“Uncle, where did Zimbabwe go wrong? And why?” my nephew asked me.
He had just read the story, SA had
banned the use of NRZ wagons in their territory. The sorry state of NRZ wagons,
after decades of poor maintenance, rot and decay, have raised the risk of train
derailment to unacceptable level.
My nephew knew I had worked on the Dabuka to Harare NRZ rail
electrification project soon after independence. The system was designed to
last 40 years, at least, with good maintenance. It had lasted half that when
the copper conductors started to disappear. Soon there were 30 metres tall gum
trees in the middle the track and then steel rail and concrete sleepers stolen,
etc.
“The short answer to your questions,” I replied, “Is it pays in the end
to get the best in the beginning. We got the worst government you can ever imagine
in 1980 and have paid dearly for it ever since!”
It was the Japanese scholar and writer, Ken Yamamoto, who said, soon
after our independence in 1980, Zimbabwe had the potential to become the South
Korea of Africa. A just, stable and prosperous nation if only we had the great
fortune of having a healthy and functioning democratic system of government.
Mugabe and his Zanu PF cronies who formed the first black majority rule
after independence, want absolute power and so impose a de facto one-party dictatorship.
The country has been stuck with the autocratic government since independence with
disastrous economic, political and social consequence we see today.
We should have foreseen the dictatorship coming and taken the necessary
counter measures. We did nothing.
When Mahatma Gandhi and his fellow Indian nationalists lead put under
increasing pressure to abandon Gandhi’s “none-violence” in favour of an armed
struggle to end British rule of India. “What kind of leaders would the armed
struggle throw up?” they asked themselves. “Would they be the men and women we
would want to rule India?”
The people of Zimbabwe should have asked themselves the same questions.
And when Mugabe and his colleagues too the decision to wage an armed struggle,
the people should have stiffened themselves to made sure the nation did not get
rid of the white oppressors only to replace with black ones. The people were a
push over.
Mugabe let it be known that the bush war would continue if Zanu PF lost
the elections. The people obliged by voting to end the war.
As soon as Mugabe got into power his number one priority was to undermine
the country democratic institutions turning them into Zanu PF department in all
but name to consolidate his autocratic grip on power. Again the nation failed
challenge him.
In the last 43 years the nation has had many opportunities to end the
Zanu PF dictatorship with the best chances coming during the 2008 to 2013 GNU.
Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends, who were tasked to implement the
democratic reforms, failed to get even one reform implemented. Robert Mugabe
bribed them with the trappings of high office and the rest is history.
“How are we going to and this nightmare?”
The obvious solution would be for Zimbabweans to demand the
implementation of the democratic reforms to restore the people’s freedoms and
rights including the right to free, fair and credible elections. The people
have never made any such demands. Never!
Many people have yet to understand that the primary purpose of the 2008
GNU was to implement the democratic reforms, they still have no clue even now
with the benefit of hindsight. It is therefore not surprising they do not realise
MDC leaders sold out big time by failing to implement reforms.
Worse still, the people are forfeiting the chance to get the reforms and
free elections by participating in flawed elections on the oxymoronic basis CCC
has strategies to win rigged elections. The very idea the elections are rigged
should have alarm bells rings because it is proof the country is not yet ready
for free elections – prerequisite for stable and good democratic government.
There are somethings the nation can should be discussing and debating
over and others we should be of one accord. The need for a verified voters’
roll and need to implement the democratic reform before holding elections are
so basic and of critical importance. The very fact that are still people prepared
to hold elections out them proves we are not yet ready for a health and
functioning democratic system of government.
So, for Zimbabwe to have a healthy and functioning democracy we must
first learned the basic requirements for rule of law, for free elections and
implement the democratic reforms. Until we do this Zimbabwe will remain a
failed state, a pariah state, whom neighbours will be loathed to let our
ramshackle train wagons used in their territory!
Zimbabwe needs a fresh start - get rid of both Zanu PF and CCC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrBaFRIZsnE
ReplyDeletePresident Emmerson Mnangagwa has received the final delimitation report from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission at State House.
ReplyDeleteThe delimitation report was produced without a verified voters' roll. We know the voters' roll is in shambles and so the delimitation report must per se be meaningless.
Zimbabwe is now in her fifth decade post-independence, in the 21st century no less, and we are still failing to do something as simple and basic for free, fair and credible elections as producing a verified voters’ roll. We have, on the one hand, a ruling party, Zanu PF that believes it has the divine right to rule the country and they only sure way to stay in power is by rigging the elections.
On the other hand, we have a corrupt and incompetent opposition which not only failed to implement the democratic reforms to stop the rigging but has given up on reforms. It is now participating in flawed elections, so flawed there is not even a verified voters’ roll, to give Zanu PF legitimacy in return for a few gravy train seats.
The insanity of rigged elections and bad governance has gone on for 43 years because the electorate are naïve and gullible. Even now, with the benefit of hindsight, many Zimbabweans out there have no clue the primary purpose of 2008 GNU was to implement reforms, for example. And so they are blissful unaware MDC/CCC leaders sold out and hence the reason they are participating in the flawed elections. They even believe in the opposition’s oxymoronic winning in rigged elections idiotic claim!
Nations get the government they deserve. We certainly deserve the Zanu PF dictatorship complete with its entourage of corrupt, incompetent and utterly useless opposition parties! We are not ready for a healthy and functioning democracy.
@ Muknyire
ReplyDeleteZanu PF has rigged elections since 1980, not even you can deny that. I am saying it because I am determined to stop this insanity of participating in flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy. You are determined to silence me because you want to participate in the 2023 elections regardless of the certainty Zanu PF is rigging.
You are making a mountain out of a molehill, that I have repeated the warning Zanu PF is rigging the elections and yet have nothing to say about the insanity of participating in the flawed elections even after 43 years of rigged elections. If I m insane then what about you?
Indeed, it would be high treason, if I was to be silence by a village idiot like you particularly give the nation's destiny is at stake here!
@ Makanyire
ReplyDelete“You are giving vote rigging Zanu PF legitimacy by calling for a poll boycott.
You think Zanu PF is worried about a poll boycott?”
Elections, like everything else in this world, must be conducted according to set and agreed rules. One of these rules is that there must be a verified voters’ roll, for example. Of course, it is nonsensical to participate in an election with no verified voters’ roll because you will not know who voted, how many times, etc. Dead people have been known to vote in Zimbabwe!
If the election process is so flawed there is no voters’ roll, 3 million in the diaspora are denied the vote (37% of the potential voters, etc. and you know that be participating all you are doing in giving Zanu PF legitimacy. It is insane to keep participating.
Zanu PF is not worried about the opposition boycotting the elections because Mnangagwa knows they are hell bent on participating no matter what! He is paying them well to participate.
Indeed, MDC leaders failed to implement even one token reform during the GNU for the same reason – greed.
What is shocking here is that there still village idiots like you who have no clue what constitutes free and fair elections, how you are being conned into participating in flawed elections, etc. How anyone can be so shallow, thick and slow in this day and age; beggars belief!
ZEC has failed to produce something as basic as a verified voters' roll, Mnangagwa is squandering millions of dollars bribing CIO staff to help him rig the elections, etc. proof Zanu PF is rigging these elections. CCC's own flagship winning in rigged election strategy of mass voter registration is dead in the water. As of 30 May 2022 ZEC confirmed only 1/4 million had registered to vote, that is 4% of CCC's own set target of registering 6 million.
ReplyDeleteSo, the reality on the ground, proof Zanu PF is rigging and that CCC has no strategy to stop the rigging, has no effect on CCC’s decision to participate. Indeed, Chamisa and company are hell bent on participating in these elections no matter what. Why?
Greed! CCC leaders know that Zanu PF is giving away a few gravy train seats to entice the opposition to participate in the elections no matter how flawed the process get. The winners of the few gravy train seats get the usual generous MP salary and allowance such as the US$60 000 car allowance. Mnangagwa has just spiced up the allowances with a US$ 40 000 housing allowance. He is even paying the losers through the POLAD scheme. No matter, Chamisa and company will never ever boycott the flawed elections. Never ever!
@ Sally
ReplyDeleteI too listened to the discussion and was disappointed. What was the point of discussing the merits of party election manifestos when the elections are being rigged. When has Zanu PF, the guaranteed winner of the 2023 rigged election, ever followed its election manifesto?
It is not so much that Zanu PF buffoons are smart and have outwitted all of us to stay in power for 43 years and counting. Our problem is we have a very naïve and gullible electorate who are easily fooled. There have been many golden opportunities to end the Zanu PF dictatorship but they have all been wasted.
Zimbabweans are being dragged into yet another meaningless election process only to give Zanu PF legitimacy because they believe in Chamisa’s winning in rigged elections oxymoronic nonsense.
If there is going to be meaningful change in Zimbabwe then we must educate the people. A naïve and gullible electorate are a blessing to tyrants and sell outs and a curse to democracy!
"In May thereabout when we created Polad, we had no direct funding. But now this is a platform which government must support because it brings harmony, it brings peace, it brings development to the country.
ReplyDelete"Development, modernisation and industrialisation have a cost, so I am not averse to funding Polad because it brings a convergence of political and economic views for our country to move forward," the President said then.
In 2021, with Mnangagwa's administration battling to improve the conditions of service for civil servants amid spiking cost of living underpinned by three-digit inflation, the government splurged close to US$1 million buying vehicles for Polad principals.
A year before, Polad members were also promised ZWL$80 million, then equivalent to about US$5 million, to travel to various nations in a bid to spruce up Zimbabwe's image while calling for the removal of sanctions slapped on the Southern African country by the United States in 2003 over allegations of violating human rights.
At that time, Polad members including Thokozani Khupe, Willard Mugadza, Kwanele Hlabangana, Aplonia Munzverengwi and Khaliphani Phugeni were expected to visit Washington, London, Brussels, Pretoria, Paris and London, on a mission to call for the scrapping of the embargo.
POLAD was created for the glory of Caesar at the expense of the good of Rome. Mnangagwa is rigging these 2023 elections and needs the opposition to participate in the elections regardless how flowed the process got. With all the evidence of vote rigging mounting, Mnangagwa will need the opposition to participate now more than ever before.
Mnangagwa will doing everything to reassure the opposition of his commitment to take care of them if they participated in these elections regardless of all the evidence of rigged elections. Such is his need for the opposition to participate he will even pay the US$20 000 ZEC demands of all presidential candidate just to boost the participation!
ZEC submit final delimitation report and now it's Mnangagwa to name election date. CCC can't wait!
ReplyDeleteZEC has admitted the delimitation was done without a verified voters' roll. How can we have elections without something as basic as a verified voters' roll.
Zanu PF is going ahead with the elections confident CCC will participate in the flawed process no matter what, giving the regime legitimacy. This is at the very heart of this political nightmare!
Zanu PF and ZEC are going ahead with 2023 elections without a vefiried voters' roll. Zanu PF is hell bent on rigging the elections confident that CCC will participate no matter what. Why is CCC so accommodating? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiJ4YYeZbh0
ReplyDelete@ Sally
ReplyDeleteI would be dishonest if I said I have blamed the people for their folly and resigned myself to the reality those who fail to learn from their past and doomed to repeat the same mistakes and pay dearly for it.
And yet I have again and again turn back to the theme of educating the people and the best way forward because I also accepted that it is not only the wildebeest party supporters, parroting the same idiotic slogans, who are suffering but many other innocent people too.
Beside, the idea of abandoning the nation to Moyo and his follow Zanu PF buffoons and MDC/CCC sell outs, just makes me sick! If only one can get a few Zimbabweans to think for themselves, they will see just how foolish these politicians are.
If Mugabe was as cunning as you say, then why is it that everything he touched has turned into ashes? Mugabe owes his survival throughout the GNU years to the very fact that Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends were and still are corrupt and breathtakingly incompetent.
@ Godfrey
ReplyDeleteAs soon as Mnangagwa announces the dates of the 2023 elections, the country will be overwhelmed by the various parties’ election manifestoes. This is the silly season because what is the point of an election manifesto, present of past, when elections are going to be rigged. Those who do the rigging and thus decide the winner are not doing so on the basis of which manifesto is good or bad.
Election manifestoes are important in those countries where elections are free, fair and credible and the voters can hold the contestants to democratic account for their performances on their past and present election promises. We do not have free and fair elections and therefore it is totally meaningless to discuss manifestoes. We will be better off doing something to ensure elections are free and fair!
@ Chris
ReplyDeleteYou have followed Chamisa for 23 years, name one change he has brought? You should be asking him what next?
Participating in a flawed election to give Zanu PF legitimacy and CCC a few gravy train seats and thus perpetuating the dictatorship is insane. To do it because there is no other party than CCC to follow is just a feeble excuse for your insanity particularly when you know CCC is now working in cahoots with Zanu PF.
You are shallow, thick and slow but I have to admit I never thought anyone could be this shallow, thick and slow! No amount of rational argument can ever get through that thick layer of ossified brain!
@ General Tich
ReplyDelete“Nhai!! Taura hako. Kana mukarega kunovhota ZANU PF, Vanototi it's an one-goal. Dzauya dzega, dzawira mutswanda. Kutoenda kunovhota kusvika Mwari vatipa mhinduro. In Boxing you can't quit because the opponent has big hands and yours are small. Use all the strategies and tactics until the gaint fall down. Ko mhumhi dzakawisa nyati nekuwanda wani. Wild dogs killed the buffallo because of numbers.”
If you knew and can see for yourself that the opponent metal studded gloves instead of the usual cotton padded gloves, would you still go into the ring and fight him?
Zanu PF’s vote rigging juggernaut showed that even after garnering 73% of the votes in March 2008 the opposition still could not win! SADC leaders accepted the need to implement democratic reforms to stop this blatant rigging. Sadly, Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends who were tasked to implement the reforms failed to implement even one token reform in five years of the GNU.
The fanatical MDC supporters failed to realise the primary task of the GNU was to implement reforms, even now with the benefit of hind sight the morons still have no clue what the GNU was about, much less that MDC sold out. Chamisa has managed to convince the morons that CCC can win rigged elections.
We started with “One man, one vote!” and now we have moved regressed to accepting rigged elections as normal. Poor Zimbabwe, no wonder the country is in a mess. We not only have morons but worse still they have the vote! It is like giving a loaded gun to a monkey!
“2018 Election Mnangagwa was riding on the public heroism of dislodging Mugabe euphoria. People had the hope that finally the change they were waiting for had been achieved. Mnangagwa gave hope to the million jobless youths by his campaign slogan Jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs! The same youths have turned against him as they saw that ED hapana hapana!!! He is clueless. ED is a replica, A duplicate ,a political twin of Mugabe. This election is all about evaluating the performance of ZanuPF. This election is all about correcting the 2018 voting mistakes. This election is all about voting for true change. The economic crisis under Mugabe in 2017 was more manageable than today. Every rural voter's face is a sign of poverty, suffering, destitution and desperation.”
ReplyDeleteThis is just hopeless nonsense! CCC had mass voter registration, targeting the youths mostly, at the centre of its so called “winning in rigged elections (WIRE)” strategies. As of 30 May 2022, four years down the line, ZEC revealed that only ¼ million new voters had registered. This is 4% of CCC’s own target of 6 million! So where are the youths who have turned against Mnangagwa?
Zanu PF is rigging these elections and has many ways of achieving its goal including making sure that those who will not vote for the party, young and old it does not matter, are not on the voters’ roll. The idea you can win these flawed elections, so flawed there is no verified voters’ roll, 3 million in the diaspora are denied the vote, etc. is insane especially after 43 years of rigged elections.
@ Manyara
ReplyDelete“Tell us solutions kwete kungovukura same thing for years. If CCC does not participate, MDC will participate and they will still call it an election. People have died for CCC and MDC and this is not the time to surrender to the dictatorship.”
True, people have died for CCC and MDC to be elected into office. The question is why did the people risk life and limb to elect these men and women?
Answer: to deliver democratic changes. After 23 years, including 5 years in the GNU, they have failed to implement even one meaningful democratic change. I have raised this point and you are foaming and frothing to silence me when you too should focus on the key issue of failure to implement reforms particularly given the tragic repercussions of the failure is the nation being stuck with the Zanu PF dictatorship.
By participating in these flawed elections, you will NOT stop Zanu PF rigging the elections. All you will do is give the process credibility and with it give Zanu PF legitimacy. If you cannot see the sheer futility of participating in the elections and needs some one to tell that, that speaks volumes about your intellectual ability!
@ Chris
ReplyDelete“The tragedy of listening to folks like Wilbert is that one becomes drowsy and confused with his repetition.”
The real tragedy is we are being dragged into yet another flawed election to give Zanu PF legitimacy and CCC can win the few gravy train seats. And instead of fighting to end the insanity the village idiots are up in arms to silence all those demanding reforms and free elections.
Well said! The only fly in the ointment is believing these elections are free and fair and therefore can remove Zanu PF by voting. Of course, it is insane to participate in an election process so flawed getting 73% of the vote was not good enough, more so after 43 years of rigged elections! The real surprise here is that these people are conned into believing they can win rigged elections so flawed they have been systematically denied the vote. The only vote that count is a vote for Zanu PF.
ReplyDeleteSo instead of demanding democratic reforms and restore their vote, they participate in the elections in the hope they can win the rigged elections. Election rules such as having a verified voters’ roll are there to safe guard the vote and stop the rigging. To therefore insist in participating in the elections without verified voters’ roll is insane.
Some people will not listen to reason.
Indeed they are incapable of comprehending reason, logic, truth and reality and hence their insanity. “Vamwe vanhu ndivana chandagwinyira!” as one would say in Shona.
@ Wakurawarerwa
ReplyDeleteZanu PF is blatantly rigging these elections, the regime has failed to produce something as basic as a verified voters' roll for Pete's sake. Instead of the opposition demanding the adherence to the election rules, Chamisa and company are ignoring the blatant rigging.
Indeed, CCC view Zanu PF’s blatant rigging as a challenge to which the party is responding by doubling its “winning in rigged elections” strategies. None of these strategies have worked in the past and that is not about to change.
The real challenge here is how much longer will it take before ordinary Zimbabweans finally realise they are being conned by both Zanu PF and CCC into participating in these flawed elections. Zanu PF will gain from retain its iron grip on power and CCC will have a share of the spoils of power in the form of the few gravy train seats Zanu PF gives away to entice the opposition to participate. The people gain nothing but pay dearly for the folly of participating by being stuck with the corrupt, tyrannical and murderous Zanu PF dictatorship for five more years!
Nations get the government they deserve. We, in Zimbabwe, deserve the Zanu PF dictatorship complete with the entourage of corrupt, incompetent and utterly useless opposition parties!