News / National
Tsvangirai show Ndebele leaders the middle finger
15 Jul 2016 at 20:01hrs | Views
Tribalists
Morgan Tsvangirai woke up this morning and put finality to the succession battle in the MDC by sacrificing women and the Ndebele constituency, on the alter of political expediency.
Tsvangirai annointed two Karanga men to the Presidency Nelson Chamisa and Elias Mudzuri, going against the founding values of the MDC that require a tribal, gender and race balance in the leadership.
The people of Matebeleland have long been marginalised in Zimbabwean politics playing second fiddle to their powerful Shona counterparts. The Ndebele suffered a terrible, horrendous Gukurahundi attack, which has never been fully resolved or acknowledged by the ruling Zanu PF party. Many have looked to the MDC going outside the box to be a home for previously marginalised groups be it on tribal grounds or gender. As the sun sets on Tsvangirai's political career he has missed the point altogether.
The two men are meant to stop his deputy and long time ally a Ndebele woman Thokozani Khupe from getting to the throne. Khupe has had fierce running battles with male contenders in the party, it remains to be seen how she will manoeuvre this one.
Gender activists could not hide their outrage, Samukeliso Khumalo said, "For democracy to be achieved at national level, it should start at political party level. It is shocking to find a so-called democratic movement handling leadership appointments like a privately-owned entity. One would expect top leadership positions such that of VP to go through a congress with all party leadership contributing through a vote."
Other feminists could only say "tribalism and patriarchy at play".
"Opposition parties in Zimbabwe should lead by example and practice what they preach. The President of a party should desist from making decisions as an individual, transparency and accountability is a principle that all leaders of repute should live by. Leadership change is good but the process of changing leadership should be of moral excellence,"" said Khumalo.
Tsvangirai annointed two Karanga men to the Presidency Nelson Chamisa and Elias Mudzuri, going against the founding values of the MDC that require a tribal, gender and race balance in the leadership.
The people of Matebeleland have long been marginalised in Zimbabwean politics playing second fiddle to their powerful Shona counterparts. The Ndebele suffered a terrible, horrendous Gukurahundi attack, which has never been fully resolved or acknowledged by the ruling Zanu PF party. Many have looked to the MDC going outside the box to be a home for previously marginalised groups be it on tribal grounds or gender. As the sun sets on Tsvangirai's political career he has missed the point altogether.
The two men are meant to stop his deputy and long time ally a Ndebele woman Thokozani Khupe from getting to the throne. Khupe has had fierce running battles with male contenders in the party, it remains to be seen how she will manoeuvre this one.
Gender activists could not hide their outrage, Samukeliso Khumalo said, "For democracy to be achieved at national level, it should start at political party level. It is shocking to find a so-called democratic movement handling leadership appointments like a privately-owned entity. One would expect top leadership positions such that of VP to go through a congress with all party leadership contributing through a vote."
Other feminists could only say "tribalism and patriarchy at play".
"Opposition parties in Zimbabwe should lead by example and practice what they preach. The President of a party should desist from making decisions as an individual, transparency and accountability is a principle that all leaders of repute should live by. Leadership change is good but the process of changing leadership should be of moral excellence,"" said Khumalo.
Source - online
