It was not until Friday evening 6th November 2020, three full day after the voting date, that it was finally clear Joe Biden had won the USA presidential election. I was over the moon with joy and, like millions in the free-world and billions of others aspiring for freedom, finally heaved a sigh of relief!
Four years of President Donald Trump in White House had been a nightmare and the prospect of another four years of Trump was unthinkable!
The election of Trump in 2016 was a big mistake, it was just one example when even a healthy, tried and tested functioning democratic system can get it wrong. Trump is not a democrat, he has no respect for the rule of law, justice and does not care about the best interest of the commonwealth.
The world has had a taste of what Trump meant with his “America first!” slogan. He has unpicked America’s relationship with its competitors not in the spirit of win-win but America wins and you lose. He had trading war with China and America’s western allies alike.
The Americans themselves soon learned what a ruthless operator Trump was as it became clear that “America first!” had Siamese twin “Trump first!” The shameless political shenanigan by President Donald Trump to pressure Ukraine and others to blacken his political rivals and help him win the elections has once again tarnished the office of USA President. The only other person to do the same was Richard Nixon Never with the Watergate scandal.
“Whatever may appear to have been the case before, whatever improper activities may yet be discovered in connection with this whole sordid affair, I want the American people, I want you to know beyond the shadow of a doubt that during my term as President, justice will be pursued fairly, fully, and impartially, no matter who is involved. This office is a sacred trust and I am determined to be worthy of that trust,” announced President Nixon in August 1974.
“There can be no whitewash at the White House!”
The sordid details of the scandal did come out and it was clear that he had, all along, known of the plan to gain electoral advantage over his opponents by criminal means and then hide the truth.
Nixon resigned before he was impeached. Trump was impeach but got away with it only because the Senate was controlled by the Republicans, his political party.
Richard Nixon’s August 1974 speech has been dubbed “I am not a crook!” Events proved that he was indeed a crook. President Trump’s arrogant dismissal of the whole Ukraine sordid affair and many others beside showed he really did not care. His whole demeanour said it all “I am a crook, so what!”
Trump’s presidency divided America along its fault line - race. All the work done heal the nation by the successive generations since President Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery was all being undone before our own eyes. President Trump was fanning the racial war for his own political gain. “Trump first!”
A navel gazing America, much worse one at war with itself and its on allies for the last thing the free world want. The anarchists will pounce and chaos and war will rule the day.
Like it or not America is the leader of the free and democratic world. America represents justice, freedom, democracy, good governance and economic prosperity for the many. Or, as the French revolution would put, America represents “Liberté, égalité and fraternité!” Having an anarchist like Trump in White House had put all that on the line.
Knowing what a serious threat to freedom, liberty, etc. Trump had been these last four years; to have elect him for four more years would have been reckless and attempting providence. In the highest ever voter turnout, the Americans gave Trump his marching orders to vacate the White House! And the free world heaved a sigh of relief!
@ Zimvigil
ReplyDelete“The drama over the US presidential election, with long delays in releasing the results and angry disputes between the Republicans and Democrats, prompted a Vigil supporter to comment: 'They could learn from Zimbabwe where they find it more efficient to count the votes before the election'.
“This view was supported in a tweet by Samantha Power. US Ambassador to the UN under President Obama, who commented about President Trump's behaviour: 'He's going the full Mugabe'.
Zimbabweans remember the prolonged delay in announcing the election results in 2008 while Zanu PF discussed what to do about their disastrous showing at the polls and how to rearrange the outcome. This was so unconvincing that South Africa had to step in and force a government of so-called national unity.”
The flood of social media criticisms of Trump, the Black Lives Matter protests and many other such activities helped to mobilise and motivate the American voters to go out and vote. In the end, it was the 74.7 million votes for Joe Biden vs 70.8 million votes for Trump that got the later out of White House.
We in Zimbabwe have produced our on flood of social media critical of Zanu PF, have covered billions of man-kilometres of street protests, etc. and yet are still stuck for 40 years and counting with this corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF regime. Nothing has changed and nothing will ever change as long as Zanu PF retains the carte blanche powers to deny the people their freedoms and rights including the right to any meaningful vote.
MDC had the golden opportunity to implement the democratic reforms during the 2008 to 2013 GNU. They sold-out and failed to implement even one reform in five years. They have since given up the fight for free, fair and credible elections and have been participating in flawed and illegal elections for the sake of the few gravy train seats Zanu PF gives away as bait.
Zanu PF and the sell-out opposition are going to drag the nation into the 2023 elections with no democratic reforms in place and thus once again deny the people a meaningful vote. No stone must be left unturned to make sure the said elections are declared null and void!
Until we cure ourselves of the curse of rigged elections, we will never boot Zanu PF out of office or accomplish anything of substance! And implementing the democratic reforms BEFORE the elections is that cure!
“THE Nelson Chamisa-led opposition MDC Alliance party says it has launched a campaign to add more than one million new potential voters on its registers ahead of the 2023 elections.
ReplyDeleteThis was revealed last Friday by MDC Alliance national executive council member Descent Collins Bajila at a meeting in Bulawayo.
"There were so many issues that were discussed but the key takeaway was the launch of the one-million youth campaign where we are looking forward to registering one million first-time voters. We want them to participate in the next election regardless of when it will come," he said.
All the MDC leaders, especially all those who played a part in the 2008 to 2013 GNU, know that they wasted their golden opportunity to implement the democratic reforms designed to stop Zanu PF rigging the elections. They sold-out, big time!
Ever since, the MDC leaders have paid lip service to the need to implement the democratic reforms before elections. “No reforms! No elections!” was the 2014 MDC-T party congress resolution. They all quietly ignored the resolution and participated in the 2018 elections with not even one token reform in place. They all knew that Zanu PF was offering a few gravy train seats as bait for participating and these they could not resist.
The opposition participated in the July 2018 elections knowing that Zanu PF was rigging the elections. ZEC failed to produce something as basic as a verified voters’ roll, a legal and common sense requirement, for Pete’s sake. The opposition participated regardless!
It is crystal clear that Zanu PF and the sell-out opposition are going to drag the nation into yet another utterly meaningless election process in 2023. Our task is to ensure the election is declared null and void! In this, we must not fail!
Zanu PF and its acolyte MDC sell-out must not and will not be allowed to get away with yet another flawed and illegal election in 2023.
@ Mazibuka
ReplyDelete“In your dreams Nelson, participate in the coming pre determined election and cry again.”
Chamisa and company participated in the 2018 knowing Zanu PF was rigging the elections but they also knew that Zanu PF was giving away a few gravy train seats as bait, these they could not resist. Tendai Biti, Job Sikhala, David Coltart and a number of other MDC leaders are in local council, parliament or senate and they have been singing “The good times are here again!” Every year the MDC gets a share of the Political Party Finance Act payout, worth $3.4 million in 2019, and as party leader Chamisa got 20% of it or $680 000!
The real reason Chamisa complained that Zanu PF rigged the 2018 elections was to pressure Mnangagwa to share even more of the spoils with MDC. Chamisa has been clamouring for a new GNU and a cabinet position for himself and a few other MDC leaders.
MDC leaders have been paying lip-service to reforms and free and fair elections. They have been getting a share of the spoils of the rigged elections and they have been crying for more of the spoils and not for free and fair elections!
@ Sayder
ReplyDelete“Elections don’t work in that country!”
MDC had five years to implement the democratic reforms designed to stop Zanu PF rigging the elections and they failed to get even one reform implemented. Still we cannot assume that just because MDC leaders are corrupt and incompetent there are no Zimbabweans out there who will implement the reforms. They are there and we just need to find them!
THE 5 300 teachers recently engaged to beef up staff at schools following Government's decision to reduce classes to maximum of 30 pupils to allow for social distancing start work today.
ReplyDeleteThe last group of pupils that include Early Childhood Development ECD A and ECD B, Grade One to Five and Form One and Two classes are reopening today.
The schools reopened in phases starting with examination classes which are Grade Seven, Form Four and Six which reopened in September and this was followed by Grade Six, Form Three and Five last month. Schools were closed in March as part of Government's measures to curb the spread of Covid-19.
In a country where unemployment has soared to the dizzying height of 90% plus the 5 300 teachers will be glad to have a formal job. But how many of them will afford to continue coming to school for a misery wage that will not even cover their transport cost much less food, accommodation and other basic necessities.
Zimbabwe’s education has all but totally collapsed, even before the covid-19 disruption. Last year, many schools, especially public schools in the rural areas, failed to get 3% pass rate in grade seven, form two, four and six school results. This year has been a complete write off as most student will not even get one month’s worth of formal education!
Zimbabwe has a whole generation of illiterates. There is no future for any nation that fails to educate its own people!
For the last 40 years, Zimbabwe has been sliding into the abyss. How long are the people of Zimbabwe going to bury their heads in the sand and allow this madness to continue!
@ Gore
ReplyDelete“There have been frantic efforts by Zanu PF to throw President Chamisa to political oblivion. The people in the streets especially of Harare have got one message, no matter what the party structures or the so called captured judiciary say they will continue voting for President Chamisa.
“Their message is clear and that what is happening in the MDC is the work of the enemy who fears competition, who acts as if they own title deeds for Zimbabwe.
“The people are suffering and Zanu PF instead of focusing on the economy it focuses on closing the little democratic space that we have in the country.
“Those willing to be used by the system in enabling it to deal with President Chamisa are indeed aiding in growing brand Chamisa.”
You can fume and froth all you like you will never ever change the political reality that Chamisa is corrupt, incompetent and all the problems he is facing today are of his own making.
Chamisa and the rest of the MDC leader had the golden opportunity during the 2008 to 2013 GNU to implement the democratic reforms which would have ended the Zanu PF dictatorship and opened up the democratic space once and once for all. They failed to get even one reform implemented in 5 years! Not even one!
The real tragedy here is that people like you Gore failed to grasp what the 2008 GNU was about much less that MDC sold-out. What is more, that even today 12 years since the GNU you still fail to grasp what the GNU was about. How is it possible that anyone can be so shallow, thick and slow!
Democracy demands an informed and diligent electorate and not one so naive and gullible they cannot see they are being short changed even after decades of empty promises.
Chamisa is just a corrupt and incompetent mortal, he will never deliver free and fair elections in Zimbabwe and your praising him as a great leader is just you howling all night at the moon, it will never ever change anything!
@ Mhlanga
ReplyDeleteReally? So you think Chamisa has the ball? Zanu PF has captured all the state institutions and since the GNU it is no exaggeration to say the party has captured the MDC too. Tsvangirai, Chamisa, Khupe and the rest of the MDC leaders have all been dancing to Zanu PF's commands.
What has MDC ever done in Zimbabwe that has changed anything of substance. Name one thing! It is Zanu PF that is in total control of even the factional fighting in MDC! And yet, you still foolishly think Chamisa has the ball! Open your eyes for Pete's sake!
@ Luke Tamborinyoka
ReplyDelete“They say a fish rots from the head.
“As Emmerson Mnangagwa and the First family make shrill noises about the litany of corruption allegations in which they are being implicated, claiming they are just but mere victims of an avaricious, name-dropping criminal elite, one will always find it very difficult to absolve them.
“It is always very difficult for a leader to dissociate himself from the criminal elite that surrounds them, for they say any leadership is defined by the very people that surrounds it. And Mnangagwa’s has been monumentally tainted by a corrupt inner circle of relatives and acolytes that has been been the hallmark of his tenuous leadership.”
Luke, there is not even one thinking Zimbabwean out there who would deny that corruption is rampant in Zimbabwe and that Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF cronies are the Godfathers of corruption. And, worst of all, we all know that as long as Zanu PF remains in power the nation will wring its hands as corruption continue to run riot!
What is sickening here is that those who sold-out and wasted the nation’s golden opportunity to end Zanu PF’s corrupt and tyrannical rule can take it upon themselves to remind us how corrupt Zanu PF is.
Zimbabweans risked their lives and limbs to elect MDC leaders into power to implement the democratic changes. Can you please tell us why MDC has failed to implement even one democratic change in 20 years, 5 years of which were in the GNU?
You and your fellow MDC leaders participated in the 2018 elections knowing Zanu PF was rigging the elections. By participating you gave the flawed elections credibility and, by extension, the vote rigging Zanu PF regime legitimacy.
You lot are going to participate in the 2023 elections with no reforms in place. You are paying lip service to reforms and all your pontificating about Zanu PF corruptions is just hot air!
“Luke-ing the Beast in the Eye!” Well next time you look in the mirror you should know you are “Luke-ing the Sell-out in the Eye!”