There is no denying that Zimbabwe is facing a
serious existential economic and political crisis. There is no denying that a
national dialogue leading to the full implementation of the democratic reforms
and the holding of free, fair and credible elections can help end the crisis.
Dialogue that will lead to the formation of another
GNU with no chance of implementing the reforms is a waste of time; we must
learn from the past.
Sadly, the country’s two main opposition parties, MDC-T
and MDC A, have learned nothing and are hell bend on the national dialogue for
dialogue’s sake or, at the very best, to produce a new GNU with no political
muscle to implement any reforms.
“MDC Alliance deputy spokesperson, Clifford
Hlatywayo, said it was already engaging SADC and other African countries, to
help with the push for all-inclusive dialogue aimed at ending the country's decades-long
political and economic crises,” reported Daily News.
“MDC-T chairman, Morgen Komichi, also told the Daily News that they intended to
approach the regional bloc to mediate the much talked about dialogue.”
Calling for dialogue has become the excuse for
failing to do the right thing – implementing the democratic reforms to ensure
free, fair and credible elections.
Zanu PF has no intention of implementing any
democratic reforms and hence the reason why the party has made it clear it
welcomes dialogue only in the context of POLAD. And to join POLAD, one must
accept the July 2018 elections were free, fair and credible and the Zanu PF
regime is legitimate.
Chamisa and company participated in the 2018 and
the 2013 elections knowing fully well that Zanu PF would rig the elections.
Zanu PF offered the opposition a few gravy-train seats plus a cut of the annual
Political Party Finance Act pay out – the opposition found that irresistible! Zanu
PF knows Chamisa and company will participate in the 2023 elections even if not
even one reform is implemented because their greed will once again have the
better of them!
At the 2014 MDC-T party congress, Morgan Tsvangirai
and his followers made a congress resolution the party will not participate in
any future elections until democratic reforms to ensure free and fair elections
are implemented. “No reform! No elections!” was the party’s new clarion call!
Of course, Zanu PF knew Tsvangirai and company
would never boycott the elections, the party’s resolution to do so was just a
bluff. The call for dialogue and reforms is just another bluff; MDC leaders
will participate in the 2023 elections even if not even one token reform is
implemented.
"Quarrels are not working. Let us follow what
Tsvangirai did. He went to the negotiating table to solve the country's crisis,
and as the MDC we are going for dialogue with other political parties,” said
Douglas Mwonzora the new leader of the MDC-T.
"The benefits that Zimbabweans received as a result of Tsvangirai's
strategic choice are now a matter of historic record."
The last GNU failed to resolve the country’s
economic and political crisis precisely because Morgan Tsvangirai failed to
carry out the primary task of the GNU – to implement the democratic reforms and
restore the freedoms and rights of all Zimbabweans including the right to free,
fair and credible elections.
What is the point of the national dialogue if the
key players in the proposed dialogue only pay lip-service to reforms, at best,
or else outright reject the need for reforms!
@ Mugocha
ReplyDelete“MDC doesn't know the reforms they are demanding. I challenge them to list the reforms they want to be implemented if it's not just political hallucinations.”
I have to agree with you there. The reason why MDC failed to implement even one reform during the GNU was that they really had no clue what the reforms are required. All the years of sloganeering “Chinja! Change!” were just that empty slogans!
If it has been said once it has been said a thousand times and a thousand time again that the primary purpose of the 2008 to 2013 GNU was to implement the raft of democratic reforms to ensure future elections are free, fair and credible. It is bad enough that ordinary people have struggled to comprehend this straight forward and logical reality it disconcerting that some one in a leadership position like Douglas Mwonzora and his fellow MDC leaders have failed to comprehend this reality.
ReplyDeleteThe 2008 to 2013 GNU failed in its primary task and it is therefore nonsensical to be praising Tsvangirai for agreeing to go into the arrangement that failed to deliver the primary objective - free, fair and credible elections. It would be very foolish on our part as Zimbabweans to ever agree to idiots like Mwonzora deciding the future when we know already that he is not advocating for reforms that will end the curse of rigged elections.
Lest people forget, Zanu PF rigged the 2018 elections, the regime is illegitimate. Zanu PF is the chief instigator of all our economic and political problems.
Let people should forget, by participating in these flawed and illegal elections MDC have given the process credibility and given the vote rigging Zanu PF legitimacy. They participated out of greed, Zanu PF offered a 1/3 or so of the seats plus a cut of the annual Political Party Finance Act payoff; the opposition found the bait irresistible! MDC are but paid partners in crime.
Both Zanu PF and MDC cannot be the solution to Zimbabwe’s political paralysis; they are the problem and therefore cannot be the solution too!