News / National
'Tsvangirai must forgive Biti, Mangoma'
17 Mar 2014 at 13:38hrs | Views
Returning MDC former secretary for security and ex-St Mary's legislator - Job "Wiwa" Sikhala - feels like he never ditched the party.
As he speaks to Senior Assistant Editor Guthrie Munyuki, the firebrand politician makes a passionate plea to colleagues who have formed their own outfits to return and aid Morgan Tsvangirai in his quest to bring change and dislodge Zanu PF. Below are the excerpts of the interview.
Q: How many hearts have you broken by rejoining the MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai?
A: The number is quite substantial - a big constituency. There have been people who have been trying to discourage me from rejoining the MDC.
There have been night meetings trying to scuttle our reunification with the founding president of the united MDC - Morgan Tsvangirai.
I have noticed my importance because of the number of people who wanted to be my advisers at this late hour.
But unfortunately some of these people who wanted to give me advice were the people who made the decisions I was not in agreement and also people who made their own political positions which I did not think were wise yet these people wanted to be my wise counsellors over my political decision.
I have taken this decision after thorough consultations with the people I worked with in the MDC 99.
We had meetings and caucuses to see how best we could respond to the invitation that had been extend by Morgan Tsvangirai.
We later decided that for the common good of the people of Zimbabwe because there had been a national outcry that we would not be able to deliver change while we were splintered.
So after serious considerations we noticed that our egos are not enough, we are derailing the wishes of the people to see a free society and deliver a new Zimbabwe.
This is not about Morgan Tsvangirai, this is not about Job Sikhala but it is about the people of Zimbabwe who need to be plucked from the jaws of Mugabe's dictatorship.
Q: Why are you re-joining the party when there is infighting and apparent loss of confidence in Tsvangirai?
A: What I said passionately to Tsvangirai is that the mark of a great statesman is seen by the ability to forgive.
If myself and him could find each other and forgive each other there is nothing that can stop him from forgiving colleagues who have worked with him longer than me.
I made that call and appeal to him that the spirit of the late Nelson Mandela who was able to forgive his tormentors should possess him.
Now Zimbabwe needs a great statesman and great statesmanship can be seen by previous behaviour and that behaviour which is believed, I have forgiven him, he has forgiven me.
That is the characteristic of a statesman. He (Tsvangirai) should be able to forgive Tendai Biti and Elton Mangoma.
Q: What value are you bringing to the MDC?
A: I think you have noticed yourself how much this development has brought.
It is talk of the town, people are excited about the resurgence of the original MDC of 1999 where people had one goal of removing people from the jaws of Robert Mugabe's dictatorship.
This is the gift of unity that we are giving to the people of Zimbabwe, a gift that brings hope for a new change and hope for a new Zimbabwe which has been our agitation since 1999.
They must expect from me total commitment to the cause of change and undivided loyalty.
People are going to see a Saro Wiwa totally more energised than the one they knew in 1999 to make sure that Mugabe is defeated.
We noticed that in our small splinter groups that (goal of defeating Mugabe) would remain a mirage.
Q: Do you see more value in bringing back on board the likes of Welshman Ncube, Esaph Mdlongwa and others who were part of the original MDC?
A: It is not about value (alone) but it is about common principle. Does it bring hope to the people? Will it rejuvenate and galvanise our people into the cause of the revolution?
There is no doubt about it that the people of Zimbabwe will be more galvanised if they see everybody coming together.
If Professor Welshman Ncube is really a great thinker the way he wants to portray himself and want the people of Zimbabwe to think he is; this is the time for him to really respond positively to the call for unity.
The people of Zimbabwe have suffered enough. They are no longer able to have a decent meal a day yet we are their hope.
We cannot continue to stall the hopes and aspirations of our people because of personal egos and differences. Mugabe must go.
Q: Suppose everyone comes back, including Welshman and Lovemore Madhuku, how will you work for the common good with Tsvangirai as the president, given you guys also harbour presidential ambitions?
A: It is no longer any issue about presidency of different political parties.
What President Tsvangirai needs to do is to reach out vigorously and energetically to the other leaders you have talked about and try to knock sense into their heads that the utmost gift Zimbabweans want at the present moment is unity of purpose.
Unity to realise that we can no longer spend our energies on our trivial differences.
Zimbabweans are no longer looking at our struggle on the difference of individuals but how they would able to cross the rubicon and how they will be able to cross river Jordan and this can only be delivered through the unity of purpose of all democratic forces.
If we are genuine and seriously love Zimbabweans we cannot continue to live in defiance.
The struggle for the people Zimbabwe is much bigger than our individual and selfish ends.
Q: Tsvangirai has failed three times - translating 15 years - to defeat Mugabe. What makes you think that in 2018 if he is the MDC candidate, he will win the elections?
A: Tsvangirai has never been defeated by Mugabe.
The first thing that you have to know is that from 2000 all the elections were rigged and manipulated.
Not only is that it also known that Tsvangirai clearly won the 2008 elections.
And he was subjugated to terror and violence for him to accept a defective inclusive arrangement, an inclusive arrangement that was not the interest of the common person in our country.
And I think he (Tsvangirai) agrees that it was the greatest blunder for him to accept that opaque arrangement which was made by Sadc and also Thabo Mbeki.
We must not only blame Tsvangirai for the failure to defeat Robert Mugabe.
We must blame all of us. We have not been able to see the broader national picture that tells us in unity there is strength and in disunity there is weakness.
As he speaks to Senior Assistant Editor Guthrie Munyuki, the firebrand politician makes a passionate plea to colleagues who have formed their own outfits to return and aid Morgan Tsvangirai in his quest to bring change and dislodge Zanu PF. Below are the excerpts of the interview.
Q: How many hearts have you broken by rejoining the MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai?
A: The number is quite substantial - a big constituency. There have been people who have been trying to discourage me from rejoining the MDC.
There have been night meetings trying to scuttle our reunification with the founding president of the united MDC - Morgan Tsvangirai.
I have noticed my importance because of the number of people who wanted to be my advisers at this late hour.
But unfortunately some of these people who wanted to give me advice were the people who made the decisions I was not in agreement and also people who made their own political positions which I did not think were wise yet these people wanted to be my wise counsellors over my political decision.
I have taken this decision after thorough consultations with the people I worked with in the MDC 99.
We had meetings and caucuses to see how best we could respond to the invitation that had been extend by Morgan Tsvangirai.
We later decided that for the common good of the people of Zimbabwe because there had been a national outcry that we would not be able to deliver change while we were splintered.
So after serious considerations we noticed that our egos are not enough, we are derailing the wishes of the people to see a free society and deliver a new Zimbabwe.
This is not about Morgan Tsvangirai, this is not about Job Sikhala but it is about the people of Zimbabwe who need to be plucked from the jaws of Mugabe's dictatorship.
Q: Why are you re-joining the party when there is infighting and apparent loss of confidence in Tsvangirai?
A: What I said passionately to Tsvangirai is that the mark of a great statesman is seen by the ability to forgive.
If myself and him could find each other and forgive each other there is nothing that can stop him from forgiving colleagues who have worked with him longer than me.
I made that call and appeal to him that the spirit of the late Nelson Mandela who was able to forgive his tormentors should possess him.
Now Zimbabwe needs a great statesman and great statesmanship can be seen by previous behaviour and that behaviour which is believed, I have forgiven him, he has forgiven me.
That is the characteristic of a statesman. He (Tsvangirai) should be able to forgive Tendai Biti and Elton Mangoma.
Q: What value are you bringing to the MDC?
A: I think you have noticed yourself how much this development has brought.
It is talk of the town, people are excited about the resurgence of the original MDC of 1999 where people had one goal of removing people from the jaws of Robert Mugabe's dictatorship.
This is the gift of unity that we are giving to the people of Zimbabwe, a gift that brings hope for a new change and hope for a new Zimbabwe which has been our agitation since 1999.
They must expect from me total commitment to the cause of change and undivided loyalty.
We noticed that in our small splinter groups that (goal of defeating Mugabe) would remain a mirage.
Q: Do you see more value in bringing back on board the likes of Welshman Ncube, Esaph Mdlongwa and others who were part of the original MDC?
A: It is not about value (alone) but it is about common principle. Does it bring hope to the people? Will it rejuvenate and galvanise our people into the cause of the revolution?
There is no doubt about it that the people of Zimbabwe will be more galvanised if they see everybody coming together.
If Professor Welshman Ncube is really a great thinker the way he wants to portray himself and want the people of Zimbabwe to think he is; this is the time for him to really respond positively to the call for unity.
The people of Zimbabwe have suffered enough. They are no longer able to have a decent meal a day yet we are their hope.
We cannot continue to stall the hopes and aspirations of our people because of personal egos and differences. Mugabe must go.
Q: Suppose everyone comes back, including Welshman and Lovemore Madhuku, how will you work for the common good with Tsvangirai as the president, given you guys also harbour presidential ambitions?
A: It is no longer any issue about presidency of different political parties.
What President Tsvangirai needs to do is to reach out vigorously and energetically to the other leaders you have talked about and try to knock sense into their heads that the utmost gift Zimbabweans want at the present moment is unity of purpose.
Unity to realise that we can no longer spend our energies on our trivial differences.
Zimbabweans are no longer looking at our struggle on the difference of individuals but how they would able to cross the rubicon and how they will be able to cross river Jordan and this can only be delivered through the unity of purpose of all democratic forces.
If we are genuine and seriously love Zimbabweans we cannot continue to live in defiance.
The struggle for the people Zimbabwe is much bigger than our individual and selfish ends.
Q: Tsvangirai has failed three times - translating 15 years - to defeat Mugabe. What makes you think that in 2018 if he is the MDC candidate, he will win the elections?
A: Tsvangirai has never been defeated by Mugabe.
The first thing that you have to know is that from 2000 all the elections were rigged and manipulated.
Not only is that it also known that Tsvangirai clearly won the 2008 elections.
And he was subjugated to terror and violence for him to accept a defective inclusive arrangement, an inclusive arrangement that was not the interest of the common person in our country.
And I think he (Tsvangirai) agrees that it was the greatest blunder for him to accept that opaque arrangement which was made by Sadc and also Thabo Mbeki.
We must not only blame Tsvangirai for the failure to defeat Robert Mugabe.
We must blame all of us. We have not been able to see the broader national picture that tells us in unity there is strength and in disunity there is weakness.
Source - dailynews
