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ZAPU needs to focus on fighting voter apathy and fear in Zimbabwe

03 May 2011 at 05:16hrs | Views
A certain nondescript donkey couldn't believe its fortune once when it entered Jerusalem carrying Jesus. People started laying leaves, carpets and choice cloths for it to step on. Wow!. However, the haughty donkey, suffering from severe hubris returned the following day alone expecting an even warmer welcome only to get the shock of its life.

The same people who had held it in high esteem the previous day pelted it with stones and chased it away. Then it dawned for the poor asinine creature. The pomp of the previous day had not been meant for it. Yes, it galloped away braying! 

A similar trap has cost a lot of people bright political careers. They arrogantly assume that people love and follow them for their intelligence or personality traits. Little do they know that they are followed because of the name of the Party they lead. The age of charismatic leaders is over. The people of Zimbabwe know what they want.

They have seen these perennial underachievers for what they are. They are opportunists who jump from one political organisation to the other looking for leadership positions. They care less for the people of Zimbabwe, but lining their and pockets bellies and pursuing theirown personal agendas. They are making a mistake.

History is full of such individuals: Bantu Holomisa and Mosiua Lekota in South Africa, to name but a few. They left their mother organisation in a fuss, but came down with a thud. Their enemies are now laughing. As Napoleon aptly put it, 'Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake'.

A similar story has brought the Zimbabwean opposition to its knees.The latest victim of such ill-conceived defections is the strongest province of the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU), the South Africa Province.

Like the biblical donkey, a few individuals who could not lead even a branch in their areas of residence, have decided to form a renegade structure. Like, the same creature, they have been shunned by the people and what do they do? They go braying lies in the newspapers to all who care to hear. No one listens to them. ZAPU leadership in South Africa is under the tried and tested leadership of Cde Mpondo and vibrant Council of Elders; leadership which has gone through the Party structures. This is the kind of leadership needed in the face of adversity and detractors.

Cde Dingilizwe Mpondo, left  Zimbabwe over 24years ago after his home had been burnt to ashes by the ruling party sponsored thugs in 1985. He spent 3 months hiding from the same Party's marauding youths before fleeing to Bulawayo on his way to South Africa. He knows and understands the plight of Zimbabweans in South Africa. ZAPU and the people of Zimbabwe look up to him and the rest of his team to bring complete freedom to Zimbabwe. Yepping dogs and their benefactors stand defeated.ZAPU needs to focus on the situation on the ground in Zimbabwe.

Tribalism threatens to tear the country apart. There is so much fear amongst the people and voter apathy only saw a mere 2.5 million people vote in the last election. The country has lost the international goodwill it once enjoyed to the extent that we are now embarrassed to produce our Zimbabwean passports at borders and airports. Moreover, in the draft road map published recently, Zimbabweans in the diaspora are not eligible to vote.These and other issues need ZAPU attention and not the fight for positions with hubristic opportunists who do not enjoy to see the Party progress.  

Mpumelelo Ndlovu Cell: +27824052216 South Africa


Source - Mpumelelo
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