Zimbabweans suffer from selective amnesia, a peculiar
variant that affects their political thinking. I will call it selective amnesia
Zimbabwe Politics variant or ZiPo for short. what I would call
Amnesia
“Amnesia is a general term describing memory loss.
Symptoms include memory loss, confusion and the inability to recognise familiar
faces or places. Some of the causes of temporary amnesia include concussion,
severe illness and high fever, emotional stress, some drugs and
electroconvulsive therapy,” Google definition.
Selective Amnesia
That is easy, it is a type of amnesia in which the sufferer
loses only certain parts of their memory.
Some wise guy posted a video of former USA President Barack
Obama with the caption “If I hear anybody say their vote does not matter!” It
was a recording from two years ago. Press the play button and what followed is
a persuasive and impassioned plea for people to go out and vote!
“You cannot compare Zimbabwe elections to American
elections; one is cough syrup the other is rat poison. In America you vote matters
because the process is free, fair and credible. In Zimbabwe the elections are
rigged; your participation is only important in helping the regime maintain the
lie the process is free and fair,” came the first response.
“Democracy is on the ballot!” came the reply, quoting
President Obama.
“For America, yes. Not Zimbabwe! You are suffering from
selective amnesia!”
For the sake brevity I will just jump back to some definitions.
When it comes to elections Zimbabweans suffer from selective
amnesia: Politics variant.
Selective Amnesia; Politics (Sapo) variant
It is a type of
amnesia in which the sufferer loses memory of what flaws, irregularities and
illegalities that rendered the past elections undemocratic, null and void.
Their memory reverts to everything one would expect if the elections was free,
fair and credible. This is the preferred default position because it is the
cosy comfort zone, for obvious reasons.
If you accept the last election was rigged then you have to answer
the difficult question of “What have you done to make sure the present
elections are not going to be rigged too?” The question looms large and even
more menacing when you know Zimbabwe has never ever held free, fair and
credible elections ever since the country’s independence 43 years ago. When
there is a mountain of evidence already that Zanu PF is rigging these
elections.
You can well imagine the interchange that followed:
“Progress is on the ballot!”
“Sapo!”
“Justice is on the ballot!”
“Sapo!”
Nelson Chamisa and his fellow CCC leaders are hell bent on
participating in these elections. Of course, they know Zanu PF has rigged
elections in the past and is rigging these elections. If anyone is suffering
from Sapo, they are and, more significantly, they know it.
“My name is not on the ballot, but progress is on the
ballot!”
“Rubbish! Zimbabwe is sinking deeper and deeper into the
abyss because we have lacked the common sense to admit Zanu PF is rigging
elections and the political will to implement the democratic reforms and stop
the rigging.”
Cure for selective amnesia
Treatment involves creating a safe, comfortable space that
will allow memories to return. In some cases, doctors will recommend hypnosis
and psychotherapy. Most individuals with dissociative amnesia recover their
memories once their amnesia resolves.
Cure for selective amnesia: Politics variant
The truth is Nelson Chamisa and his MDC/CCC friends have
never lost their memory, their political will to implement even one token
reforms during the GNU, for example, evaporated into thin air when Mugabe
bribed them with the trappings of high office during the 2008 to 2013 GNU. They
have often complained of rigged elections but that was only to please their
supporters. CCC will never implement the reforms and deliver free and fair
elections; they wasted the golden chance to do so during the GNU, it is naïve to
expect them to do so now.
Chamisa and his CCC friends are participating in these
flawed elections out of greed and their supporters are doing so out of
ignorance and/or fear. There is no cure for greed other than the gullible
supporters finally opening their eyes and realise they are being conned. The
cure for ignorance and fear is education, education and education!
Ambassador Kirchmann said despite the desire for EU to expand its partnerships in the country, there was need to address the negative perception Zimbabwe carries.
ReplyDelete"The trade agreement we have is underused; there is room for more investment and l think that's also what Zimbabwe wants," he said.
"I hear, we are open for business and there is a lot in the National Development Strategy 1.
"As the EU, we would like Zimbabwe to succeed in that ambition…when I ask companies in Europe, I must say there is still a negative perception about Zimbabwe, which I think is important to work on.
"Investors are looking for predictability, they want to know what they are getting themselves into; good infrastructure, a way to carry out financial transactions easily, and access to finance."
The EU diplomat also the bloc was playing its part towards ensuring Zimbabwe's elections are free and fair.
"I hope that the upcoming elections will be successful, peaceful and inclusive," he said.
It is clear that Zanu PF is rigging the 2023 elections. All the hard work the EU put in writing the 2018 election report with its 23 recommendations was a complete waste of time and resources because the regime ignored the report. What could conjure be more “negative perception” of chaos and lawlessness than the failure to hold free and fair elections.
What makes Zimbabwe’s situation even more intractable is that the opposition whom the nation has entrusted the task of implementing the democratic reforms and bring an end to this chaos and madness has itself been corrupted by Zanu PF. MDC/CCC have not only sold out by failing to implement even one reform they are participating in these flawed elections for a share of the spoils of power.
Until we implement the reforms and dismantle this failed political system, there is no chance of ever ending Zimbabwe’s negative perception. None! I know it, Ambassador Kirchmann knows it and more significantly, the shrewd investors know it!
We know this is about Zanu PF determined to rig these 2023 elections and does not want any democratic country saying anything about it! An African agenda! Yeah right!
ReplyDeleteZimbabwe is in this economic mess and political paralysis after 43 years of tyrannical and corrupt Zanu PF rule. Instead of addressing the serious problems facing the country including the blatant denial of the basic human rights and freedoms including the denial of a meaningful say in the governance of the country we are being told that doing so will make Zimbabwe an "underdog!" This is a real nightmare.
This came as Mnangagwa yesterday insisted that the participation of European nations, the United States of America and the United Kingdom at this year's Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) is an indication that his re-engagement drive is bearing fruit.
ReplyDelete"The Americans are here, the British are here, the EU is here. What else would we want? Everybody is here. So this engagement and re-engagement policy is bearing fruit. Perhaps, they heard that the Majesty is coming. That's why they are here," Mnangagwa told journalists after touring exhibition stands at the ZITF which ends today.
In a statement, the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) raised concern over the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVOs) Amendment saying it was inconsistent with democratic principles.
CLA is an international non-profit organisation, which promotes the rule of law among Commonwealth member States.
The controversial Bill has since sailed through Parliament.
"For democracy to flourish, informed and tolerant debate is essential. Contrary views must be respected.
"Some events have occurred in Zimbabwe which causes concern to the CLA.
"The Private Voluntary Organisations (PVOs) Amendment Bill, which has passed Parliament has attracted much comment," the CLA said on Wednesday.
It would be midsummer madness for the Commonwealth to re-admit Zimbabwe now, just a few months before the elections when the club refused to do so after the 2018 election because they were not free and fair, when it i already clear Zanu PF is rigging 2023 elections too!
Mnangagwa and hi cronies can dream of re-joining the Commonwealth but they will only be dreaming. Zviroto, zviroto!
If Zimbabwe was readmitted, many nations will seriously consider leaving the club. And as for Zimbabwe, the country will certainly walkout at the earliest regime change opportunity! We are fighting for rule of law and to be treated with respect and I cannot think of a worse insult than readmitting these Zanu PF thugs into the Commonwealth!
Those pretending 2023 elections will be free and fair are suffering from selective amnesia; common sense! After 43 years of rigged elections, it is common sense that these elections are flawed!
ReplyDeletehttps://bulawayo24.com/index-id-opinion-sc-columnist-byo-230119.html
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has taken delivery of a US$54 million presidential jet - a Dassault Falcon 7X, ZimLive reported.
ReplyDeleteThe aircraft was delivered in March, but it was not put into service until this week after Mnangagwa's government came under international spotlight following Al Jazeera's broadcast of a four-part investigation into massive gold smuggling and money laundering linked to associates of the Zanu PF leader and his wife, Auxillia.
The Dassault Falcon 7X is manufactured by Dassault Aviation, a French manufacturer of military aircraft and business jets.
The business jet has a large-cabin and a range of 5,950 nautical miles (11,020 km) – it can fly from Harare to London non-stop.
It made its first flight in March 2005 and has a typical configuration for 12 passengers, although other floor plans can accommodate up to 19.
Luxury travel and aviation website Sherpa Report says the list price of a new Falcon 7X "is currently about US$54 million."
The total annual budget for flying a Falcon 7X private jet 200 hours per year is approximately US$1,434,621 or US$2,214,097 for flying 400 hours per year, according to Liberty Jet Management. The data suggests Zimbabwean taxpayers will fork out at least US$2 million annually to keep the jet flying.
Only an idiot would expect Mnangagwa risking all this in a free and fair election especially when he does not have to. MDC/CCC had the chance to implement reforms and they wasted it and now the dimwit claim they can "win rigged election". A priceless gift to Zanu PF.
Zanu PF bribed Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends to forget about implementing the reforms, that was Zimbabwe’s get out of jail card. It has taken 10 years since the end of the GNU for the penny to drop but it has dropped, at least a few Zimbabweans are now aware of the sheer futility of participating in these flawed elections only to give Zanu PF legitimacy!
US$ 54 million jet when the country is failing to provide basic services such as clean running water, education and health care because of chronic under funding! Of course, we have our priorities all wrong and are helpless to do anything about it as long as Zanu PF is able to rig elections and get away with it, thanks to MDC/CCC sell outs!
@ Frank
ReplyDelete“Mukoma give us a workable solution. Kuchema kuti MDC yakatengesa does not change anything. Yes they sold out then wat. Shumba ikauya hauchemi wakamira unochema uchitiza or kukwira mumuti inogona kuzo ngoruma chitsitsinho ASI wararama even vanhu vanokubatsura. What the opposition is doing is right by participating in the elections, the international community will help in some way because there is action being taken by the locals.”
This is becoming monotonous in the sheer shallowness of the argument.
I have said it is insane to participate in flawed elections when all you do is give the process credibility and the vote rigging Zanu PF legitimacy. You say that is not a workable solution? How is participating to perpetuate the dictatorship a workable solution?
It was SADC who proposed the 2008 to 2013 GNU whose primary purpose was to implement reforms because the regional body accepted that there could be no meaningful change in Zimbabwe without reforms. SADC wanted the 2013 elections postponed until reforms were implemented.
The EU made 23 recommendations at the end of the 2018 elections which, implemented, would ensure free elections. Not even one of the recommendations has seen the light of day.
The international community has been calling for reforms to be implemented before elections. Who in his or her right mind would ask Zimbabweans to participate in an election process so flawed there is not even a verified voters’ roll? What help are you expecting them to give you?
It beggars belief that we should even be having this exchange over matters that are so self evident! Of course, it is very sad!