Opinion / Letters
Mugabe needs new challenger
23 Apr 2013 at 03:47hrs | Views
I FOUND your coverage of Zimbabwe and the impending elections a sad reminder of just how big a waste this past decade has been in my birth country's history.
It beggars belief that, in the face of such overwhelming evidence of corruption, economic incompetence and political repression, Zanu-PF is still able to attract a big following.
Almost every Zimbabwean family has a member who has either been the victim of political violence, had their livelihood destroyed by Zanu-PF policies or has left the country for better prospects. Vote-rigging has played a role in keeping Zanu-PF in power, but even in a fair vote the party would have still probably have received the backing of more than 40% of the populace.
Perhaps it goes to show that literacy and education, which remain remarkably high in Zimbabwe despite the economic collapse, do not translate into basic common sense.
Both factions of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) have allowed themselves to become part of the charade by being subordinate partners in the far from equal "unity" government.
I believe there is only one course of action left that will show the people of Zimbabwe that they are different from Zanu-PF – Morgan Tsvangirai must decline to run for the presidency when elections are held this year and the two factions should hold a joint primary for a new presidential candidate.
Despite his flaws, Tsvangirai is a decent man. He has endured suffering, imprisonment, humiliation and personal tragedy since the MDC's formation. When liberation-fuelled nationalism is finally discarded, he will be accorded his rightful place amongst the country's greatest personalities.
But after 13 years at the helm of the MDC, two failed attempts at the presidency and five years of being outwitted in a coalition government, it is time for a different actor to take Mugabe on. Nothing would cement his legacy as someone who stood up to oppression and the "presidency for life" mantra of Zanu-PF than to concede that his time is up.
Suhail Suleman
Newlands
It beggars belief that, in the face of such overwhelming evidence of corruption, economic incompetence and political repression, Zanu-PF is still able to attract a big following.
Almost every Zimbabwean family has a member who has either been the victim of political violence, had their livelihood destroyed by Zanu-PF policies or has left the country for better prospects. Vote-rigging has played a role in keeping Zanu-PF in power, but even in a fair vote the party would have still probably have received the backing of more than 40% of the populace.
Perhaps it goes to show that literacy and education, which remain remarkably high in Zimbabwe despite the economic collapse, do not translate into basic common sense.
Both factions of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) have allowed themselves to become part of the charade by being subordinate partners in the far from equal "unity" government.
Despite his flaws, Tsvangirai is a decent man. He has endured suffering, imprisonment, humiliation and personal tragedy since the MDC's formation. When liberation-fuelled nationalism is finally discarded, he will be accorded his rightful place amongst the country's greatest personalities.
But after 13 years at the helm of the MDC, two failed attempts at the presidency and five years of being outwitted in a coalition government, it is time for a different actor to take Mugabe on. Nothing would cement his legacy as someone who stood up to oppression and the "presidency for life" mantra of Zanu-PF than to concede that his time is up.
Suhail Suleman
Newlands
Source - Suhail Suleman
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