Opinion / Columnist
'There will always be corrupt leaders,' argue Maphosa - compare bruise to severed head, detail matters
07 Jun 2018 at 19:03hrs | Views
There are many, many reasons why Zimbabwe is in this economic and political mess. One of those reasons has to be our, we the people, failure to appreciate the importance detail resulting in us making bad decisions repeatedly, especially in electing our leaders.
"Corruption is everywhere baba, its only a question of time before you uncover it. The MDC guys are corrupt. I know it for a fact. No one is clean when it comes to money matters. We are just looking for a better leader whose approach is better than the previous one. Meaning some things will be done in a better manner than before as a result, improving the work situation, food situation possibly a better future with more freedoms," argued Max Maphosa.
"Corruption is not new, it will always be there. In this campaigning I have noticed a lot of corruption from the MDC for instance going in the same bed with Mugabe. That is the mother of all corruption. Ask why, because they want power."
MDC leaders are corrupt so corrupt in fact that they sold-out on even the most important issue of our generation – the need to implement the democratic reforms to stop Zanu PF rigging elections. They had the golden opportunity to implement the reforms during the GNU but failed to get even one reform in five years!
MDC leaders are selling out even today! SADC leaders have said Zimbabwe should not hold elections without first implementing the democratic reforms. The rigged 2013 elections proved their advice was spot on. The only reason MDC leaders went into these 2013 elections was greed; they were after the few gravy train seats Zanu PF gave away as bait and did not care the ordinary people were being denied their right to free and fair elections or the consequences of rigged elections. Chamisa and company are going into this year's flawed elections for the same reason – greed.
There is corruption is like injury; in the same accident one may have a few scratches and bruises, another has a broken leg and the third his head severed clean off. Of course, it would be very foolish to attend and treat the three victims the same. It is equally foolish to treat corrupt in the same cavalier "all politicians are corrupt and so what" fashion. It is this failure to pay attention to detail, failure to separate the good, the bad and the ugly, that has landed Zimbabwe in this mess. Worst still, until we realise that detail matters, we are never going to get out of this mess.
By failing to get even one democratic reform implemented even when they had the golden opportunity to do so, MDC leaders has proven beyond all doubt that they are breathtakingly incompetent and corrupt and irredeemably so, they are beyond the pale. If they so heartless sold-out during the GNU and have never ever shown any sign of remorse or repentance, it is naïve to believe they will not sell-out again and pure madness to grand them another chance to sell-out.
There are those who have accepted the foolish notion that the nation's choice of leaders is limited to the corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF thugs and the corrupt and incompetent MDC village idiots. Of course, it is a foolish notion because this in no different from being asked whether one wants a broken leg or broken hand. Only a fool would see this as being given a choice! If the present political system limits our choice of leaders to the grime of who is less corrupt, incompetent, etc. than the other then we must change the system.
By implementing the democratic reforms to create a free and democratic society; we will free the nation of the stifling Zanu PF imposed monolithic culture that has allowed a tiny few to be heard and silenced the rest. By have the total control of the public print and electronic media and harassed the few independent newspapers from pillar to post, Zanu PF has systematically brainwashed the people and deprived them of the ability to think for themselves – the very quality that distinguishes us, humans, from all the other creatures.
Policies were imposed on the nation without being thoroughly reviewed and cross-examined. The competition of ideas was actively crashed by the autocrats and tyrants under the pretext of unity. Those tasked to see where we are going have become so obsessed in corralling and coercing us they have completely neglected their primary task of defining where we are going. It is no surprise therefore that Zimbabwe has drop like a stone from being one of the five rich nations in Africa in 1980 to the poorest today.
Mnangagwa is less of a control freak as Mugabe, true; but his 37 years in government has shown that he is a corrupt, vote rigging and murderous tyrant. By refusing to implement even one reform, Mnangagwa was already show that he is a dictator who will not take advantage of all the tyrannical dictatorial powers but will not give them up either. To therefore elect Mnangagwa because he is "better than Mugabe" is the manic hope of one jumping off the cliff – hoping you will survive and not have too many broken bones. But why do it?
Just because MDC sold-out and failed to implement the raft of democratic reforms designed to dismantle the Zanu PF dictatorship and replace is with a healthy and functional democratic system of government, does not mean it cannot be done. We are not stuck with the vote-rigging Mnangagwa and his junta and Chamisa and his MDC who are forever day-dreaming of winning rigged elections. We can and must reject elections until all the reforms are implemented first.
Implement the reforms and we open the door and let the refresh air in, we open the door to open debate and democratic competition. Allow the people to think for themselves and you will be surprised that they are not as naïve and gullible as the decades of Zanu PF brainwashing has forced them to be. A free press and a vigilant electorate is good at separating the good, the bad and the ugly; many of the corrupt and incompetent politicians now crowding our political stage will fall by the way in the first year of Zimbabwe having a functional democratic system of government. The same free press and vigilant electorate will keep the elected leaders on the narrow and straight path!
Zanu PF and MDC politicians are not just corrupt and incompetent what they have done these last 38 years is unforgivable, there are beyond redemption! They have proven themselves unfit to ever be trusted to hold public office and entrusted chart the destiny of this nation.
The only sure way for the nation to get refresh leaders going forward is for us to bite the bullet, wipe the slate clean by implementing the democratic reforms designed to transform the corrupt and tyrannical dictatorship into an open and dynamic democracy.
In the last 38 years, both Zanu PF and MDC politicians have proven not only that they are breathtakingly incompetent and corrupt; but, worst of all, that they are irredeemably so by stubbornly refusing to acknowledge their failures and betrayals much less show remorse.
These flawed elections should not be taking place because, with no reforms in place, they will never be free, fair and credible. The need to implement the reforms BEFORE the elections is a lot subtler than just to ensure free and fair elections; the democratic system will allow quality political leaders to emerge to replace the deadwood thriving in the present system.
Both Zanu PF and MDC politicians know that they would find it very difficult to hold on to power if the country's political system allowed political leaders to be questioned and scrutinized. Hence the reason neither of the two parties can ever be trusted to fully implement the democratic reforms. It is exactly for this reason that we, the people, must insist on having all reforms implemented BEFORE elections.
Yes, there will always be corruption but that is a feeble excuse for allowing the ruling elite to have Blue Roof mansions, 13 farms, 12 trips a year at $3 million @ for a routine eye check-up and luxurious lifestyles all at public expense when ¾ of the population are forced to live on US$1.00 or less per day! Accidents resulting in severed heads must never ever be treated in the same cavalier manner as those resulting in bruises; detail matters, it is everything.
"Corruption is everywhere baba, its only a question of time before you uncover it. The MDC guys are corrupt. I know it for a fact. No one is clean when it comes to money matters. We are just looking for a better leader whose approach is better than the previous one. Meaning some things will be done in a better manner than before as a result, improving the work situation, food situation possibly a better future with more freedoms," argued Max Maphosa.
"Corruption is not new, it will always be there. In this campaigning I have noticed a lot of corruption from the MDC for instance going in the same bed with Mugabe. That is the mother of all corruption. Ask why, because they want power."
MDC leaders are corrupt so corrupt in fact that they sold-out on even the most important issue of our generation – the need to implement the democratic reforms to stop Zanu PF rigging elections. They had the golden opportunity to implement the reforms during the GNU but failed to get even one reform in five years!
MDC leaders are selling out even today! SADC leaders have said Zimbabwe should not hold elections without first implementing the democratic reforms. The rigged 2013 elections proved their advice was spot on. The only reason MDC leaders went into these 2013 elections was greed; they were after the few gravy train seats Zanu PF gave away as bait and did not care the ordinary people were being denied their right to free and fair elections or the consequences of rigged elections. Chamisa and company are going into this year's flawed elections for the same reason – greed.
There is corruption is like injury; in the same accident one may have a few scratches and bruises, another has a broken leg and the third his head severed clean off. Of course, it would be very foolish to attend and treat the three victims the same. It is equally foolish to treat corrupt in the same cavalier "all politicians are corrupt and so what" fashion. It is this failure to pay attention to detail, failure to separate the good, the bad and the ugly, that has landed Zimbabwe in this mess. Worst still, until we realise that detail matters, we are never going to get out of this mess.
By failing to get even one democratic reform implemented even when they had the golden opportunity to do so, MDC leaders has proven beyond all doubt that they are breathtakingly incompetent and corrupt and irredeemably so, they are beyond the pale. If they so heartless sold-out during the GNU and have never ever shown any sign of remorse or repentance, it is naïve to believe they will not sell-out again and pure madness to grand them another chance to sell-out.
There are those who have accepted the foolish notion that the nation's choice of leaders is limited to the corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF thugs and the corrupt and incompetent MDC village idiots. Of course, it is a foolish notion because this in no different from being asked whether one wants a broken leg or broken hand. Only a fool would see this as being given a choice! If the present political system limits our choice of leaders to the grime of who is less corrupt, incompetent, etc. than the other then we must change the system.
By implementing the democratic reforms to create a free and democratic society; we will free the nation of the stifling Zanu PF imposed monolithic culture that has allowed a tiny few to be heard and silenced the rest. By have the total control of the public print and electronic media and harassed the few independent newspapers from pillar to post, Zanu PF has systematically brainwashed the people and deprived them of the ability to think for themselves – the very quality that distinguishes us, humans, from all the other creatures.
Mnangagwa is less of a control freak as Mugabe, true; but his 37 years in government has shown that he is a corrupt, vote rigging and murderous tyrant. By refusing to implement even one reform, Mnangagwa was already show that he is a dictator who will not take advantage of all the tyrannical dictatorial powers but will not give them up either. To therefore elect Mnangagwa because he is "better than Mugabe" is the manic hope of one jumping off the cliff – hoping you will survive and not have too many broken bones. But why do it?
Just because MDC sold-out and failed to implement the raft of democratic reforms designed to dismantle the Zanu PF dictatorship and replace is with a healthy and functional democratic system of government, does not mean it cannot be done. We are not stuck with the vote-rigging Mnangagwa and his junta and Chamisa and his MDC who are forever day-dreaming of winning rigged elections. We can and must reject elections until all the reforms are implemented first.
Implement the reforms and we open the door and let the refresh air in, we open the door to open debate and democratic competition. Allow the people to think for themselves and you will be surprised that they are not as naïve and gullible as the decades of Zanu PF brainwashing has forced them to be. A free press and a vigilant electorate is good at separating the good, the bad and the ugly; many of the corrupt and incompetent politicians now crowding our political stage will fall by the way in the first year of Zimbabwe having a functional democratic system of government. The same free press and vigilant electorate will keep the elected leaders on the narrow and straight path!
Zanu PF and MDC politicians are not just corrupt and incompetent what they have done these last 38 years is unforgivable, there are beyond redemption! They have proven themselves unfit to ever be trusted to hold public office and entrusted chart the destiny of this nation.
The only sure way for the nation to get refresh leaders going forward is for us to bite the bullet, wipe the slate clean by implementing the democratic reforms designed to transform the corrupt and tyrannical dictatorship into an open and dynamic democracy.
In the last 38 years, both Zanu PF and MDC politicians have proven not only that they are breathtakingly incompetent and corrupt; but, worst of all, that they are irredeemably so by stubbornly refusing to acknowledge their failures and betrayals much less show remorse.
These flawed elections should not be taking place because, with no reforms in place, they will never be free, fair and credible. The need to implement the reforms BEFORE the elections is a lot subtler than just to ensure free and fair elections; the democratic system will allow quality political leaders to emerge to replace the deadwood thriving in the present system.
Both Zanu PF and MDC politicians know that they would find it very difficult to hold on to power if the country's political system allowed political leaders to be questioned and scrutinized. Hence the reason neither of the two parties can ever be trusted to fully implement the democratic reforms. It is exactly for this reason that we, the people, must insist on having all reforms implemented BEFORE elections.
Yes, there will always be corruption but that is a feeble excuse for allowing the ruling elite to have Blue Roof mansions, 13 farms, 12 trips a year at $3 million @ for a routine eye check-up and luxurious lifestyles all at public expense when ¾ of the population are forced to live on US$1.00 or less per day! Accidents resulting in severed heads must never ever be treated in the same cavalier manner as those resulting in bruises; detail matters, it is everything.
Source - zsdemocrats.blogspot.co.uk
All articles and letters published on Bulawayo24 have been independently written by members of Bulawayo24's community. The views of users published on Bulawayo24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Bulawayo24. Bulawayo24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.
