News / National
Without unity, MDCs fighting a hopeless cause
11 Nov 2014 at 08:30hrs | Views
ZANU-PF could not have chosen a perfect time to tear itself apart and still get all the space to heal the wounds and maintain its dominance as there remains no united opposition to confront it on national issues.
As has become usual, Zanu-PF has managed to inject its DNA into the opposition bloodstream making the difference between itself and its opposition so marginal apart from the names.
The convulsions in Zanu-PF have also been felt in the mainstream MDC-T party resulting in a split.
Zanu-PF is unlikely to split, but rearrange the leadership pack with those who lose likely to remain in the party biding their time and leaking their wounds.
The MDCs have failed at least on this front, to remain united amongst intense differences. The party has over the years splintered into as many small units known more for thunder and bluster with as little substance or content.
The differences between the splits and fights in Zanu-PF and the MDCs is that in Zanu-PF, we see action on the ground by Zanu-PF people, be it the very negative and unwanted violence against each other, but also mobilisation, demonstrations, rallies by Dr Grace Mugabe, graduation rallies by other Drs, endless provincial co-ordinating meetings, among others.
The message of what is happening in the party is not lost to the ordinary membership of Zanu-PF, but they are actively engaged taking sides with various faction leaders and in some instances pushing their own and very local agendas such as fights amongst housing co-operatives in Harare South.
There is space for everyone who has their own view and wants to say something. No one has heeded the leadership call not to talk to the media, rather anyone who has something to say can either leak the "story" or simply fire from the hip.
We have seen Professor Jonathan Moyo, Themba Mliswa, Rugare Gumbo, Grace Mugabe, Chris Mutsvangwa, Oppah Muchinguri, among many others, firing from the hip and still gathering in a united politburo meeting to face each other and discuss.
No matter the crisis in Zanu-PF, one has to give it to the oldest party that it has strange characters who have a firm belief in remaining in the tent despite the heat and will likely remain so after congress in December.
In essence, in comparison to the MDCs, Zanu-PF is likely to overcome its challenges and remain in power for some time to come.
The reason why I started with Zanu-PF is because the MDCs mimic much of what Zanu-PF does and have assumed a Zanu-PF character minus the willpower of Zanu-PF.
As many times we underestimate the influence that Zanu-PF has on all of us, and this is to acknowledge that the MDCs are in many respects the flipsides of Zanu-PF.
The MDCs employ the same strategies and language in attacking each other. The MDCs have, however, failed to remain united hence be effective and challenge for power.
Of all the MDCs out there, the MDC-T, however, remains far more viable and relevant than the other splinter groups.
On the negative, the recent congress by the MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai may not necessarily have brought new energy, but rather more splintering and cracks which the leadership has to patch up.
As many of the experienced leaders of the party from the likes of Nelson Chamisa, Jameson Timba and Elias Mudzuri, among others, are nowhere to be seen.
What Tsvangirai needs are not loyalists and bootlickers, but leaders capable of advising and criticising, capable of differing with his view and saying their mind openly.
I am concerned that none within the current leadership has that capacity to challenge Tsvangirai and do so without threatening to leave and form another splinter MDC.
The fate of Job Sikhala's bid for a senior post at congress exposed how the MDC is internally focused and not looking out to challenge Zanu-PF.
If President Robert Mugabe could admit at a very senior post Moyo, who once openly opposed him, why then should Sikhala, a founding member of the MDC, not be admitted and allowed to contest for any post?
While the MDC-T remains far more vibrant, the other MDCs need to swallow their pride and negotiate for a return to the original party.
This negotiation must take into account the respect for internal democracy and transitional leadership.
I do not foresee the Renewal Team or the Welshman Ncube-led MDC surviving 2018, but rather they are likely to lose potential national leaders who will sink further into political oblivion and further into the their professional lives.
While the mainstream MDC-T will win some few seats, a renewed and resurgent Zanu-PF will likely continue eating into urban areas and diminish the influence of the MDC-T unless Tsvangirai genuinely and humbly pushes for unity.
The so-called rebels in MDC Renewal and MDC-N will most likely lose all the seats they hold, either to Zanu-PF or to the MDC-T.
The future of opposition parties is therefore anchored on unity and mobilisation. None of this is happening.
The MDC-T went to congress with positions in mind and not a message for the people of Zimbabwe.
At the end, citizens are more aware and curious on why Chamisa lost and not what the MDC-T said. The opposition must stop making false and unattainable promises of organising demonstrations etc when they know well they have no capacity.
As many vendors in the streets of Harare would rather spend time selling fruits rather than demonstrating.
The opposition parties need to go back to the basics, come up with a coherent message, mobilise and hopefully defeat Zanu-PF not in 2018, but years later.
As things stand, there is no hope for the opposition unless they become serious. So far the opposition is hopelessly comfortable in being in opposition, seeking sympathy and not the support of citizens.
The opposition talks at cross purpose and is internally focused.
As for Zanu-PF, the internal fights are happening in comfort with no threats out there. Oh, by the way, Simba Makoni and Dumiso Dabengwa need to negotiate their way back to Zanu-PF, their chances in opposition are hopeless.
The party has over the years splintered into as many small units known more for thunder and bluster with as little substance or content.
As has become usual, Zanu-PF has managed to inject its DNA into the opposition bloodstream making the difference between itself and its opposition so marginal apart from the names.
The convulsions in Zanu-PF have also been felt in the mainstream MDC-T party resulting in a split.
Zanu-PF is unlikely to split, but rearrange the leadership pack with those who lose likely to remain in the party biding their time and leaking their wounds.
The MDCs have failed at least on this front, to remain united amongst intense differences. The party has over the years splintered into as many small units known more for thunder and bluster with as little substance or content.
The differences between the splits and fights in Zanu-PF and the MDCs is that in Zanu-PF, we see action on the ground by Zanu-PF people, be it the very negative and unwanted violence against each other, but also mobilisation, demonstrations, rallies by Dr Grace Mugabe, graduation rallies by other Drs, endless provincial co-ordinating meetings, among others.
The message of what is happening in the party is not lost to the ordinary membership of Zanu-PF, but they are actively engaged taking sides with various faction leaders and in some instances pushing their own and very local agendas such as fights amongst housing co-operatives in Harare South.
There is space for everyone who has their own view and wants to say something. No one has heeded the leadership call not to talk to the media, rather anyone who has something to say can either leak the "story" or simply fire from the hip.
We have seen Professor Jonathan Moyo, Themba Mliswa, Rugare Gumbo, Grace Mugabe, Chris Mutsvangwa, Oppah Muchinguri, among many others, firing from the hip and still gathering in a united politburo meeting to face each other and discuss.
No matter the crisis in Zanu-PF, one has to give it to the oldest party that it has strange characters who have a firm belief in remaining in the tent despite the heat and will likely remain so after congress in December.
In essence, in comparison to the MDCs, Zanu-PF is likely to overcome its challenges and remain in power for some time to come.
The reason why I started with Zanu-PF is because the MDCs mimic much of what Zanu-PF does and have assumed a Zanu-PF character minus the willpower of Zanu-PF.
As many times we underestimate the influence that Zanu-PF has on all of us, and this is to acknowledge that the MDCs are in many respects the flipsides of Zanu-PF.
The MDCs employ the same strategies and language in attacking each other. The MDCs have, however, failed to remain united hence be effective and challenge for power.
Of all the MDCs out there, the MDC-T, however, remains far more viable and relevant than the other splinter groups.
On the negative, the recent congress by the MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai may not necessarily have brought new energy, but rather more splintering and cracks which the leadership has to patch up.
As many of the experienced leaders of the party from the likes of Nelson Chamisa, Jameson Timba and Elias Mudzuri, among others, are nowhere to be seen.
I am concerned that none within the current leadership has that capacity to challenge Tsvangirai and do so without threatening to leave and form another splinter MDC.
The fate of Job Sikhala's bid for a senior post at congress exposed how the MDC is internally focused and not looking out to challenge Zanu-PF.
If President Robert Mugabe could admit at a very senior post Moyo, who once openly opposed him, why then should Sikhala, a founding member of the MDC, not be admitted and allowed to contest for any post?
While the MDC-T remains far more vibrant, the other MDCs need to swallow their pride and negotiate for a return to the original party.
This negotiation must take into account the respect for internal democracy and transitional leadership.
I do not foresee the Renewal Team or the Welshman Ncube-led MDC surviving 2018, but rather they are likely to lose potential national leaders who will sink further into political oblivion and further into the their professional lives.
While the mainstream MDC-T will win some few seats, a renewed and resurgent Zanu-PF will likely continue eating into urban areas and diminish the influence of the MDC-T unless Tsvangirai genuinely and humbly pushes for unity.
The so-called rebels in MDC Renewal and MDC-N will most likely lose all the seats they hold, either to Zanu-PF or to the MDC-T.
The future of opposition parties is therefore anchored on unity and mobilisation. None of this is happening.
The MDC-T went to congress with positions in mind and not a message for the people of Zimbabwe.
At the end, citizens are more aware and curious on why Chamisa lost and not what the MDC-T said. The opposition must stop making false and unattainable promises of organising demonstrations etc when they know well they have no capacity.
As many vendors in the streets of Harare would rather spend time selling fruits rather than demonstrating.
The opposition parties need to go back to the basics, come up with a coherent message, mobilise and hopefully defeat Zanu-PF not in 2018, but years later.
As things stand, there is no hope for the opposition unless they become serious. So far the opposition is hopelessly comfortable in being in opposition, seeking sympathy and not the support of citizens.
The opposition talks at cross purpose and is internally focused.
As for Zanu-PF, the internal fights are happening in comfort with no threats out there. Oh, by the way, Simba Makoni and Dumiso Dabengwa need to negotiate their way back to Zanu-PF, their chances in opposition are hopeless.
The party has over the years splintered into as many small units known more for thunder and bluster with as little substance or content.
Source - newsday
