Opinion / Columnist
Is it right to support the military takeover?
17 Nov 2017 at 06:40hrs | Views
With regards to what's happening in Zimbabwe right now. Whether you regard it as a revolution or a military coup/take over – suit yourself with whatever definition. One thing stands proud - this is and has never been about protecting the interest of the general Zimbabwean population. As such this should never be legitimized, not by SADC - not by AU and most importantly not by any conscious Zimbabweans. So, if anyone says let's go to the streets and support the army, stand up proud and say #zimcoupNotinmyname because two wrongs can never make a right!
One major problem in Zimbabwe's power dynamics is that the military does not know the difference between protecting interest of a party called Zanu-PF and that of a nation called Zimbabwe. To them these two are just but siamese twins (ie) they are mutually inclusive of each other. When the party is under attack, albeit in democratic processes, to the military it'll appear as though the nation of Zimbabwe is under attack. It is not by coincidence that ZANU's and Zimbabwe's flags are pretty much identical. The army can use state machinery to revive and rescue ZANU-PF. The army, just like their undying so called Commander In Chief Mugabe, have always treated Zimbabwe as though it was their toilet. In a functioning democracy, this will be unacceptable.
As much as I believe Mugabe has run down Zimbabwe and so would like to see him gone as soon as yesterday. A military takeover in whatever form will set a wrong precedence in our country and we as Zimbabweans should learn to call a spade ♠ by its name. We should not lose sight of a Zimbabwe we want and are fighting for just because of a temporary feeling. We would like a Zimbabwe where rule of law is prevalent, where freedom of speech and that of association is a given. We would like to see a unified and peaceful Zimbabwe but we should be careful not to use a wrong precedence to achieve this - and certainly a military takeover is not a way forward. There's been a text going viral on WhatsApp and it's been attributed to Professor Sabelo J Ndlovu- Gatsheni (UNISA)
"Two most abused words with reference to Zimbabwe: 'revolution' and 'transition.' The current intervention of the army in politics is justified as protecting the 'revolution' and those celebrating the intervention speak of a potential 'transition.' We are thirsty for both but not yet there. What we see might just a reshuffling of old cars for the purpose of perpetuation of the same old politics. Not too optimistic"
I agree with him fully. We as Zimbabweans are behaving like little children whom after getting spunk you can easily be cheered up by a sweet as a consolation or a sorry. What total nonsense!
The army must think we are fools. This very army doesn't realise that we as Zimbabweans know very well that this is not about us per se but about the military usurping power from Mugabe so they could give it to Mnangagwa who was fired by his party Zanu-PF and in so doing rescue a dying horse. But what legitimacy will Mnangagwa have? It's clear all those partisan army generals were not impressed by the firing of Mnangagwa. They were out maneuvered by their own Mugabe's G40 - hands down! To them the gun barrel leads the ballot not otherwise. On a lighter note, it's sad that the ZANU-PF s game of thrones series is about to come to an end. It was an interesting series though, in particular Cersi Gucci Grace was my favorite character 😅😝😝
If you still think the army generals are our saviors because they want Mugabe removed. Ask yourself these questions.
1. Is it not on record that this army said they would never salute anyone who doesn't have liberation war credentials? RE : Tsvangirai.
2. Is it not on media record that the army coerced and beat up people to vote for Mugabe?
3. Is it not on media record that this very army that now brags about upholding the constitution that they barely understand, helped Mugabe rig the elections in 2008 and 2013 which were out rightly won by MDC-T.
We can go way back to the '80s etc where this very army and in particular most of the generals up there over saw a genocide in Matebeland and the midlands. It's on record that they wanted to kill Father Zimbabwe. For that purpose it's a highly compromised army which I as a Zimbabwean, will not be happy with. They cannot weed out criminals when their hands drip of innocent blood!
In all this I hope you can see for yourselves, that our army will never do anything unless it's benefiting them as a clique. To them, ordinary Zimbabweans don't matter as much as Jongwe reZANU. PeriodTo conclude, it's even sad to see that the Zimbabwean opposition has not condemned Mugabe's actions out rightly as much as one would expect them to because they claim to be advocates for democracy. God bless Zimbabwe
One major problem in Zimbabwe's power dynamics is that the military does not know the difference between protecting interest of a party called Zanu-PF and that of a nation called Zimbabwe. To them these two are just but siamese twins (ie) they are mutually inclusive of each other. When the party is under attack, albeit in democratic processes, to the military it'll appear as though the nation of Zimbabwe is under attack. It is not by coincidence that ZANU's and Zimbabwe's flags are pretty much identical. The army can use state machinery to revive and rescue ZANU-PF. The army, just like their undying so called Commander In Chief Mugabe, have always treated Zimbabwe as though it was their toilet. In a functioning democracy, this will be unacceptable.
As much as I believe Mugabe has run down Zimbabwe and so would like to see him gone as soon as yesterday. A military takeover in whatever form will set a wrong precedence in our country and we as Zimbabweans should learn to call a spade ♠ by its name. We should not lose sight of a Zimbabwe we want and are fighting for just because of a temporary feeling. We would like a Zimbabwe where rule of law is prevalent, where freedom of speech and that of association is a given. We would like to see a unified and peaceful Zimbabwe but we should be careful not to use a wrong precedence to achieve this - and certainly a military takeover is not a way forward. There's been a text going viral on WhatsApp and it's been attributed to Professor Sabelo J Ndlovu- Gatsheni (UNISA)
"Two most abused words with reference to Zimbabwe: 'revolution' and 'transition.' The current intervention of the army in politics is justified as protecting the 'revolution' and those celebrating the intervention speak of a potential 'transition.' We are thirsty for both but not yet there. What we see might just a reshuffling of old cars for the purpose of perpetuation of the same old politics. Not too optimistic"
I agree with him fully. We as Zimbabweans are behaving like little children whom after getting spunk you can easily be cheered up by a sweet as a consolation or a sorry. What total nonsense!
The army must think we are fools. This very army doesn't realise that we as Zimbabweans know very well that this is not about us per se but about the military usurping power from Mugabe so they could give it to Mnangagwa who was fired by his party Zanu-PF and in so doing rescue a dying horse. But what legitimacy will Mnangagwa have? It's clear all those partisan army generals were not impressed by the firing of Mnangagwa. They were out maneuvered by their own Mugabe's G40 - hands down! To them the gun barrel leads the ballot not otherwise. On a lighter note, it's sad that the ZANU-PF s game of thrones series is about to come to an end. It was an interesting series though, in particular Cersi Gucci Grace was my favorite character 😅😝😝
If you still think the army generals are our saviors because they want Mugabe removed. Ask yourself these questions.
1. Is it not on record that this army said they would never salute anyone who doesn't have liberation war credentials? RE : Tsvangirai.
2. Is it not on media record that the army coerced and beat up people to vote for Mugabe?
3. Is it not on media record that this very army that now brags about upholding the constitution that they barely understand, helped Mugabe rig the elections in 2008 and 2013 which were out rightly won by MDC-T.
We can go way back to the '80s etc where this very army and in particular most of the generals up there over saw a genocide in Matebeland and the midlands. It's on record that they wanted to kill Father Zimbabwe. For that purpose it's a highly compromised army which I as a Zimbabwean, will not be happy with. They cannot weed out criminals when their hands drip of innocent blood!
In all this I hope you can see for yourselves, that our army will never do anything unless it's benefiting them as a clique. To them, ordinary Zimbabweans don't matter as much as Jongwe reZANU. PeriodTo conclude, it's even sad to see that the Zimbabwean opposition has not condemned Mugabe's actions out rightly as much as one would expect them to because they claim to be advocates for democracy. God bless Zimbabwe
Source - Tshingwane Sibanda
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