Didymus Mutasa must shut up

Among some Zimbabwean cultures, there is a saying which, loosely translated, says an aging baboon must walk with its tail coiled in order to be respected by the young.

Basically the proverb implores elderly people to conduct themselves properly in order to earn respect of others, especially those that look up to them.

We are reminded of this age old wisdom by the antics of Didymus Mutasa, the former secretary of administration in Zanu-PF.

This is a man who participated in the liberation struggle and served the nation in different capacities since independence who now wants to throw it away with reckless comments.

According to media reports, Mutasa is plotting to mount a legal challenge "to reclaim the leadership of the party from the jaws of political vultures."

His comments have courted the ire of many who are rightly demanding his ouster from the party.

As things stand, Mutasa is the only one preaching this gospel that the 6th Zanu-PF National People's Congress was illegal.

Mutasa's allegations, meant to destabilise the party, are surprising considering the role he took in preparing for last month's event before his unceremonious rejection by the people.

As the then secretary of administration in the ruling party, Mutasa was instrumental in organising the congress. He even chaired some committees set to ensure the congress was a resounding success.

He also took part in elections in his home district to nominate central committee members ahead of congress. As we all know, he lost dismally.

If he genuinely believes that congress was illegal, why did Mutasa participate in pre-conference activities? Or is it now illegal because he contested in elections and was rejected by the people?

Mutasa is joining a band of African politicians who think that elections are only free and fair if they go their own way.

We have the likes of Jonas Savimbi, the former leader of Angolan rebel movement Unita, who met an early death because he refused to concede defeat in democratic elections,

Afonso Dhlakama, leader of another rebel movement turned political party Renamo, has been thrashed in democratic elections in Mozambique since 1994 but still refuses to accept that the people don't want him. As Mozambique inaugurates its new President this week, Dhlakama is still crying foul.

At home, there is Morgan Tsvangirai, who has lost in all elections he has participated, who refuses to accept results of the 2013 harmonised elections.

Politicians who think like Mutasa, Tsvangirai, Savimbi and Dhlakama need to understand that elections, whether party or national, are there to be won and lost.

Mutasa took part in an election and lost. What he needs is self-introspection to establish why he was rejected.

He needs to emulate his fellow conspirators in the party who lost in central committee elections after they were exposed in a plot to unconstitutionally remove President Mugabe from power and are licking their wounds in silence.
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