after destroying the gains of independence and hurt the citizens of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is now groaning under the heavy yoke of the Economic down turn. The person who is causing this lunacy is among us and is Nelson Chamisa.

“Do economic sanctions destabilize the governments they target? A form of foreign pressure, sanctions are typically meant to alter the policies of other countries. There is much pessimism on whether they ever work. Economic pressure works in at least one respect: it destabilizes the leaders it targets and it destroys the citizens of such a country.” 

The real tragedy of Chamisa’s 2020 Agenda is that it is not offering a roadmap on how the democratic reforms necessary to end the curse of rigged elections will finally be implemented.

As for the Western imposed sanctions, they are helping putting the pressure on Zanu PF to implement meaningful reforms; hence the reason they must stay. Whatever economic damage they have caused is nothing compared to the damage brought about by corruption and misrule. 

Indeed, the sanctions must be extended to include even more Zanu PF leaders and political collaborators such as the Minister of Finance, Professor Mthuli Ncube, and opposition leaders like Nelson CHamisa and Tendai Biti. The MDC leaders will never implement any meaningful reforms without a kick in the back side!

MDC join Zanu PF cleaning projects - have cleaners galore, politicians must repair broken political system N Garikai

The sight of Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF cronies kitted out with brooms and mops sweeping and mopping hospital grounds and wards provides the lazy reporter with a story. But in a country where unemployment has soared to nauseating heights of 90% the really story is why are the hospital wards and ground in such filthy conditions except for the odd occasion, the photo opportunity, when these politicians visit? Hundreds of thousands of University Graduates will happily take up the job as cleaners if only the regime would pay them a living wage!

In other words these public cleaning projects by our leaders are just gimmicks. If these men and women were spending their time and energy is solving the country’s worsening economic meltdown, which is their number one task, then our hospitals, schools, etc. would not be in such a deplorable state! 

Worse still, our political system is broken so we, the people, have no meaningful say in the governance of the country. And so find ourselves stuck with leaders who rigged elections to stay in power but have no clue what to do to fix the country’s mounting problems! 

Instead of finding solutions to the nation’s problems they are now competing in gimmick projections. 

“We have not been participating in the national cleaning programme. Beginning this year, we are going to be part of government’s clean-up campaign. We are coming up with what is called Jekesa Zimbabwe.

“We are also going to launch the smart villages policy that will entail our model smart homesteads smart sources of energy solar for each rural home borehole per village infrastructure for villages, schools, bridges, etc.”

Zimbabwe is in this political and economic mess because the country’s political system is broken; we are stuck for 40 years and counting with an incompetent, corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF regime. Zimbabwe is a pariah state ruled by corrupt and incompetent murderous tyrants and as long as it remains a pariah state there will be no hope of any meaningful economic recovery. None!

The people of Zimbabwe have risked life and limb to elect Chamisa and his MDC friends into power on the understanding they will bring about the democratic changes to end the Zanu PF dictatorship, the nation has been dying for all these years. 

It is truly disheartening that not only has MDC failed to bring about even one democratic change in 20 years of the party’s existence but worse still it has now abandoned the cause of democratic change in favour of gimmick projects. 

Zimbabwe does not need leaders to show them how to do something as basic as sweeping the floor; pay them and they will do it. What the country needs above all else is leaders who will repair the country’s broken political system, who will restore the people’s freedoms and rights including the right to a meaningful say in the governance of the country!

"In 2020 MDC will fight for legitimacy" says Chamisa - you ARE giving illegitimate Zanu PF legitimacy, idiot! P Guramatunhu

“So the ridiculous slogans about a ‘new dispensation', ‘open for business' and ‘second republic' this and that have been shown to be superficial rhetoric and delusions of a clueless regime now muddling through on the basis of directionless experimentalism hoping that somewhere along the way it will stumble on solutions to our problem. That's not how things work. We need serious and competent leadership with a clear vision and pathway forward through structured reform, re-engagement and talks,” you said. 

And you are 100% correct Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF regime are have no clues what they are doing; they are just muddling and dragging the nation deeper and deeper into this political and economic crisis. But if the truth is told; you, Nelson Chamisa, and your MDC friends are equally clueless and you too are blundering from pillar to post. 

“We have heard you ask time and time again. What are you doing to provide an alternative, and I say to you again, we are the people's leadership? We hold within us your deep desire for change. We are the unfulfilled expression of the people's true will. We are you. It is you who voted for us. You, whose vote was stolen in 2018. You who we will continue to fight with, side by side,” you said.

MDC had the golden opportunity, especially during the 2008 to 2013 GNU, to implement the democratic reforms designed to stop Zanu PF stealing the elections. You failed to get even one reform implemented. Not one. 

You and your MDC friends knew that Zanu PF was going to steal the July 2018 elections and you lied that you would stop Zanu PF stealing the elections. “MDC has stringent measures to stop Zanu PF rigging the elections,” you said. 

You lied for the same reason why you failed to implement even one reforms during the GNU - greed. 

Worse still, you and your MDC friends knew that by participating in the flawed and illegal elections you would be giving credibility to the stolen elections and thus modicum of legitimacy to the illegitimate Zanu PF regime. We have proof written proof that MDC leaders knew this! 

“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,” confessed David Coltart, MDC A Treasurer, in his 2016 Book The Struggle Continues 50 years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe.

“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.”

 Zimbabwe is in this economic and political mess because the country has been stuck with this corrupt, incompetent and tyrannical regime for 40 years and counting. The nation has failed to remove the regime from office because it rigged the elections. And, this is where you, Mr Nelson Chamisa and your MDC friends come in, you, not only, failed to implement the reforms to end the curse of rigged elections but gave the illegitimate Zanu PF regime some democratic credibility by participating in the flawed and illegal elections.

“We will act,” you now promise. “We will lead and represent. We will speak up in parliament. We will challenge unlawfulness. We will work in every community. We will not betray the people's vote, nor let their voice be silenced. This is our Agenda in 2020.

“We will walk the path of resistance. We are emboldened and resolved. Come what may. We will not be intimidated.

“It is time to fight for the Zimbabwe we want and have so rightly dreamed of and worked for. In 2020, we will focus our efforts on the people's fight:

“The fight for a people's government, reforms and return to legitimacy.”

For the umpteenth time; Mr Chamisa this Zanu PF regime is illegitimate because the July 2018 election process was flawed and illegal. 3 million Zimbabweans in the diaspora were denied the vote, compared with the 2.4 million Mnangagwa says he got to win. ZEC failed to produce something as basic as a verified voters’ roll, for Pete’s sake! 

MDC’s participation in this illegitimate government will not return it to legitimacy. Just as participating in the flawed and illegal elections gave the process some modicum of credibility the continued participation in this regime will too give the illegitimate government some modicum of credibility. 

In short MDC is not helping Zimbabwe end the curse of rigged elections and pariah state but rather helping to perpetuate the Zanu PF dictatorship. 

“In 2020, we will fight for a people's government, reforms and return to legitimacy!” 

Well, MDC has certainly not been fighting for any of these things for the last 20 years. The party has failed to bring about even one democratic change since its formation in 1999. It is only the politically naive and gullible who will believe MDC will finally delivery the reforms and good governance especially when the party stubbornly continues to give credibility to flawed and illegal election process and illegitimate government out of selfishness and greed.