COMMENT: Electorate must punish MDC Alliance for its pro-sanctions stance

MDC Alliance, sent representatives to the US this week to engage the establishment in that country over the prevailing situation here.  

Many were surprised that the opposition chose to engage far-away America before they visited any of our neighbouring countries to discuss the same.

Although we were prepared to overlook that apparent misjudgment on their part, we were taken aback by the message alliance representatives relayed to the US Senate Foreign Relations Sub-committee on Monday. It was a message that US sanctions over Zimbabwe must be maintained.

Mr Dewa Mavhinga, Southern Africa Director for Human Rights Watch who travelled to the US together with Messers Tendai Biti and Nelson Chamisa recommended the American government to "Maintain existing US policy toward Zimbabwe until the military removes itself from politics and the 2018 elections are legitimately assessed to be peaceful, transparent, free and fair and that power is smoothly transmitted to the newly elected government."

Mr Biti told the committee not to rush to remove the sanctions.

"Further," he said, "once we show signs of an irrevocable and irreversible trajectory towards legitimacy, democracy, and the rule of law, we shall require your full support as we re-engage key international institutions."

MDC Alliance's sinister position reminds us of MDC-T's Eddie Cross' "crash and burn" refrain that tolerates and craves the destruction of the economy as long as it potentially advances the opposition's chances of removing Zanu-PF from power. It is wrong politics which does not interest anyone anymore.

It is clear that based on their performance in the US, the opposition isn't reforming from their polarising politics of old, yet Zanu-PF under President Emmerson Mnangagwa is.

The President made it clear at his inauguration that divisive politics has no place in the country now.

"I . . .  humbly appeal to all of us that we let bygones be bygones, readily embracing each other in defining a new destiny," he said.

"The task at hand is that of rebuilding our great country. It principally lies with none but ourselves. I implore you all to declare that never again should the circumstances that have put Zimbabwe in an unfavourable position be allowed to recur or overshadow its prospects. We must work together, you, me, all of us who make up this nation."

It appears the opposition was not listening to this unifying speech.

Messers Biti and Mavhinga and by extension the parties they represent in the MDC Alliance have totally failed to read the national mood in recent months, particularly since November 15.

The people no longer have interest in a brand of politics that is parochial that the MDC Alliance is pursuing. The people want a politics that yields an economic order that provides equal opportunities for all.

Our people want factories to reopen; they want jobs, jobs and more jobs. They want to earn a decent salary and be able to withdraw it all from banks in cash if they choose to. Zimbabweans want the opposition to earn its place; the same for the ruling party.

They don't want empty slogans anymore and aren't interested in unnecessary fights that divide the country. They have suffered enough.

War veterans have, since the time they were fired from Zanu-PF by the G40 cabal, been emphasising the need for every Zimbabwean to strive for the national good. It is because of that nationalistic disposition that the war veterans organised the biggest ever demonstration in our history on November 18 in Harare as the masses pressured Robert Mugabe to resign.

President Mnangagwa actually wanted to include opposition elements in his Cabinet, but MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai frustrated him by demanding a position in the Presidium among other conditions.

Also, the Government has positioned the economy on a recovery path by unveiling a pro-people budget that cuts public expenditure. Amendments would be effected to the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act — a law that has been blamed for scaring away foreign direct investment.

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Retired Major-General Sibusiso Moyo responded to the MDC Alliance's sanctions call.

"This new era was achieved by our people, at home and abroad, who demanded change for the better," he said. "Street manifestations, which were joyous and peaceful, were constructed by all our citizens in their colourful diversity without regard to political affiliation. Selfish political ambitions should never be given flight at the expense of the welfare of our citizens".

With evidence that the opposition is maintaining its rigid politics, we expect the next few months to be hectic with the ruling party and the Government sending envoys all over the world to deliver the message that Zimbabwe is open to business and that Zanu-PF is also reforming, not to please the MDC Alliance or foreigners, but because that is the correct thing to do.

More importantly, we hope that our people will, come election time next year, severely punish politicians who want them (electorate) to continue suffering under sanctions to pave way for an MDC government.