Reflections on the GNU and the 2013 Constitution
Book Excerpt from: In Search of the Elusive Zimbabwean Dream, Volume III (Ideas & Solutions)
By Professor Arthur G.O. Mutambara
My biggest regret about our participation in the GNU is that we, coming from the opposition parties – MDC-T and MDC-M – into government, were naive and unstrategic.
We lacked the Machiavellian instinct and disposition.
We honestly but naively pursued the business of running the country, salvaging the economy and creating an enhanced socio-political dispensation.
As a collective political leadership, we should have taken time to apply our minds to the existential question:
“What next after the GNU?”
We did not address this matter.
This was suicidal.
On the other hand, our colleagues from ZANU-PF were not interested in saving or serving the country.
They took the GNU period as an opportunity to regroup and strategise, with the objective of offloading us from the government as soon as they could.
Their target was the next harmonised elections in 2013.
Pure and simple.
They paid lip service to the GPA and GNU. They tolerated the constitution-making process as long as it did not disadvantage them in any way.
Our ZANU-PF colleagues were not interested in any of the political, electoral, national healing, security sector and media reforms stipulated in the GPA.
This brings me to our second shortcoming.
We did not concentrate on these reforms or put them at the centre of our activities right from the beginning of the GNU.
While we knew that these changes were critical in ensuring that the next elections were free, fair and credible, leading to undisputed outcomes, we did not walk the talk.
It was a tragic lack of judgement.
We only started making uncreative noises and throwing shameless tantrums about the need for reforms towards the end of the GNU, which was to terminate on 29 June 2013.
It was too late.
Shame on us!
Even SADC and South Africa could not help us.
However, extenuating circumstances arose from how the GPA was drafted.
This led to poor enforceability and ineffective implementation of its provisions.
A fatal flaw of the GPA was the absence of an explicit and binding dispute resolution clause or provision.
Such a legal instrument or mechanism could have helped us settle some of our many disagreements (the persistent GPA outstanding issues) over the interpretation and implementation of the GPA.
Then, we could have made considerable progress on the reforms we needed before the 2013 polls.
Nevertheless, as the MDC parties, we were part of the GPA drafting.
Hence, we take responsibility for its inadequacies and deficiencies, which we should have attended to during the GPA negotiations and drafting.
This negligence constitutes a third failure on our part.
Guilty as charged.
Our fourth transgression is that some of us started enjoying the trappings of power due to the association with the ZANU- PF grandmasters of looting (our partners in the GNU).
Cases of corruption, primitive accumulation, ostentatious consumerism, conspicuous consumption and lavish lifestyles became commonplace among some former champions (MDC Ministers) of democracy, accountability, integrity, probity, anti-corruption, transparency and good governance.
What a shame!
Yes, the GNU was a great experience and an educational opportunity for those of us who were part of it.
It also gave the people of Zimbabwe a breathing space – some respite from the unimaginative misrule and ruinous misgovernance of ZANU-PF.
Yes, we stabilised the economy and improved our people’s lives.
We worked on fundamentals such as a shared national vision, a national brand, industrial policies and mining law reform.
Indeed, we delivered a New Constitution – the 2013 National Constitution.
In fact, we showed the country how an able and united leadership could change the fortunes of a nation.
We demonstrated the efficacy of an inclusive Team Zimbabwe approach.
Indeed, the GNU amply made the case for a three-way Team of Rivals.
However, when all is said and done, our GNU intervention was like a flash in the pan – an honourable but unsustainable, and hence largely insignificant exercise.
With hindsight, we could have achieved much more and impacted the Zimbabwean political narrative better.
My regrets articulated in the preceding discussion are the basis of my conclusion.
We could have done better had we been more vigilant, strategic, savvy and, yes, Machiavellian.
Reflections on the 2013 National Constitution
With respect to the Constitution of Zimbabwe adopted in 2013 – as I write this book in 2023, 10 years later – it is imperative that I do some soul-searching.
Is it a good constitution?
Was the NCA correct in their reservations about the charter?
What does that which has happened in the past six years – such as the amendment of the Constitution to expand the President’s appointing powers, the efforts to change the devolution provisions before they are even implemented, and many other contradictions – mean?
First of all, it is vital to observe that the 2013 National Constitution did not solve the matter of disputed elections in Zimbabwe.
The outcomes of our general elections were challenged in 2013 and 2018 [and, of course, 2023].
That’s a terrible indictment of the 2013 Constitution.
Also, as I reflect and write in 2023, aligning some Zimbabwean laws (Acts of Parliament) with the 2013 National Constitution is still a significant concern.
For example, there is a strong view that Section 22 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, under which 21 citizens, between January and August 2019, were charged with “subverting constitutional government”, is not aligned with the 2013 National Constitution.
Furthermore, on 15 August 2019, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) issued a prohibition notice against the holding of the MDC Alliance’s demonstration the following day in central Harare, in terms of Section 26 (9) of the Public Order and Security Act (POSA), Chapter 11:17.
Clearly, POSA is not in sync with the 2013 National Constitution.
Several such laws need synchronisation with the national governance charter.
POSA’s successor law – Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (MOPA) – enacted in 2019, is equally an affront to Zimbabwe’s 2013 National Constitution.
MOPA is just as pernicious as POSA
Same difference.
In some cases, the provisions of the Constitution are not self-evident.
There are always disputes that end up with lawyers proffering conflicting interpretations.
A people-driven constitution’s provisions should be explicit, easily understood, and interpreted by ordinary people.
An elitist document with impenetrable provisions is of limited efficacy.
During the constitution-making process, I had personally pushed for the establishment of a new constitutional commission – the Zimbabwe Civic Education Commission – whose primary function was to create awareness and educate the citizenry about the National Constitution.
This could have helped immensely in terms of enhancing ordinary people’s grasp of the contents of the country’s governing charter.
However, somehow, the proposal fell through the cracks.
There is another instructive aspect of the 2013 National Constitution that deserves commentary – the issue of protection from deprivation of private property.
As young Marxist-Leninist revolutionaries in the late 1980s (1987 to 1990) at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), Section 16 of the Lancaster House Constitution (Zimbabwe’s founding charter) was our key target.
This provision sought to protect institutions and individuals from the “deprivation of private property.”
As radical student leaders, we were totally and palpably incensed by this section.
We used to eloquently declare:
“Section 16 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe must be abolished.
It is an affront and an obstacle to our socialist revolution, driven by the workers, peasants and organic intellectuals.
The provision protects the capitalist system characterised by unbridled exploitation of our people by the local bourgeoisie and international capital.
We seek to seize and smash this moribund and parasitic system and replace it with an egalitarian socialist society.”
That is how we used to flow at the peak of our radicalism.
Indeed, we were fiery hell-raisers in pursuit of the revolution.
Well, fast forward to the making of the 2013 National Constitution.
We have all sold out!
The former revolutionaries in ZANU-PF and the MDC parties are not concerned about social revolution.
We unashamedly adopt Section 71 in the new charter, which is more conservative than the old Section 16.
Yes, Section 72 (a) of the 2013 National Constitution allows for the appropriation of private property, but this is strictly limited to agricultural land.
There we have it.
The local bourgeoisie and international capital are quite safe under the new constitutional order.
This is why the Western governments and their donor agents gladly and enthusiastically supported our COPAC process.
The only civil society group that challenged Section 71 and defended the case for social revolution is the International Socialist Organisation (ISO), whose key leader is the inimitable and indefatigable Munyaradzi Gwisai (Former UZ SRC Secretary General 1989-1990, when I was the President).
However, Gwisai was miserably alone on this mission impossible.
The inclusion of Sections 71 and 72 is one of the critical reasons that ISO, which fully participated in the constitution-making process, decided to join the NCA and campaign for a “No Vote” against the 2013 National Constitution.
Of particular contention is paragraph 3(a) of Section 72, which states that:
“When agricultural land is compulsorily acquired for a public purpose, no compensation is payable in respect of its acquisition, except for improvements effected on it before its acquisition.”
This clause provides for compensation for the former colonisers under the guise of so-called improvements.
Indeed, the revolutionaries have sold their souls for a few pieces of silver.
As radical student leaders at the UZ in the late 1980s, we would never have accepted this treachery.
Not a chance!
Our position was that there should be no compensation for colonisers.
Period.
Not even for improvements!
Several clauses from the rejected 2000 Draft National Constitution find their way into the 2013 National Constitution.
Specifically, the land clause is virtually the same, and the contentious part of compensation being paid by the former colonial power is retained.
However, unlike the 2000 National Referendum vicious fight, in 2013, there is no longer a massive conflict over the matter.
This is despite Western powers and big business seeming to have accepted that the land reform programme is irreversible.
However, the quid pro quo is that ZANU-PF conceded in section 71 not to extend indigenisation and economic empowerment to other property forms such as mining, manufacturing, and finance.
So, in a way, the 2013 National Constitution marked the end of ZANU-PF’s radical economic nationalism.
We registered some improvements in the 2013 charter over the amended Lancaster House document.
There is a significant advancement in women and gender empowerment through such provisions as Section 3 on founding values of gender equality; maternity employee rights and equal pay for equal work (Section 65); prohibition of gender discrimination whether on the grounds of tradition, custom, pregnancy or marital status; and equality of women and men in all endeavours and spheres of life including economic, social and political.
Gender-affirmative action is recognised through Sections 56, 80, 17, and 24 and women’s Proportional Representation seats.
All these were tremendous advances on the Lancaster Constitution that did not even recognise gender discrimination and, in fact, allowed it based on custom and tradition.
There are significant gains in terms of labour and socio-economic rights.
Section 65, for the first time, constitutionalised labour rights such as those to fair labour practices, safety and fair wages, strikes, collective bargaining, and the right to organise (including for civil servants).
However, Section 200 severely restricts the political rights of civil servants from active political party participation.
As the MDC parties, this is an acute failure on our part as this provision potentially constrains a significant portion of our support base, such as teachers and nurses in rural areas.
The section should have been couched to restrict senior civil servants, not the rank and file.
Unlike the Lancaster House Constitution, the 2013 document recognises socio-economic rights like education, shelter, healthcare, the environment, children’s rights and gender parity.
However, the major limitation is that these rights are placed as non-justiciable provisions in Chapter 2 rather than in the Declaration of Rights in Chapter 4.
Furthermore, there are neither established enforcement mechanisms nor explicit funding provisions to make these rights a lived reality.
Although soon after adopting the 2013 National Constitution, we are overly enthused by the virtues and strengths of our product, time – the magician – has allowed for a more objective and detached assessment.
It is now 2023, and the starry-eyed appraisals have given way to soberer reflections.
It must be emphasised that the ring-fencing of private property, in a very conservative property clause – Section 71 – militates against any attempts to pursue a redistributive economic agenda.
As explained earlier, in the 2013 National Constitution, we abandon any pretence of commitment to social revolution.
We have clearly and unambiguously sold out.
The biggest weakness of the 2013 National Constitution is that it merely tinkers with and superficially curbs Zimbabwe’s imperial presidency, essentially retaining it intact.
The provision for a vote of no confidence and retention of decisive presidential power in appointments of key state positions, such as the judiciary and commissions, including the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), can illustrate this.
A sitting President who is a candidate in an upcoming presidential election has total and unfettered authority to appoint the referee of the polls - ZEC.
This cannot be right.
It is a distinct weakness of the 2013 Constitution – a structural flaw, indeed.
Clearly, the foundation and enabler of fraudulent and disputed elections in Zimbabwe lie squarely in the 2013 National Constitution.
As if the perverted and undesirable retention of an all-powerful presidency is not enough, in 2020, ZANU-PF seeks to further embellish and enhance these egregious powers through the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 2) Bill.
In fact, they embarked on that journey much earlier by enacting the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 1) Act, 2016.
The ZANU-PF mandarins are insatiable in their pursuit of an imperial presidency in Zimbabwe.
Another worrisome democratic deficit of the 2013 National Constitution is the retention of the first past the post electoral system.
The charter failed to introduce a fully-fledged Proportional Representation (PR) system as in South Africa.
The limited PR introduced for the Women’s Quota and the Senate [and later the Youth Quota] is highly inadequate.
That we failed to push for comprehensive PR successfully reflects incorrigible poor judgement on our part as the MDC parties, particularly the MDC-M – our party.
Being a small party (the smallest of the three GNU partners), the PR system should have been one of our critical non-negotiable demands.
Only through the PR system can small and medium-sized parties retain and defend a foothold in Parliament. We see this with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Democratic Alliance (DA) and other minor parties in South Africa.
For the entire democratic opposition in Zimbabwe, the PR system is the only guaranteed and surest way of stopping ZANU-PF from getting a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
Such a majority can be used to subvert the 2013 National Constitution, as we witnessed ZANU-PF brazenly doing with the two constitutional amendments discussed above.
One target of a ZANU-PF two-thirds majority is removing the term limits for the national presidency!
Emmerson Mnangagwa's eyes are set on that one.
Yes, as the MDC parties, we misfired and manifested contemptible dereliction of duty on PR.
A further major weakness of the 2013 National Constitution was the judiciary entrenchment provisions protecting the existing politically compromised bench of Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku, thus making it both the Supreme Court and Constitutional Court for a specified period.
This entrenchment was a key enabler and sustaining pillar of the Harare regime.
Why?
Because it guaranteed that ZANU-PF would continue to enjoy the services of a captured judiciary to do its bidding for it.
This is of particular significance concerning the resolution of disputed electoral outcomes.
Once formally adopted, the constitutional arrangement is difficult to challenge or attack.
Why?
Because constitutionalism and the rule of law then demand adherence to it.
Indeed, the seeds of a captured judiciary were sown during the crafting of the 2013 National Constitution.
It turned out that ZANU-PF learnt well from the best – the Rhodesians and British – that a constitutionally protected inherited judiciary from the preceding state is vital in safeguarding the elites’ entrenched political and economic interests.
We, in the MDC parties, were outmanoeuvred on this one, as well.
(To be continued next week)
This is an excerpt from the book: In Search of the Elusive Zimbabwean Dream, Volume III (Ideas & Solutions)
By Professor Arthur G.O. Mutambara
@ Matthew Nyashanu
ReplyDelete“There are two types of questioning and criticism. The first one is constructive criticism and the second is destructive criticism yours falls within the latter and offers no direction to progress. While your criticism may be helpful to strengthen the opposing system you don't offer that depth and become blinded not to see the wanton destruction of democracy crafted by Zanu PF. Criticise and offer a practical alternative showing your craft literacy and craft competency in unpacking the politics of pariah states like the one at play in Zimbabwe.”
My experience has taught me that if I do not like what I hear I label it destructive and if I like it I call it constructive. In some cases I have, with the benefit of hindsight, reviewed and reversed my decision in many cases. In short, I have stopped wasting time in labelling what I hear constructive or otherwise and try to assess it as objectively as I can.
If you think my comments are not constructive, that is your opinion and you are welcome to it.
Your assertion that I have not offered any solutions is, once again, your view because I believe I have.
@ Benjamin
ReplyDelete“The professor admitted to the main failure during the GNU. Why are we then choosing to address the constitution only. It was greed and nativity that these guys forgot the mandate and the real reason for the GNU. Yet alone the purpose of the formation of the party as the name suggests. Instead of watering down the admission, let's give credit for the admission of guilt and use this to fix the future. Burying and defending it would be foolish of us.”
Accepting that MDC leaders failed in the most important task the GNU was supposed to carry out requires the understanding of what the reforms are and why we need them. The real surprise here is that many Zimbabweans still have no clue what the reforms are even now with the benefit of hindsight, with the benefit of the reality of Zanu PF rigging the elections and the nation being stuck!
ReplyDeleteYou missed the point. You do not need to be a captured court to dismiss a case when it failed to meet legal requirements. missed the point. You do not need to be a captured court to dismiss a case when it failed to meet legal requirements. Indeed by failing to look at the evidence objectively you are doing exactly what you are accusing the courts of doing - being biased!
@ Ffgh
ReplyDelete“Did Yu read so well the reason why
Others were busy with matters of fixing the economy while zanu pf were regrouping
In conclusion we cannot blame the opposition for zanu shot down any reform thing agenda
Zanu is the serpent, in the grass.”
That is not what Mutambara said, I will not bother asking you to read the article again because there are some who could read it 1000 times and still fail to understand. Blessed are those who see and perceive, hear and understand!
The tragedy for Zimbabwe is that those who see but perceive nothing and hear but understand nothing have the vote. It is like giving a loaded gun to a monkey! It is the reason why Zimbabwe is a failed state and doomed to remain a failed state as long as the monkeys have loaded guns!
@ Godfrey
ReplyDelete“Let’s not select the parts that suit our narrative - let’s read it through with an open mind
He admits to its ( the amended constitution they helped draft and implement) weaknesses and also points out to its strengths
He also points out that benefit of hindsight and thinking outside the box has afforded him the chance to look at how they performed critically (like we all do now )
I can’t fault them much - they were just naive and inexperienced in institutional governance which caused them to be outmanoeuvred by the experienced Zanu who they underestimated and thought were of the same mind as opposition to some extend
Why are we hell bent on discounting the fact that they implemented some reforms.”
This is just going round and round in circles because you are refusing to admit what Mutambara himself said because you didn’t want him to say that.
Mutambara said MDC did not implement any democratic reforms during the GNU because, “As a collective political leadership, we should have taken time to apply our minds to the existential question:
“What next after the GNU?”
We did not address this matter.
This was suicidal.”
You are telling us they implemented some reforms. “Why are we hell bent on discounting the fact that they implemented some reforms,” you saying.
If you knew and understood what the democratic reforms are and why they are important then you would not talk of “they implemented some reforms.” They did not implement any reforms.
The white colonial regime introduce "hut tax" not to raise revenue but to force the blacks to work in the white owned farms, mines, factories, etc.
ReplyDeleteZanu PF is bring back "hut tax" only it is calling it mansion tax to tax the poor to raise revenue. 43 years of Zanu PF misrule have left the robust economy we inherited in 1980 in ruins. The filthy rich do not pay tax and so the regime is going after the poor and will call a mud-hovel a mansion worth US$100 000 plus for tax purposes!
So the poor, who cannot afford food, health care and other basic necessities, must pay 1% or US$1 000 plus per year for the honour of having their mud hovel called a mansion! The curse of having a corrupt and oppressive regime that is not accountable to the people as the August 2023 rigged elections proved.
https://bulawayo24.com/index-id-opinion-sc-columnist-byo-237843.html
@ Zimeye
ReplyDelete"If VP Chiwenga grabs power today, do you think he'll repeat the same mistake of handing State House keys to ZANU PF thieves?"
Of course he will keep it in house, Zanu PF, only this time he would want to be the top dog!
The biggest mistake people made during the 2017 military coup was to focus on Mugabe must go not knowing this was about the dictatorship and not just the dictator, the system and not just the top dog. It is sad to notice that many people have learned nothing and so the still go after the individual!
@ Developer
ReplyDelete“Change first before you try to change others or things!
2 December 2023
I would like to share with you some important facts about Change
What is change?
Before I (or u) give the simple definition of Change, allow me to initially highlight that change has nothing to do with politics as many of us might be preoccupied with that line of assumption.
Naturally, change takes place throughout our lives! (Fact).
My definition: Change is a continual and continuous process of transformation from one state, position, or situation to another, usually to the better.
Some characteristics of change
- Change is constant
- It is universally applicable in all subjects of life.
- Change may be initiated and catalised by humans (as in economics and politics).
- Change is unstoppable or irresistible but can only be delayed.
- Change may take place with or without change agents(automatic or natural).
- Change outcomes are unpredictable
- In certain instances, Change agents must change before they try to change others or situations.
I hope we have learned 1 or 2 things this morning.
Let me save your precious time, guys, but bear this in mind.
Without change, even today we would living in the stone age life style, we would be walking long distances without cars, bullet trains, and airplanes.
All of the above were and will continue to be brought by the irresistible change
We were all kids, and we changed to adolescents, youth, parents, and finally , grannies.
In business, religion, and politics, we change leaders, strategies, and even operational plans. Therefore, change is everywhere and has nothing to do with individual subjects.
I thank u
Akson Potera.”
My take home is “In certain instances, Change agents must change before they try to change others or situations.”
The people of Zimbabwe have risked livelihoods, limb and even life itself to elect MDC/CCC leaders into power on the understanding once in power they would bring about the democratic changes to stop Zanu PF rigging the elections. After 23 years, including 5 in the GNU, MDC/CCC have not only failed to deliver even one token change, reform, but worst of all they have been participating in flawed elections to perpetuate the dictatorship out of greed.
MDC/CCC were supposed to bring democratic change, have themselves changed to become the junior partners of the dictatorship they were supposed to end, Call Chamisa “Change Champion in Chief” is cynical and stupid because he and his CCC friends have failed to bring about change even when they had the golden opportunity to do. Only those who have no clue what the democratic changes we want are much less how they are implemented.
The one impediment to democratic change in Zimbabwe during the GNU and since is the corrupt and incompetent MDC/CCC leaders, they are not only not up to the task and yet have remained only because the people themselves have been slow to realise this. Zanu PF have taken full advantage of this and has even been doing its best to weaken the opposition even more whilst encouraging the people to keep the opposition by pretending there was change, naturally.
@ Godfrey
ReplyDelete“No one is protecting MDC or CCC.
But most people are saying they did their best as novices and underdogs then and now.
Everyone can claim to be more intelligent and analytical with benefit of hindsight - even the Prof’s article attests to that
The ‘NOT EVEN ONE’ is not a true statement and turns the discussion table upside down without reconciling opposing opinions - it is taken as a misplaced strong belief and the fact that.”
This is now a tedious rat race, starting nowhere and going nowhere just going round and round in circles.
“No one is protecting MDC or CCC,” you say in one sentence and yet do exactly that in the next.
“But most people are saying they did their best as novices and underdogs then and now.”
And so being a novice and an underdog is now virtues to be praised!
You are right, CCC are still selling out by participating in flawed elections but you have them covered they are “novices and underdogs then and NOW.” Just how long are they allowed to continue selling out and claim we are “novices and underdogs” because they have been on the political stage now 23 years including 5 in the GNU.
Are you asking povo to continue to prop up CCC regardless all the treasonous betrayal and the tragic human suffering brought about by the failure to end the dictatorship because chamisa and company are “doing their best” although that meaning not even one reform but that is ok since they are “novices and underdogs”!
Has it ever occurred to you that the nation could be a healthy, functioning and prosperous democracy if the nation had competent opposition instead of “novices and underdogs” for 23 years and counting?
Zimbabwe is a failed state so shall remain as long as we refuse to accept that the historic fact that MDC/CCC leaders are corrupt and incompetent. Calling them “novices and underdog” will not bring about change especially when that is an excuse for keeping them in power!
I thought we are searching for truth and meaningful change in Zimbabwe and not an excuse for our suffering and failure to govern ourselves.
@ Mufundi
ReplyDeleteHere we go again! Please make up your mind, did Zanu PF rig the 2023 elections as SADC, AU, ZHRC and Chamisa himself has claiming? If so then why are you blaming the ordinary people for voting for Zanu PF? Chamisa's complaining of "gigantic election rigging"does not make sense since he is the one who insisted in participating in the elections claiming he had plugged all vote rigging loop holes. "God is in it!" he said.
Of course, Chamisa just conning his naive and gullible supporters who believe anything. And the same naive and gullible herd continue blaming the people for their foolishness. Zanu PF rigged the 2023 elections and CCC participated to give Zanu PF legitimacy out of greed.
The CCC herd participated to give Zanu PF legitimacy out of sheer naivety and instead of admitting it, the herd is now blaming the people to cover for their own stupidity! We must stop this insanity of blaming the innocent for CCC’s greed and stupidity.
Mnangagwa was in UAE for COP28, he is not one to miss the travel and photo opportunity and to address empty chairs. The world is sick and tired of hearing boasting about Zimbabwe's achievements in one breath and in the next whining about country's suffering because of the sanctions imposed by the West. The world knows he is the "Number One" to his gold mafia friends, many of them are in the UAE.
ReplyDeleteHe should have offer gold nuggets (as contrast to chicken nuggets at Zanu PF rallies), the hall would have been packed, his mafiosi friends would have seen to that!
https://www.facebook.com/4415858595176450/videos/871199374749261
Speaking during World Aids Day commemorations at Chinotimba Stadium in Victoria Falls yesterday, United Nations resident and humanitarian co-ordinator Edward Kallon said the impact on women is particularly significant, as women make up 61% of the 1,2 million adults living with HIV.
ReplyDeleteMore than 20 000 people in Zimbabwe died of Aids-related diseases last year alone with more than 50% being women.
Speaking during World Aids Day commemorations at Chinotimba Stadium in Victoria Falls yesterday, United Nations resident and humanitarian co-ordinator Edward Kallon said the impact on women is particularly significant, as women make up 61% of the 1,2 million adults living with HIV.
Zimbabwe’s health care has all but collapsed, this has no doubt contributed to the increased suffering and lives lost. And the health care will not improve until we sort out the curse of rigged elections and bad governance. It is shocking that after 43 years after independence and in this day and age we still cannot hold free, fair and credible elections!
@ Element
ReplyDelete“mozodii mahukura.”
It is great pity that MDC/CCC leaders have failed to implement even one token reforms in 23 years, including 5 in the GNU. As long as these Zanu PF thugs remain in power the country is going to sink deeper and deeper into this hell-on-earth the thugs have landed us into. They have not only failed to govern the country but like all corrupt, incompetent and murderous tyrants they are now justifying their lawlessness and barbarism by pretending all those calling for rule of law and justice are dogs.
“Zanu PF chatonga! Ichongotonga! Imi muchongohukura! Nokuhukura!” boasted Mnangagwa. Here is the man whose has been told to his face by AU, SADC and even the government’s own ZHRC that he rigged the 2023 elections and therefore, per se, is illegitimate; calling me a dog! If one of us deserves to be called a dog, I know that it is not me! I rest my case!
@ Chief Ndiweni
ReplyDelete"And did zanupf implemented even one reform by the way?"
Did you expect Zanu PF to implement even one reform before, during and/or after the GNU? How anyone can ask such a question speaks volumes of the sheer naivety of some people. No wonder we are a failed state.
Leaders of Zimbabwe are known the world over to be corrupt and the point raised by Farai Maguho is therefore very important. Those in the developed countries who have pledged to help poor countries fight the ill effects of climate change are rightly worried that the money they give will be looted. We, in Zimbabwe, have not done ourselves and the world any favours by doing nothing to end the Zanu PF dictatotorship all these last 43 years.
ReplyDeleteLife is a just to each his/her due! To those who have worked hard for law and order and justice and freedom they will enjoy peace and prosperity and to those who preferred the cold comfort of burying their heads in the backsides of leaders even when the leaders have proven to be corrupt and incompetent enjoy the cold comfort of the failed state!
ReplyDeleteI you think Mnangagwa is increasing the significance of Africa by being corrupt, incompetent and a murderous tyrant? Your stupidity comes out with every remark you make!
ReplyDelete@ Biti
ReplyDeleteWe all know that Zanu PF is a corrupt, incompetent and murderous regime, we really do not need people like Tendai Biti reminding us of this every time he opens his mouth! What matters is Zanu PF has just rigged the 23 August 2023 elections perpetuating the economic meltdown and the tyranny and by participating in these flawed elections out of selfish greed. Tendai Biti and his CCC colleagues are playing their part in perpetuating our suffering.
By denouncing Zanu PF over its taxing and yet participate in flawed elections to perpetuate the dictatorship, CCC are running with the povo hare by day and hunting with the Zanu PF hounds by night.
We need men and women who will implement the democratic reforms to end the Zanu PF dictatorship. Tendai Biti et al have failed to implement even one reform in 23 years, 5 of which in the GNU and now all they are doing is con us into believe they will deliver change by denouncing Zanu PF, paying lip service to reforms, anything except implementing the reforms!
The people of Zimbabwe must wake up and reject this CCC deceitful and treasonous betrayal or we will never get out of this mess. Never!
OK. Is that all you have to say? The buffoon is wasting Us$2 million plus on this trip alone when the nation's hospitals have no medicine and nurses for Pete's sake! It is all water off a duck's back for you. No wonder we are a failed state!
ReplyDelete@ General Evergreen
ReplyDelete“I dont buy your accusation of saying zanu pf rigged the elections. Please kindly lead us with evidence to support your accusation.”
The AU, SADC and even Zimbabwe’s own ZHRC election observers all condemned the 23 August 2023 Zimbabwe elections as a farce. You did not believe them nor the evidence they presented. It is either you are incapable of digesting the evidence or are in denial the elections were rigged. Either way, it is utterly pointless for me to engage such an idiot!
What matters here is that Zimbabwe is failed state and the economic and social consequences of that are the economic meltdown and the tragic human suffering and deaths. The only sure way to end the failed state is to end the curse of rigged elections and bad governance. And so the fight is to end the curse of rigged elections and will not waste time on nincompoops who maintain the elections were free and fair.
Zanu PF is like an amoeba there are always warring factions and as soon as it has successfully split new factions arise and the process of division starts all over again. Mai Mujuru and her supporters were booted out of the party in 2014 and within weeks the ruling faction had the G40 and Lacoste factions. The latter prevailed following the 2017 military coup and before the spoils were shared out already the was the Mnangagwa and Chiwenga factions.
ReplyDeleteWhy is Zanu PF such an unstable political party?
It is obvious, this is a party whose members have only one thing in common: their insatiable greed for power, influence and wealth. They do not even have the common sense to realise their dog-eat-dog fighting is destroying the whole nation and no one, not even themselves, will gain any thing out of this madness.
Chiwenga is looking at the mess the country is in and thinks he can do better. He is just another buffoon like Mnangagwa and Mugabe before him, he will only drag the nation deeper and deeper into the abyss.
What Zimbabwe needs is to implement the democratic reforms and stop Zanu PF rigging elections. Zanu PF would be history by now if MDC leaders had not sold out and implemented the democratic reforms especially during the 2008 to 2013 GNU when the nation had the golden opportunity to do so. Another division of the amoeba Zanu PF will not get us out of this mess.
@ Developer
ReplyDelete“Judging from what Biti says every time, Biti deserves to be a party and even state president.”
What did he do when he was in the 2008 to 2013 GNU? The primary purpose of the GNU was to implement the democratic reforms so we can stop Zanu Pf rigging the elections. How many reforms did Biti and his MDC friends implement in five years? Not even one token reforms.
By failing to implement even one token reform in five years Biti and company proved beyond all doubt that they are corrupt and breathtakingly incompetent How any one can argue that he is qualified to be state president beggars belief!
@ General Evergreen
ReplyDeleteBiti is better than Chamisa is what way? They were both in the GNU and they failed to implement even one reform because they both had their snouts in the feeding trough.
To say Biti is better than Chamisa or Mnangagwa better than Mugabe is as meaningless as a mouse saying the cobra is better than a black mamba! But then, we all know of your serious intellectual challenges!
@ Developer
ReplyDelete“Those with knowledge have no power and those with power have no knowledge.”
This is a nonsensical and abuse aphorism because knowledge is power!
Tendai Biti and his MDC friends were in power during the 2008 to 2013 GNU but they failed to implement even one token reform in five years because whatever little knowledge they had, it is not even worth talking about, was overwhelmed by their greed and breathtaking incompetence.
Zanu PF has managed to retain and monopolise political power in Zimbabwe not because Mnangagwa or Mugabe before him is clever, cunning much less intelligent. The two are ignorant buffoons who were luck to have village idiots around them whom they have used and abused in equal measure to stay in power. Mugabe bribed Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends with the trappings of high offices, the ministerial limos, the very generous salaries and allowances, US$4 million mansion for Save himself, etc. And the banded MDC mongooses completely forgot about the reforms.
“Vazivanhu eMDC adzidza kudya anyerere!” boasted the Zanu PF cronies when asked why MDC were not implemented any reforms.
Of course, the Zanu PF cronies were right, after all they too had learned the same lesson soon after independence hence the reason why Mugabe was able to rid roughshod over the people denying them their freedoms and rights including the right to life. Even when Mugabe was committing the Gukurahundi massacre, no one in Zanu PF dare to challenge Mugabe.
“Mose murivakadzi vaMugabe!” Margaret Dongo scolded the Zanu PF leaders, MPs and ministers for cowering down to Mugabe like concubines to the Sultan.
The MDC leaders during the GNU were no different from all these Zanu PF “concubines” MPs, ministers, judges, etc. who have occupied the various public offices; they have all changed nothing of substance because they had the power but not the knowledge because whatever knowledge they had was quickly forgotten as they learned the new lesson, kudya vanyerere!
@ General Evergreen
ReplyDeleteSo I should not condemn Mnangagwa wasting US$ 2 million plus on trip to address empty chairs because I did not condemn CCC for wasting US$ 240 000 on a pointless workshop?
As I said your stupidity knows no bounds! Of course, all criminal waste of the nation's human and material resources must be condemned and I am here to condemn the waste and not to name every one of the waste or be silent because I cannot name them all. This is not a beauty contest where all the contestants must take the cat walk!
You, in your stupidity, are obsessed about the trivial matters, the contest between Zanu PF and CCC, and fail to see the bigger picture, the nation. Both Zanu PF and CCC have proven to be corrupt and incompetent the choice before this nation is not Zanu PF vs CCC but rather one of implementing the reforms to end the dictatorship or democracy vs autocracy.
The tragedy for Zimbabwe is that village idiots like you have the vote and buffoons like Mnangagwa are doing their best to make sure you remain ignorant and stupid. You continue to be obsessed about the trivial whilst he continues to drag the nation into the abyss.
The tragic irony here is that CCC is participating in these flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy for a share of the spoils of power. The over zealous and ignorant CCC supporters are participating in the flawed elections to perpetuate their own suffering; they were conned to believe CCC will win big the rigged elections because Chamisa plugged all the vote rigging holes.
ReplyDeleteThe 23 August 2023 elections showed this was just hot air, all the election observers confirmed the elections were rigged and Chamisa's winning in rigged elections strategies are just hot air. "God is in it!" he claimed. How could God be in something so stupid and dumb!
“The (2013) 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,” confessed David Coltart in his Book, The Struggle Continues 50 years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe.
It is sheer folly participating in these flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy and perpetuate the dictatorship. You cannot reason with the CCC wildebeest herd especially now when they have been whipped into a stampede! The date for another by-election has been set for 3 February 2024 no doubt there are many more to follow. The rat race is on, it has no starting point nor an end point, and everyone just runs round and round in circles!
Of course, it is insane to participate in flawed elections to perpetuate one’s own suffering. It is insane to expect the opposition to win big flawed elections especially after 43 years of Zanu PF mafiosi rigging elections!
@ Chamisa
ReplyDeleteSure, and no doubt God is in it! Why did MDC fail to implement even one reform in 23 years and we all know CCC is participating in flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy out of greed.
@ Rotina
ReplyDelete“ZPF is not a civilized community - they’re barbaric, unlawful, thugs, murderers and fraudsters who have destroyed our country and impoverished our nation and the people.
ZPF has been in power for more than 4 decades and they still have no clue on how to coexist peacefully with other political parties in a small country like Zbwe? This is unacceptable and Zbweans shld unite and kick ZPF out at the earliest possible. The army needs to refrain from being used to attack innocent civilians as they facilitate a dictatorship
Disgusting & utter rubbish.”
What you must also remember here that we have had many golden opportunities to end the Zanu PF dictatorship, especially during the 2008 to 2013 GNU. The GNU was our get out of jail card and we failed to play it, we failed to implement even one reform in 23 years, including 5 in the GNU.
If you have failed to play the get out of jail card, explain why you failed to play the card. Of course it is nonsensical to keep wittering about the 5x20 m thick and high wall, razor fence, etc.
Worse still, we all know that CCC has been participating in these flawed elections knowing fully well this would give Zanu PF legitimacy out of greed. Chamisa has been lying about plugging the vote rigging loop holes to hide CCC’s greed. “God is in it!” Chamisa insisted. Chamisa and his CCC friends have been running with the povo hare by day and hunt with the Zanu PF hounds by night.
It is a crying shame that Zimbabwe’s so called intelligentsia, the country’s creme de la creme, have been blind to CCC’s treasonous deceit. The main reason why Zanu PF continues to rig elections and remain in power is not so much because it is ruthless and corrupt but rather because MDC/CCC leaders’ themselves corrupt and breathtakingly incompetent implement the necessary reforms.
Zanu PF will never reform itself out of office; we need opposition leaders who will implement the reform. Chamisa and company will never do it and it is foolish to keep pretending that they will win rigged elections!
One of our many weaknesses as blacks is our lack of empathy towards other living things including our own fellow human beings. The very fact that those with the power and authority to enforce the law have allowed many of these acts of barbarism to go unpunished has only serviced to encourage the lawlessness.
ReplyDelete@ Eng Wezhira
ReplyDelete“Why talking about the oldest news as if it's new? We have read these for more than 20 times now.”
Well it is interesting to note that you have read that MDC/CCC sold out on reforms “more than 20 times now” and very disappointing to realise that none of this sunk in! If it had sunk in then you would know that Zanu PF has just rigged the 23 August2023 elections and, more significantly, they will continue to rig elections until we finally implement the reforms.
We are still talking about reforms because MDC/CCC have failed to implement them in 23 years, 5 of which in the GNU. And we will not stop talking about reforms until they are implemented and we have free, fair and credible elections.
The truth you have no clue what the reforms are much less why we need them. What is interesting here is that village idiots like you want to set the national agenda and even set how many times (all completely arbitrary of course) a given subject can be discussed. For reforms not more than 20 times!
Idiots cannot set the national agenda and you must remember to keep your place!
“The “ World“ you speak fondly of doesn’t even know you exist and how dare you speak on Our behalf?”
ReplyDeleteThe world does not know that I exist. I really do not care about that! What I care about is that Zimbabwe is a failed state and millions of Zimbabweans are living in abject poverty and all because we, as a nation, have failed to govern ourselves. We cannot hold free and fair elections even after 43 years of independence.
The trouble with living in a dictatorship all one’s life is there arises little tyrants who too think they too can be dictators. I do not need permission from you or anyone to speak that is what freedom of expression in all about!
@ Grace Ruredzo
ReplyDelete“Ndiko Kuzhamba kwatirikutaura pano: Iwewe urikuita chii ne country yako; what sort of contribution yawaits other than kuzhamba pano.”
You, me and everybody out there have the right to express their views as to why Zimbabwe is a failed state. Once you have expressed your views it is up to the rest of us to agree or disagree and, in the interest of advancing the debate, say why we disagree or whatever.
It is therefore rather foolish for you to be asking me what contribution have I made when I have just expressed my views in plain language - you prefer to dismiss it as “kuzhamba”; well we are not all as talented as you are. Kuzhamba or not it is my view.
I am interested in hearing why you disagree with my views and so will any one with half a brain!
Photo of charred bodies of 2 out of the 7 Zimbabeans burnt to death in SA!
ReplyDeleteWe really need to solve our own economic and political problems so that no Zimbabwe is ever forced to leave the country and dehumanised.
@ Matthew Nyashanu
ReplyDelete“Wilbert lawlessness can only be enhanced by the ruling elite not those who are opposing the status quo. Take a leaf and learn that it takes those with space to aid the power that is trying to reverse coloniality like the imposed on Zimbabweans by the despotic regime of Emerson Dambudzo Munangagwa.”
This is so vague it means nothing! In the case of Zimbabwe, who are the ruling elite and who are those opposed to the status quo? You also need to be specific as to what you are talking about for example Zanu PF was right in righting to end white colonial rule but has become the nation ’s new oppressor.
@ Tichareva
ReplyDelete"I have stopped debating with anyone who does not understand the impact of sanctions.
Sanctions and corruption are inextricably linked. In fact, sanctions lead to increased state sponsored corruption. So you cannot talk of corruption without talking about sanctions.
A lot of corrupt countries that is even worse than Zimbabwe are doing well economically. So the impact of corruption in destroying a country is much less than the impact of sanctions."
How naive!
@ Mukanya
ReplyDelete“Uyu hapana chanopiwa .Taneta ne chinhu one chanoswera kudzokorodza.”
Which are you concerned about more that I mention reforms or that Zanu PF rigged the August 2023 elections? I and anyone else with half a brain are concerned about the rigging and since reforms are the only way to stop Zanu PF rigging the elections I will be talking about implementing the reforms until they are implemented.
Until then, I will not stop talking about reforms and certainly not to please a dimwit!
@ Grace Ruredzo
ReplyDelete“Aah nhai kungogara murima nagative moods .. Tamera nazvo izvo .. 43 years Bla Bla ..
Be the person who still tries.
after failure, after frustration, after disappointment, after exhaustion, after heartache, be the person who musters up the courage to believe that a new attempt can manifest a new outcome. Be the person who still tries… pinda ; pinda muma projects ; less ma stresses !!!”
Albert Einstein said insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result.
Only a village idiot would participate in a flawed election process, so flawed the AU, SADC, and even Zimbabwe’s own ZHRC has dismiss the process as a farce expecting CCC to win big because Chamisa said he plugged all the vote rigging loop holes. Even he has failed to secure something as basic as a verified voters’ roll. “God is in it!” he insisted. Participate even when it is clear CCC leaders are doing it out of greed.
In case you have not noticed, Zanu PF rigged the 23 August 2023 elections; 43 years of rigged elections! Of course, it is insane to continue participating. You call call yourself and all those who keep participating in these flawed elections “person who keeps trying” that will not change the reality that you are the village idiots who do not even have the common sense to admit Chamisa and company sold out of reforms to justify your insanity!
Chamisa and company have failed to implement even one reform in 23 years, 5 of which in the GNU because they are corrupt and breathtakingly incompetent. The very fact that you have failed to see this even now with the benefit of hindsight speaks volumes about your intellectual capacity!
The tragedy in Zimbabwe is that those with little or no common sense have often emptied up in positions of power and authority, because in a autocratic systems merit count for nothing, and so the dimwit have grown powerful and pompous. Some even have the arrogance of dictating their idiotic ideas to everyone!
“Be the person who still tries!” Tries what? To be insane like you?
In Zimbabwe the filthy rich do not pay tax but instead get all manner of subsidies from the poor. Command Agriculture is about giving those with the farms money for their inputs, money they have rarely ever pay back. I will bet my bottom dollar that most Zanu PF leaders have paid very little or no tax from their various business activities. And yet the government is always coming up with ways to tax the little the poor get!
ReplyDeleteI salute Arthur Mutambara for even admitted that MDC leaders failured to implement even one reform during the 2008 to 2013 GNU because they were "naive and not strategic". The whole truth is they were and still are to this day corrupt and breathtakingly incompetent.
ReplyDeleteIt therefore beggars belief that many Zimbabweans continue to follow CCC leaders blindly.
Even if SADC had given Zimbabweans a chance to implement the reforms after the 2023 elections we would have wasted it. Now we must implement the reforms without SADC or Zanu PF will rig the 2028 elections too!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1UF1sq86_c
@ Mawere
ReplyDelete“Did anyone take responsibility for the failure? Why apologise after the fact?
Why salute if the apology does not have a constitutional cause?
Citizenship is not free, and the idea that assuming public office makes you a leader must be exorcised. An infant would be able to detect the fallacy of the approach that squandered and undermined the duties of citizenship, which should be a subject matter of a valid and lawful apology, especially if there are no consequences implied in the approach such as renouncing or forfeiting the notion of any causal link between thought leadership and public service.
Incidentally, what if Mugabe intentionally and knowingly misled the Thought Leadership project resulting in rational people seeking to compete with a dead person who in life acted like an Imperial President yet facts reveal that he was manipulated and managed by evil recall practitioners?”
I salute Arthur Mutambara for having the intellect to realise that democratic reforms were necessary for free, fair and credible elections and for having the courage to admit it. The overwhelming majority of the MDC/CCC leaders had and even today still have no clue what the reforms are about much less how they were supposed to be implemented.
Mutambara attributed MDC leaders’ failure to implement the reforms to being naive and lack of strategic thinking. He is being dishonest, to put it diplomatically.
SADC leaders like Lindiwe Zulu nagged them to implement the reforms and they ignored the nagging. Considering the process of implementing the reforms required an MDC MP, Senator, Minister, Deputy Prime Minister or Prime Minister; that is over 200 different individuals; to submit a reform proposal. Not even one of them did so in 5 years. Not one!
MDC leaders did not implement even one reform in 5 years because “they were busy enjoying being in the GNU they forgot why they were there!” as one SADC ambassador told The Independent after Zanu PF rigged the 2013 elections. There is no denying MDC leaders are corrupt and breathtakingly incompetent!
The only reason why MDC/CCC continue to enjoy the massive public support is two fold. First, the majority of Zimbabweans have no clue what the reforms are much less that primary purpose of the GNU was to implement reforms and that MDC leaders sold out by failing to implement even one token reform.
Second, the people are desperate for change and desperate people do desperate things. Let’s face it, one has to be pretty desperate to keep believing Chamisa’s winning in rigged elections harebrained strategies especially after 43 years of Zanu PF mafiosi rigging elections.
Nations who will not learn from the past are doom to repeat the same foolish mistakes over and over again. We have 43 years and counting of rigged elections and have paid dearly for our folly - Zimbabwe is a failed state.
@ Munhumutapa
ReplyDelete“I will leave this group to avoid reading Mukori nonsense. He is focused on opposition and his brain is loaded up with Chamisa.”
Actually is the exact opposite, it is your brain that is “loaded with Chamisa”.
As much as you accept that leaders must be democratically accountable to the people, in your blinked and myopic mind, that does not include Chamisa. You consider him to be a demigod who is infallible and therefore the very idea of a mere mortal like Mukori holding Chamisa to account is simply unthinkable.
Well, get this into your thick head; Chamisa is not only an infallible demigod he is a fallible mortal like you and me. Worse still he is a corrupt and breathtakingly incompetent mortal and it is very foolish indeed for anyone to continue to follow Chamisa blindly after all the blunders he had made.