West trying to rebrand Tsvangirai claims state owned newspaper

MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai's attacks on nationalists are inspired by his sponsors who are trying to rebrand him as a new African leader to pursue their neo-colonial agenda, reported the state owned Herald.

Mr Tsvangirai has been attacking African nationalists at various forums and recently took his attacks home calling for a "third revolution" against liberation heroes.

Australian premier Julia Gillard recently torched a storm when she put the MDC-T leader in the pantheon of South Africa's founding president Nelson Mandela.

However, political analysts said Mr Tsvangirai's attacks were not original as shown by his utterances after attending a white-dominated book launch where he started parroting the book title.

Addressing delegates at the launch of "Africa's Third Liberation", a book written by Geoff Hurst and Greg Mills, Mr Tsvangirai accused African liberators of betraying the ideals of the fight against colonialism.

"They (Africa's liberators) went into office without a plan and today, the new crop of African leaders has to deal with the economy to provide jobs to the millions of our young people," he said.

The launch also drew Malawi President Joyce Banda, South African opposition leader Ms Helen Zille of the Democratic Alliance and members of the Oppenheimer family. The Oppenheimers are opposed to Zimbabwe's indigenisation policies, especially in the mining sector.

The family has openly admitted to assisting President Banda rise to the leadership of Malawi.

Mr Tsvangirai had earlier attacked African nationalists during a public lecture during his recent visit to Japan.

The MDC-T leader, however, took his diatribe home when he called for a revolution to oust nationalist leaders in Africa.

"Independence and freedom are different. The nationalists brought independence, but have failed to deliver on the promises. Instead the country has gone into reserve. The nationalists have become the enemies for demanding what they deserve includes their political freedom," he told a memorial service for the late

Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole in Chipinge at the weekend.

The PM's spokesperson Mr Luke Tamborinyoka dismissed reports that he attacked leaders of liberation movements.

"I attended that meeting and what the PM said at the late nationalist Ndabaningi Sithole's memorial is the same message that he delivered during the launch of the book.

"He said some of the nationalists in Africa, Zimbabwe included, went on to betray the values of the liberation.

"He said some Africans have now realised that and this has led to the formation of post-independence political parties such as the MDC to finish the struggle.

"The people have realised that they can have independence without freedom," said Mr Tamborinyoka.

Political analysts, however, said Mr Tsvangirai's reactionary agenda was uncalled for, but targeted at his sponsors ahead of national elections in Zimbabwe.

Political analyst and Zanu-PF legislator for Tsholotsho North Professor Jonathan Moyo said the rebranding exercise was doomed.

"This attempt is doomed and that is why revolutionaries believe that Tsvangirai is a Jonas Savimbi and little Chiluba.

"The whites have exposed his treachery because nationalists had their initiatives of their own thinking hence the slogan 'We are our own liberators', so the white man's attempt to re-brand Tsvangirai as a new crop of African leader is futile."

He added: "This is yet another example of Tsvangirai's trademark of addressing issues with an open mouth and shut mouth.

"Just because he attended with Joyce Banda the launch of a book written by well-known opponents of the nationalists leadership does not make him an authority on Africa especially given his well documented record of puppetry and opposition to the African nation building project."

The legislator said it was "shameful that Tsvangirai is mimicking the two white men who have never supported nationalists let alone their ideals and who are well known for peddling neo-colonialism garbage.

"It is an example of that garbage with no roots in Africa."

Professor Moyo said Mr Tsvangirai should be supporting Government's indigenisation and economic empowerment programme if he knew about African liberation.

"He should be supporting such programmes being spearheaded by Zanu-PF as a liberation movement in the mould of the ANC, Swapo, Frelimo, MPLA and Chama Cha Mapinduzi whose revolution thrust is the antithesis of everything that the MDC and Tsvangirai stand for.

"The notion that African liberators can be divided in this fashion is inherently foolish because the revolution is continuous as it is led by revolutionaries like President Mugabe, President Kenneth Kaunda and others such as President Julius Nyerere and not puppets on the loose like Tsvangirai."

Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa said Mr Tsvangirai was inspired by white rule "nostalgists".

"He is desperate for funding for the next elections and is kneeling before white rule nostalgists.

"Tsvangirai is promising them a repeat racial rule with black puppets so they can safeguard their economic dominance of resources in Zimbabwe."

He said Mr Tsvangirai was a "reincarnation" of the colonialists.

"They never give up. They are disappointed by the nationalists who are bringing a true Africanism.

"Tsvangirai and his colleagues represent the black faces of their white masters."

He said there was need for future leaders to build on the achievements of members of the previous generations.

"These people, however, believe in trashing the nationalists forgetting that his vote, which makes him Zimbabwe's Prime Minister, came from their sacrifices.

"They are just like the blank black board that believes that any white chalk would be championing the return of white rule."

University of Zimbabwe lecturer Dr Charity Manyeruke expressed shock that Mr Tsvangirai believes nationalists have no vision.

"That the nationalists had a vision for Africa is not debatable. It is very clear that through their efforts we have had our independence, education for all and such programmes as the land reform.

"Women like me went to school because of the nationalist vision for the girl child. I do not know what they did not do so that one says they do not have a vision.

"We need to go back to that vision by the nationalists that has moulded women leaders like Vice President Mujuru and even Mr Tsvangirai's deputy Ms Thokozani Khupe," she said.