Paul Siwela mocks MDC-T over calls for Sadc intervention in Zim

The Exiled leader of the Matabeleland Liberation Organisation (MLO) Paul Siwela has criticised the move by the MDC-T of pleading with the African Union (AU) and Southern African Development Community (Sadc) to intervene in the Zimbabwe's crisis.

The MDC-T on April with the AU and Sadc to intervene and rescue Zimbabwe from the spiraling economic collapse amid reports that the main opposition party was planning to mount extensive campaigns to ensure that electoral reforms are implemented before the June 10 by-elections.

Ironically, President Robert Mugabe chairs both Sadc and AU. But the MDC-T, plagued with internal strife over whether to participate in the elections or not, passionately appealed to the regional groupings to save the situation in the country.

"Sadc and the AU have to immediately intervene in order to save Zimbabwe from complete and total political and socio - economic disintegration. This is a desperate plea for help," MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu is qouted as saying.

"Our brothers and sisters on the African continent are hereby called upon to hear our cries for assistance. We are in deep trouble. Africa, please don't forsake the suffering and downtrodden masses of Zimbabwe."

The party said the country was on auto-pilot worsened by Mugabe's busy schedule that has seen him flying in and out of the country on personal and business trips.

But Siwela said the calls were unreasonable as there was nothing happening on the ground which calls for such intervention.

"I read in the NewsDay issue of today MDC-T calling for Sadc and AU to intervene in Zimbabwe and one wonders why would AU and Sadc intervene when there is nothing happening on the ground," said Siwela. "What is Sadc and AU suppose to intervene and do when Zimbabweans are enjoying themselves, again they say they will demand electoral reforms before June 10 by-elections and one wonders what mechanism will they employ to force or cause Zanu PF to agree to electoral reforms that would shrink and decrease their electoral advantage they currently enjoy sadly this kindergarten politics will never change anything."

Siwela asked that do MDC-T think a dictator is moved by pleas and cries for intervention?

"That is student politics since its formations," he said. "If people get into the streets and some get killed and some injured while others get arrested and the country gets ungovernable, then Sadc and AU won't need to be invited but may intervene.Remember there are countries in Africa where there are wars currently going on and AU has not intervened eg Boko Haram in Nigeria, Niger,Chad and Cameroon,Touregs in Mali, Al Shabab in Somalia, Kenya, Lord Resistance in Uganda, etc so that call must be dismissed with contempt it deserves."

He said he was sure that what is keeping the nation going, for now, is that there is food on the shelves compared to 2007 and also the fact that money is still available at the bank.

"There is no cash, but people can atleast have a meal the whole month if they can get $20," he said. "The problems will not go away with President Robert Mugabe s death. They will remain and most probably multiply, the thing is, maybe if he is gone, the crises will correct an d remove all the wrongs that we have faced. Am quite certain that even the guys in Zanu PF are not happy with the state of affairs, but because they are scared of Mugabe, they are just quit."