Zapu!! and the age factor in today Politics
#000000">There is no
gain in getting older if one is not getting wiser. Wisdom in all cultures is
always associated with elders and in Zimbabwe we love and respect our elders
for their wisdom. To be more particular, Zapu, our Party which was formed by
the wisdom of our elders and run by the youth of that day in 1957, brought us
independence.
#000000">I wish to
carry the reader through political facts as I know them and I am subject to
correction. Joshua Nkomo was born in 1917 and in 1958 when he was elected by
elders to lead NDP he was 41 years old. Robert Mugabe was born in 1924 and in 1963
when he successfully led a tribal group to leave Zapu and form divisive Zanu, he
was 39 years old.
#000000">It is very rare
or impossible for a man in his seventies to start a big and successful business
or a political party or just simply a family.
#000000">It is in
this realisation that our Zapu elders in 1963 elected and made Joshua Nkomo
their front man to lead the struggle. Some people strive to want us to believe
that there were no elder folks than Joshua Nkomo in 1957. Indeed elders were
there and they were wise.
#000000" size="6"> #000000">"There is no reason for getting older if one
is not getting wiser"
#000000">Zapu elders
of 1957 who had been born in 1887 and were 70 years old in that year knew that
the job to remove the Rhodesian regime was mighty and needed youthful precision
coined with elderly wisdom. They supported and trusted Nkomo even with the
lives of their loved children they let Nkomo train into liberation fighters.
#000000">Nkomo was
only 40 and the 70 year olds of that day knew that the speed of a forty year
old and half his wisdom supported by theirs would produce resounding results to
defeat Colonialism.
#000000">In 2008 Zapu
leaders wisely said they were helping Zapu to regroup and they would
temporarily lead and hand over to the younger to lead our organisation to
success. I am not power hungry and I have no intention to lead Zapu one day,
but I want to bring our elders to realisation that too much of their influence
is working against the potential of this great Party.
#000000">My complain
is about my Europe Province which has eager young soldiers who are subdued by
conflicting decisions by the Council of elders. The whole of last year was
wasted because elders, who are naturally slow in all cultures, subdued the PEC
for a year. When asked why, they say they were deliberating on charges laid
upon the Provincial Chairman for one year.
#000000">This is the
year we should have spent campaigning for 2012 elections. Where do we stand
now?
#000000">This is the
age factor. Their wisdom, I do not doubt, but the action, precision and speed, I
would be a liar to suggest that a 70 year old can run like a 40 year old. By
this I mean that the elders must realise that wisdom is to accept that younger
people perform better in matters which need action.
#000000">The
suspended Chairman also, as a result of age factor, did not see the urgency and
consequences of wasting one year in a Political year. Age made him comfortable
and he wants me to see him as active, thoughtful and fitting to Chair a growing
Party like Zapu in Europe.
#000000">Lastly we
had elections in Leicester, there was open talk by the Chairman striving to be mandated
to continue his term without an election. The elections that were scheduled for
14:00 were deliberately and tactfully delayed to 19:00 when voters had left the
meeting at 17:00 hrs. This happened at the full view of the Council of elders
who are mandated to supervise fairness and democracy.
#000000">To make
matters worse, the council of elders went on to endorse the results of such an
election as free and fair.
#000000">Because
elderly people are naturally vulnerable to trickery because of age, the same council
of elders who had endorsed clearly flawed elections went on to announce the
elections as void and corrupt the following day.
#000000">MOST ELDERLY
PEOPLE BELIEVE WHAT THE LAST PERSON SAYS TO THEM, THUS WHY FRONTLINE POLITICS
CAN BE A NIGHTMARE FOR THEM.
#000000">The last
person to convince the council of elders in UK told them to nullify the
election and they did.
#000000">When I publicly
raised a point that delaying 14:00 elections to 19:00 was tantamount to vote rigging,
they did not believe it and they endorsed that election.
#000000">The problem
is that some people spend £150,00 travel and Hotel accommodation money to go to
Zapu meetings in Leicester from as far away as Wales and Germany. For someone
to repetitively make mistakes and expect people to keep coming to endless
meetings that yield nothing but incompetence is a failure in one's duty.
#000000">Every successful
organisation has a time to review its strategies and I believe now is the time
we prune some of the sensitive duties given to our elders because of the
negative results they have exhibited.
#000000">They are
good as advisers but the younger have to lead this Party.
#000000">If we won't
do that, then I want you to keep this article until 2015, there won't be any
organisation.
#000000">People under
25 should be barred from contesting National Chairman positions in Zapu, they
are too young for the job. And likewise, people over 60 must be vetted for
natural leadership qualities and those over 65 must never be let to try new
tricks in modern politics.
#000000">I am subject
to correction but I have exercised my democratic right as a Zapu democrat to
say my opinion. Joshua Nkomo lived and died a risky dedicated life to make sure
that I can talk like this freely without fear or favour. Freedom of opinion
will help us see the way forward as Zimbabweans.
#000000">Zapu will
rise and rise high if we choose to be true and correct our mistakes. I respect
all our elders but I wish they play a role elders can play and not try to tread
on contentious grounds which need the young the and quick.
