Opinion / Columnist
Tsvangirai - stop calling for election boycott!!
07 Jun 2013 at 18:43hrs | Views
The political reforms expected to be implemented before the next elections are most unlikely. Zanu-PF will not expect to contest and win in a free and fair election and is not going to level the playing field.
Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the South African government do not have the will power and muscle to coerce Zanu-PF into implementing the reforms.
Tsvangirai, as the leader of the main opposition party now needs to harness and bring in the smaller opposition parties. A grand coalition to stand against Zanu-PF is the best way forward. The leader of the smaller MDC faction, Prof Welsh Ncube should now accept to work with Tsvangirai. Ncube's failure to join the coalition would be a betrayal to all progressive and democratic forces in Zimbabwe. Ncube's party is unique as it is potentially the king maker and working with other democratic forces would be a masterstroke.
Tsvangirai should now focus on bringing the opposition parties together and stop calling for a boycott. "We might consider boycotting in the absence of media and security sector reforms. We can only have a free and fair credible election by end of October not within six weeks", he said.
Tsvangirai should be reminded that he once boycotted the June 2008 election run-off and that did not stop Zanu-PF from moving on with her agenda. Tsvangirai has been quiet about these reforms since he joined the GNU four years ago; calling for the reforms to be implemented at this juncture is a bit too late.
Zanu-PF will not care much that Tsvangirai has boycotted an election. They will go ahead and inaugurate President Mugabe as the next President of Zimbabwe and allow him to form the next government; potentially giving Mugabe another ten years in power.
Tsvangirai should also realise that another five years of Zanu-PF in government will spell doom for him. The young turks in MDC-T would like to take over the reins and move on with the party. Therefore, a boycott or contesting in the impending election without a grand coalition and with no electoral reforms done is a no-win for Tsvangirai. The only way forward is for a grand coalition.
Should we just seat back and wait to see Tsvangirai's next move? NO. We must start outreaching to members of other political parties and see how we can work together. Those in the diasporas should call for press conferences and organise meetings and map the way forward. Civic and Human Rights Organisations should rally and join the grand coalition forces. Let us court the independent press and use the social media to advance our cause.
"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom" Anais Nin.
Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the South African government do not have the will power and muscle to coerce Zanu-PF into implementing the reforms.
Tsvangirai, as the leader of the main opposition party now needs to harness and bring in the smaller opposition parties. A grand coalition to stand against Zanu-PF is the best way forward. The leader of the smaller MDC faction, Prof Welsh Ncube should now accept to work with Tsvangirai. Ncube's failure to join the coalition would be a betrayal to all progressive and democratic forces in Zimbabwe. Ncube's party is unique as it is potentially the king maker and working with other democratic forces would be a masterstroke.
Tsvangirai should now focus on bringing the opposition parties together and stop calling for a boycott. "We might consider boycotting in the absence of media and security sector reforms. We can only have a free and fair credible election by end of October not within six weeks", he said.
Zanu-PF will not care much that Tsvangirai has boycotted an election. They will go ahead and inaugurate President Mugabe as the next President of Zimbabwe and allow him to form the next government; potentially giving Mugabe another ten years in power.
Tsvangirai should also realise that another five years of Zanu-PF in government will spell doom for him. The young turks in MDC-T would like to take over the reins and move on with the party. Therefore, a boycott or contesting in the impending election without a grand coalition and with no electoral reforms done is a no-win for Tsvangirai. The only way forward is for a grand coalition.
Should we just seat back and wait to see Tsvangirai's next move? NO. We must start outreaching to members of other political parties and see how we can work together. Those in the diasporas should call for press conferences and organise meetings and map the way forward. Civic and Human Rights Organisations should rally and join the grand coalition forces. Let us court the independent press and use the social media to advance our cause.
"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom" Anais Nin.
Source - Tendai Kwari.
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