Opinion / Columnist
The Movement for Democratic Change celebrates its 12 years of existence
09 Sep 2011 at 12:49hrs | Views
MDC turns 12
The pursuit of happiness, victory and freedom is the character of all democratic struggles.
The people of Zimbabwe's struggle against Zanu PF tyranny and dictatorship are no exception. Tomorrow, Saturday 10 September 2011, the people's great party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) celebrates its 12 years of existence.
The main national event shall be at Gwanzura Stadium in Harare. Starting today, Friday, all roads and pathways lead to Gwanzura for an auspicious occasion, full of fun, music, dance and fine political speeches from the leadership of the party and the civic partners.
There is something unique about the MDC's 12th birthday. A casual literature survey and recorded wisdom shows that the number 12 signifies authority, strength, conviction, absoluteness and finality.
The resilience of Zimbabweans, against all odds, and the popular relegation of Zanu PF to a moribund outfit in less than a decade are both legendary and earth-shaking, especially given Zanu PF's ruthlessness and hate for the poor.
The beatings, pestering and embarrassment of millions of an unarmed people and the entire civic society clearly stand out as a statement and testament to the conviction of today's indefatigable actors in a national project for real change.
In particular, the humiliation, vilification and persecution of President Tsvangirai, MDC leaders and legislators, party members and activists are instructive and worth noting. That they kept the flicker of the struggle burning until final victory on 29 March 2008 is a world-class record. Hope and courage dismantled the Zanu PF edifice and paid off in the end.
Throughout Christianity, the number 12 is powerfully significant. There were 12 patriarchs from Seth to Noah and his family, from Shem to Jacob. Let us remember that the 12 spies sent, including Joshua and Caleb, to gather intelligence on the new land the Israelites; the 12 sons of Ishmael; the 12 sons of Esau and the 12 sons of Jacob: not forgetting the 12 tribes of Israel; the 12 gates and foundations of the Holy city; the 12 foundations of the heavenly Jerusalem; the 12 fruits of the spirit; and, of course, the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ.
Twelve is a perfect number of signifying perfection of government: the governmental perfection. It is precisely for this reason that 2012 is attached with the transformation of the world as per the Mayan Calendar.
In Judaism, there are 12 letters of Hebrew alphabet. A girl in Judaism, becomes mature at the age of 12.There were 12 tribes of Israel and remember the 12 oxen of Solomon's temple.
In Islam, 12 Imams succeeded Prophet Muhammad. Even the star signs are divided in 12 sun signs and, as per Semitic beliefs there are 12 days of duel between chaos and cosmos.
Our biology and the day and night basic logic evince the self–evident presence of human heart chakras, which are 12 in number.
(Twelve) noon marks the start of the descent of the sun. (Twelve) midnight is the ascent marking a rapid turn of atmospheric and behavioural events, among both humans and animals. It is a multiple in all: the emergence of 12, rules the sun which controls our days; and the stars which govern our nights. The passage through the 12 signs of the Zodiac completes the great circle of the heavens of 360 (12 by 30) degrees or divisions. Twelve (12) further defines a calendar year.
Back home to the MDC. The 12th anniversary at Gwanzura marks the perfection, purification and chlorination of systems and processes for an effective delivery in a society, for a fresh, new beginning and the ultimate attainment of real change in people's lives.
At 12 we have built a solid party of Excellence. Although we often get excoriated and chided for various omissions and commissions, we are students in national service. We are learning; we have our own frailties. But we remain alert to our national cause; we remain vigilant and assiduous in our legitimate and genuine endeavours. We are patriots; we are revolutionaries; and we are nationalists ready and determined to complete a national liberation agenda – hopelessly betrayed, abandoned and checked out through a calculated Zanu PF culture of greed, avarice and cruelty.
We draw comfort and inspiration from the knowledge that Excellence is a magnet to conspiracies, slander and vilification. The MDC keeps its eyes on the ball, and on the goal. We shall not take our eyes off the ball on account of sideshows and shadow boxing. We have the mandate to lead; a mission to fulfil; race to run; and victory to embrace. We are ready for it all the way through to a new Zimbabwe. We are covered in elephant skin, no amount of stinging from the political tsetse flies and irritating mosquitoes shall break us.
At 12, we make the clarion call to all Zimbabweans above 18 years to take charge of our collective destiny by doing something during our life-time. The nation perishes when good citizens do nothing; when the bad ones are in charge of the national affairs.
Politics matters. One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by the scum of the earth, ruthless con-artists and perpetually gluttonous soup-lovers. Saturday, 10 September 2011 is a significant turning point for Zimbabwe and its insatiable quest for democracy as we refine our approach to the penultimate, glorious but painful journey for comprehensive, national recovery and redemption. We celebrate 12 years at work and in the trenches.
It all started with an epoch-making gathering at which over 40 civic organizations -- trade unions, students, women, the disabled, the unemployed, professionals, academics, business people, residents associations, human rights watchdogs, war veterans, peasants and informal traders – laid a foundation stone for the formation of a political alternative to Zanu PF in early 1999. It is vital to note that 40 percent of those at the meeting were women.
Since then, the MDC has evolved into a dominant national and international force. It is impossible to discuss Zimbabwe from any corner of the globe without making reference to the MDC. In a single dozen years, we have become:
a united and indomitable platform of all peace-loving people pursuing a shared calling for sanity, equal opportunities, common objectives and national principles. Our collective desire to advance the national interest overrides our personal preferences.
a strong, democratic, people-driven, mass party ready to deliver through tolerance, national dialogue and unity.
an indispensable force that stands for a government and policy regimen that puts people first and that advances their interest as the sole sources of sovereignty and legitimacy. The MDC stands for the supremacy of the nation and its people, and rejects systems that prioritise the defence of leadership interests at the expense of the people.
a fearless fighter for democracy and accountability across all national institutions and processes.
a dependable national ally and source of inspiration, resolutely advancing the participation of all citizens and civil society in nation-building through participatory democracy, parliament and executive. Freedom of expression and, after expression, is the lifeblood of the society we seek to build.
The MDC's key goal is to govern differently and democratically. We are ready for the mission. Peace overcomes any weapon; we are under heavenly protection. We accept that we went through a dozen years of joy and sorrow, pains and gains, ups and downs, the denied victories, deprived wins and stolen successes.
We were cheated in 2000 and in 2002 but recovered; we were robbed in 2005 but survived; and we were divided in October 2005. We renewed ourselves and after the 2006 Congress we delivered a sucker punch to Zanu PF in March 2008.We are bigger, better, stronger and wiser.
The story is incomplete without the due mention and acknowledgement of the courage, tenacity and resilience of the people of Zimbabwe which has been a major ingredient in the building of the foundation and walls of the people's Party of Excellence. MDC is a team winning together. This Saturday's 12 symbolises a turning point.
God bless Zimbabwe.
The pursuit of happiness, victory and freedom is the character of all democratic struggles.
The people of Zimbabwe's struggle against Zanu PF tyranny and dictatorship are no exception. Tomorrow, Saturday 10 September 2011, the people's great party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) celebrates its 12 years of existence.
The main national event shall be at Gwanzura Stadium in Harare. Starting today, Friday, all roads and pathways lead to Gwanzura for an auspicious occasion, full of fun, music, dance and fine political speeches from the leadership of the party and the civic partners.
There is something unique about the MDC's 12th birthday. A casual literature survey and recorded wisdom shows that the number 12 signifies authority, strength, conviction, absoluteness and finality.
The resilience of Zimbabweans, against all odds, and the popular relegation of Zanu PF to a moribund outfit in less than a decade are both legendary and earth-shaking, especially given Zanu PF's ruthlessness and hate for the poor.
The beatings, pestering and embarrassment of millions of an unarmed people and the entire civic society clearly stand out as a statement and testament to the conviction of today's indefatigable actors in a national project for real change.
In particular, the humiliation, vilification and persecution of President Tsvangirai, MDC leaders and legislators, party members and activists are instructive and worth noting. That they kept the flicker of the struggle burning until final victory on 29 March 2008 is a world-class record. Hope and courage dismantled the Zanu PF edifice and paid off in the end.
Throughout Christianity, the number 12 is powerfully significant. There were 12 patriarchs from Seth to Noah and his family, from Shem to Jacob. Let us remember that the 12 spies sent, including Joshua and Caleb, to gather intelligence on the new land the Israelites; the 12 sons of Ishmael; the 12 sons of Esau and the 12 sons of Jacob: not forgetting the 12 tribes of Israel; the 12 gates and foundations of the Holy city; the 12 foundations of the heavenly Jerusalem; the 12 fruits of the spirit; and, of course, the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ.
Twelve is a perfect number of signifying perfection of government: the governmental perfection. It is precisely for this reason that 2012 is attached with the transformation of the world as per the Mayan Calendar.
In Judaism, there are 12 letters of Hebrew alphabet. A girl in Judaism, becomes mature at the age of 12.There were 12 tribes of Israel and remember the 12 oxen of Solomon's temple.
In Islam, 12 Imams succeeded Prophet Muhammad. Even the star signs are divided in 12 sun signs and, as per Semitic beliefs there are 12 days of duel between chaos and cosmos.
Our biology and the day and night basic logic evince the self–evident presence of human heart chakras, which are 12 in number.
(Twelve) noon marks the start of the descent of the sun. (Twelve) midnight is the ascent marking a rapid turn of atmospheric and behavioural events, among both humans and animals. It is a multiple in all: the emergence of 12, rules the sun which controls our days; and the stars which govern our nights. The passage through the 12 signs of the Zodiac completes the great circle of the heavens of 360 (12 by 30) degrees or divisions. Twelve (12) further defines a calendar year.
Back home to the MDC. The 12th anniversary at Gwanzura marks the perfection, purification and chlorination of systems and processes for an effective delivery in a society, for a fresh, new beginning and the ultimate attainment of real change in people's lives.
At 12 we have built a solid party of Excellence. Although we often get excoriated and chided for various omissions and commissions, we are students in national service. We are learning; we have our own frailties. But we remain alert to our national cause; we remain vigilant and assiduous in our legitimate and genuine endeavours. We are patriots; we are revolutionaries; and we are nationalists ready and determined to complete a national liberation agenda – hopelessly betrayed, abandoned and checked out through a calculated Zanu PF culture of greed, avarice and cruelty.
We draw comfort and inspiration from the knowledge that Excellence is a magnet to conspiracies, slander and vilification. The MDC keeps its eyes on the ball, and on the goal. We shall not take our eyes off the ball on account of sideshows and shadow boxing. We have the mandate to lead; a mission to fulfil; race to run; and victory to embrace. We are ready for it all the way through to a new Zimbabwe. We are covered in elephant skin, no amount of stinging from the political tsetse flies and irritating mosquitoes shall break us.
At 12, we make the clarion call to all Zimbabweans above 18 years to take charge of our collective destiny by doing something during our life-time. The nation perishes when good citizens do nothing; when the bad ones are in charge of the national affairs.
Politics matters. One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by the scum of the earth, ruthless con-artists and perpetually gluttonous soup-lovers. Saturday, 10 September 2011 is a significant turning point for Zimbabwe and its insatiable quest for democracy as we refine our approach to the penultimate, glorious but painful journey for comprehensive, national recovery and redemption. We celebrate 12 years at work and in the trenches.
It all started with an epoch-making gathering at which over 40 civic organizations -- trade unions, students, women, the disabled, the unemployed, professionals, academics, business people, residents associations, human rights watchdogs, war veterans, peasants and informal traders – laid a foundation stone for the formation of a political alternative to Zanu PF in early 1999. It is vital to note that 40 percent of those at the meeting were women.
Since then, the MDC has evolved into a dominant national and international force. It is impossible to discuss Zimbabwe from any corner of the globe without making reference to the MDC. In a single dozen years, we have become:
a united and indomitable platform of all peace-loving people pursuing a shared calling for sanity, equal opportunities, common objectives and national principles. Our collective desire to advance the national interest overrides our personal preferences.
a strong, democratic, people-driven, mass party ready to deliver through tolerance, national dialogue and unity.
an indispensable force that stands for a government and policy regimen that puts people first and that advances their interest as the sole sources of sovereignty and legitimacy. The MDC stands for the supremacy of the nation and its people, and rejects systems that prioritise the defence of leadership interests at the expense of the people.
a fearless fighter for democracy and accountability across all national institutions and processes.
a dependable national ally and source of inspiration, resolutely advancing the participation of all citizens and civil society in nation-building through participatory democracy, parliament and executive. Freedom of expression and, after expression, is the lifeblood of the society we seek to build.
The MDC's key goal is to govern differently and democratically. We are ready for the mission. Peace overcomes any weapon; we are under heavenly protection. We accept that we went through a dozen years of joy and sorrow, pains and gains, ups and downs, the denied victories, deprived wins and stolen successes.
We were cheated in 2000 and in 2002 but recovered; we were robbed in 2005 but survived; and we were divided in October 2005. We renewed ourselves and after the 2006 Congress we delivered a sucker punch to Zanu PF in March 2008.We are bigger, better, stronger and wiser.
The story is incomplete without the due mention and acknowledgement of the courage, tenacity and resilience of the people of Zimbabwe which has been a major ingredient in the building of the foundation and walls of the people's Party of Excellence. MDC is a team winning together. This Saturday's 12 symbolises a turning point.
God bless Zimbabwe.
Source - MDC
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