It's the economy; stupid!

RECAP.

During the course of this election I penned a total of four articles. The first "JONATHAN MOYO EDUCATED BUT NOT LEARNED"  dealt with the observation that the professor in question has, lately tended to scratch the surface of issues and showed remarkable lack of probity and embarrassing inaccuracy in interpreting local and international laws as well as uncharacteristic incompetence in reading the mood of the Zimbabwean populace.

The reason why the professor is phenomenally off his game is simple. He seriously underestimated ED and his generals in the tussle for the ZANU-PF throne. The enormity of losing to people whom he looked down upon from his lofty academic nose has left Jonathan confused---- as my high school agriculture teacher would put it and I quote: "as confused as a cockroach fallen into a tin of gamatox".

The professor has continued more or less in this confused vein most recently pronouncing that Biti would never be retrieved from Zambia a mere five hours before Biti was duly processed at Harare Central Police to face justice----a true demonstration of the long arm of the law at work.

The most pathetic by the professor though--- his condemnation of the Concourt ruling against Chamisa's ill-advised petition. Since the Concourt proceedings were televised for the whole world to see for themselves the patent and pathetic lack of evidence by Chamisa, the professor's attempt to criticise the Concourt is but a bitter and even more pathetic whimper!

As the holy Book says, pride walks before a man falls. Professor Jonathan Moyo unwisely, wrongly equated his academic prowess to strategic planning capability. ED, Chiwenga, Shiri, Busi et al are well versed in strategy as part and parcel of their stock in trade---- they are also brave enough to roll out audacious plans into practical reality. Getting to grips with the reality that he was out-smarted by people whom he considered his psychological inferiors is what's causing the professor to lose his marbles! Nyadzi dzinokunda rufu!

My second article was headlined "MNANGAGWA HEADING FOR A LANDSLIDE VICTORY'. Naturally I feel vindicated by the massive majority ZANU-PF won in parliament. The presidential ballot was ultimately distorted for ED by sabotage within his own camp—BHORA MUSANGO!

My third article "THE BATTLE FOR ZIMBABWE" dealt with the following salient points:
 - Foreign policy would be key to determining the ultimate winner in the Zimbabwe election and Chamisa was clearly out-classed by ED
 - The traditional international friends of the MDC were "stolen" by ED------ most significantly the UK.
 - Local churches, traditional leaders and ALL minority groups were "stolen" by ED and memorably the spectacle of white folks donning ZANU-PF regalia and enthusiastically punching the air in slogans tickled everybody's fancy!

Ultimately Chamisa was out-classed by ED both on the foreign and domestic front----home and away.
The fourth article "URGENT NEED FOR LEADERSHIP AT MDC" is now unrolling as I write. The MDC will not die; it will shake itself, adapt, re-invent itself and remain the biggest opposition in the country. Indeed if the MDC was to die, so too would democracy in the country--- so, long live MDC and long live Zimbabwean democracy. Only a crazy fanatic would like a weak or dying MDC leaving us in a one-party state--- we have all seen how bad that experiment conducted by Robert Mugabe was for our nation! Therefore to save the MDC and Zimbabwean democracy, there is urgent need for cool heads to take over at the MDC. Chamisa's fatalistic and fanatic mania that he could NEVER LOSE is characteristic of a religious zealot who stupidly believes in his own infallibility and the fake notion that he is anointed and therefore whatever he says or does #GODISINIT! It'cs a real threat to democracy within the MDC and hence to the MDC itself. The worst thing that can happen to Zimbabwe is an undemocratic opposition!
 
BETWEEN A HARD PLACE AND A ROCK.

The following are the effects of Chamisa losing the elections:

 - His appointment by the MDC national council was for the purpose of the election ONLY--- one the election is over he is officially no longer the president of the party and must await the outcome of the congress due in 2019.

 - Unless other plans are made he must watch from the side-lines while his party debates important issues in parliament--- reducing him to a mere figure-head

 - The Alliance was crafted by Save (R.I.P) so that all members would revert back to their parties after the election. This coupled by the fact that Chamisa 'abdicated" from the name MDC-T for expediency means that once the Alliance disbands, Chamisa will not have a party to lead.

 - Since he 'abdicated" the name MDC-T and yet still benefitted from the $1.8 million campaigns funds, this opens him to litigation since the funds were meant for MDC-T and not MDC-Alliance.

 - The recent Concourt petition was dismissed with costs of approximately $3 million which puts him in a total potential debt of $4.8 million coupled with the misappropriated campaign funds.

 - All the powerful members of the original MDC-T in the Alliance like Mudzuri and Mwonzora are in parliament or senate and hence they don't feel the same pressure that Chamisa is feeling and so are unlikely to lose sleep over his situation. Nhamo yemumwe hayirambirwi sadza!

 - Chamisa as a paranoid leader who feared strong subordinates, ran a dictatorial campaign which failed to generate loyalty from his subordinates some of whom are eagerly ready to challenge him making him more isolated than ever.

These are the facts that are forcing Chamisa to remain in election mode and to reject every outcome that is not an out-right election victory for him. The call for 'protecting the vote of the people" is just propaganda. The real issue is personal survival for Chamisa.

Once the election is officially declared over by his party, the wheels are coming off his political career very fast. This is the HARD PLACE that he finds himself in. He could have avoided this by following Thokozani Khupe's exhortations to go to extra-ordinary congress. There was no strategic reason whatsoever why he refused to go to extra-ordinary congress. He was already hugely popular in his party and he would have been duly elected substantive president of his party. The lesson learnt is the importance of protocol, procedure and constitutionalism.

The elections were polarised between rural majority and urban minority. This polarisation arises from one outstanding factor:

ITS THE ECONOMY; STUPID!
 Largely due to debilitating sanctions, the formal industry in the urban centres is non-existent. The industry is what provides the urban electorate with a livelihood.  It is therefore quite ironic that the urban people call loudest for sanctions--- kudana muroyi anobata Mai! Professing to be wise, they turned out to be fools. This is normal mob psychology that when there is danger, some people even run towards it in confusion.

In any case the urban dweller CORRECTLY blames the government for the loss of their livelihood. CORRECTLY because a smart government must conduct itself in such a way as to avoid getting sanctions imposed upon its people. If politicians can't avoid sanctions they should not be governing. That being said, it is equally stupid for the urbanites to call for sanctions as this will hit them first and most!

The rural folk survive mostly on agricultural inputs and government donations during drought seasons. They also enjoy a lifestyle which is not pressured by constant urgent need for money. Accommodation in the rurals is mostly free for example and they grow their own food. As such their lifestyle is very much dependent on the government and by extension, the ruling party.

Self-preservation is the most powerful instinct in humans or even animals. A full belly and shelter are the most important parts of self-preservation or survival. Looking logically, the survival of urban folk depends on the industry. The government of ZANU-PF under Robert Mugabe had mis-managed the economics and international politics  resulting in sanctions and a direct threat to the survival of the urban people. It is natural that the majority in towns voted AGAINST ZANU-PF. The important but subtle fact is that there is nothing that Chamisa can ever boast of having done for the people so that they can vote FOR him--- they only voted for him simply because he represented a change from the people who threatened their livelihood, ZANU-PF. The fact is that this was more a vote of denial of ZANU-PF system than a positive endorsement of Chamisa.

By contrast but for the same reasons, the rural folk have for a long time survived through government and the ruling party. As such their vote was based on the fact that the government and ruling party represent tried and tested survival for them.

Generalised, my point is that most people vote for survival rather than the "goodness' of whatever candidates.

ED and his team have read this situation accurately. Chamisa and his team have also read this situation accurately. Only the fanatic followers are in the darkness and yours truly is here to burst the bubble wide open.

ED from the onset has based his administration on resuscitating the economy. If he succeeds in resuscitating the industry in the urban centres, then the people there will vote for him next time! This puts Chamisa in the unenviable position of having TO FIGHT AGAINST ECONOMIC RECOVERY.

So here we are. Chamisa's political survival depends on the economy continuing to suffer. Therefore Chamisa will do everything in his power to keep the economy down including calling for sanctions and going on stay-aways and other strike actions which he terms "political solutions".

On the other hand ED is moving very fast to revive the economy and ask the people for a second term.
IT'S THE ECONOMY, STUPID!

 From today going forward, if you are supporting Chamisa's 'political solutions" your activities are clearly and definitely harming the economy. This has nothing to do with "protecting the people's vote". It is our right to support any politician of our choice. That right is guaranteed to us by the constitution. That right, however, does not mean that we should be stupid!

 Chamisa finds himself BETWEEN A HARD PLACE AND A ROCK: facing internal problems at party level on one side and facing the very real probability of ED turning the economy around on the other, making Chamisa's own political career irrelevant.

 Chamisa has seen and is quite alarmed by ED and his team's unprecedented success in mobilising the international community and FDI.

 After the Concourt ruling, the majority of Zimbabweans from towns or rural areas are no longer interested in politics. People are now eagerly waiting for the ED administration to revive the economy. This represents a definite shift of attention from Chamisa to ED. This is a cause for great concern to Chamisa and he will do everything in his power to keep attention on himself, hence so called 'political solutions"--- demos.

 The right to demonstrate is guaranteed by the constitution but the constitution does not tell you what you should demonstrate for or against--- only your ability to read the true intentions of the politicians will give you direction and the ability to read that comes from your education.

Zimbabwe has come of age and must stop "drinking the mother's milk" and start "eating solid food". Our ability to understand what motivates our politicians is the "solid food". We should no longer depend on foreigners to tell us what's happening in our back yard. We are the most educated in the world and the time to show that is now.

 Here are the simple rules to follow:
 - THE REVIVAL OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT MUST BE DONE BY US AS A NATION AND AS INDIVIDUALS.

 - ANY ACTIONS THAT DELAY OR STOP ECONOMIC RECOVERY IS A THREAT TO OUR SURVIVAL AS A NATION AND AS INDIVIDUALS.

 - ANY PERSONS OR GROUPS THAT DELAY OR STOP ECONOMIC RECOVERY ARE A THREAT TO OUR SURVIVAL AS A NATION AND AS INDIVIDUALS.

It's all simple and straight forward.