Opinion / Columnist
A brief analysis of Tsvangirai's approach to the grand coalition
22 Jul 2013 at 05:39hrs | Views
Basically, there are three issues that Tsvangirai should take cognisance of, and these factors are open door utterances; respect (media) and the historical political significance.
The 'door is still open' careless and egotistical utterances.
Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, in his weekend whirl-wind of rallies, has repeatedly called for Dr Dabengwa and Prof Welshman Ncube to come into his so called coalition as the door is still open. But what does that really mean? This does not need any political scientist to dissect it for us, but it needs people with a sharp eye and an open mind. Now let us imagine this, a house and an door, and someone asking you to come inside to where he is, what does that mean, does it mean you are outside in the cold and he/she is inside the house in the comfort and security of his home? In other words, whoever is outside, is lost, must come back home where life, security and safety is.
This analogy and imaginative scenario exposes Tsvangirai's mistakes. If you are to form a coalition you do not go out with an attitude which says those whom you want to form the coalition with are wrong, because by so doing it creates anxieties and resistance in people's hearts. Any coalition which seeks other parties to be swallowed is bound to die a premature death. This is the problem which has caused the failure of the so called grand coalition. The truth is there is no door, how can one talk about an open door where there is no door and worse still there is no house or hut to go into. All parties if need be, should come together as equal partners, to plan, resource and build the envisaged house. They should all feel that they own that house and that their efforts are appreciated and valued and that they were never in vain.
Respect
Tsvangirai's use of media in portraying Dr Dabengwa and Prof Welshman as against the coalition and as against the people of Zimbabwe is misplaced and very disrespectful. What Tsvangirai does not realise is that after the 31st July he will be in the wilderness, not because of Welshman Ncube, not because of Dumiso Dabengwa but because of his arrogance and half-hearted approach to the need of forming a formidable coalition. For many, particularly those from Matebeleland region have gone past cheap politics of just removing Mugabe and that is why you are now seeing an ideological shift in the region, favouring devolution of power. People of Matebeleland and Midlands will no longer vote as if they are still desperate; they now have effective leadership and robust organisations in the mould of ZAPU and MDC. No amount of media bashing will help, no amount of media bashing will make them shift their minds.
Historical political significance.
In 2005, the MDC split because of violence and bullying tactics predicated on false entitlement by other members of the united MDC who felt that Ndebeles did not deserve the power they were wielding in the party. De javu!! The same happened in 1963 along the same lines and reasoning. And one now thinks that by using abusive bullying tactics on such people will force them to unite with them.
Tsvangirai is doing all this with the knowledge that many people will blame Ncube and Dabengwa after his dismal performance after the 31st. Yes, that is true, people will blame Ncube and Dabengwa, but the truth is for how long? Is it possible to hoodwink people forever? I doubt, one day people of Zimbabwe will see Tsvangirai for what he really is, an arrogant bully, who cost himself the presidency of the country and betrayed people's trust.
The 'door is still open' careless and egotistical utterances.
Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, in his weekend whirl-wind of rallies, has repeatedly called for Dr Dabengwa and Prof Welshman Ncube to come into his so called coalition as the door is still open. But what does that really mean? This does not need any political scientist to dissect it for us, but it needs people with a sharp eye and an open mind. Now let us imagine this, a house and an door, and someone asking you to come inside to where he is, what does that mean, does it mean you are outside in the cold and he/she is inside the house in the comfort and security of his home? In other words, whoever is outside, is lost, must come back home where life, security and safety is.
This analogy and imaginative scenario exposes Tsvangirai's mistakes. If you are to form a coalition you do not go out with an attitude which says those whom you want to form the coalition with are wrong, because by so doing it creates anxieties and resistance in people's hearts. Any coalition which seeks other parties to be swallowed is bound to die a premature death. This is the problem which has caused the failure of the so called grand coalition. The truth is there is no door, how can one talk about an open door where there is no door and worse still there is no house or hut to go into. All parties if need be, should come together as equal partners, to plan, resource and build the envisaged house. They should all feel that they own that house and that their efforts are appreciated and valued and that they were never in vain.
Tsvangirai's use of media in portraying Dr Dabengwa and Prof Welshman as against the coalition and as against the people of Zimbabwe is misplaced and very disrespectful. What Tsvangirai does not realise is that after the 31st July he will be in the wilderness, not because of Welshman Ncube, not because of Dumiso Dabengwa but because of his arrogance and half-hearted approach to the need of forming a formidable coalition. For many, particularly those from Matebeleland region have gone past cheap politics of just removing Mugabe and that is why you are now seeing an ideological shift in the region, favouring devolution of power. People of Matebeleland and Midlands will no longer vote as if they are still desperate; they now have effective leadership and robust organisations in the mould of ZAPU and MDC. No amount of media bashing will help, no amount of media bashing will make them shift their minds.
Historical political significance.
In 2005, the MDC split because of violence and bullying tactics predicated on false entitlement by other members of the united MDC who felt that Ndebeles did not deserve the power they were wielding in the party. De javu!! The same happened in 1963 along the same lines and reasoning. And one now thinks that by using abusive bullying tactics on such people will force them to unite with them.
Tsvangirai is doing all this with the knowledge that many people will blame Ncube and Dabengwa after his dismal performance after the 31st. Yes, that is true, people will blame Ncube and Dabengwa, but the truth is for how long? Is it possible to hoodwink people forever? I doubt, one day people of Zimbabwe will see Tsvangirai for what he really is, an arrogant bully, who cost himself the presidency of the country and betrayed people's trust.
Source - Thulani Nkala
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