'It took UK 600 years get free elections, Zimbabwe must wait,' argue MP Cross - crap, but music to ED's ears

"It pays in the end to get the best in the beginning!" ran the Eric Davis advert. To those who do not know or have forgotten; Eric Davis was a top-notch man's clothing shop in First Street, Harare. Yes, one paid top dollar for everything in Eric Davis from the hat to the socks and designer shoes but, by Jove, it was worth every dollar!

Forget the classical advice, "You are never fully dressed without a smile!" When you are wearing one of those Italian design suits complete with shirt, tie and shoe; trust me, you are fully dressed! You will be griming from ear to ear all day and a string in every step!

I have never thought of the corollary to the Eric Davis advert until today. "You pay small change for crap but, in the long run, you will pay dearly for it!"

As far as politicians go, Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends are crap in every sense of the word and after nearly 20 years of them occupying centre stage it has just dawned on me how dearly the nation has paid for having elected them in the first place. The people of Zimbabwe risked life and limb electing MDC into power on the promise they will bring about the democratic changes the nation was dying for. MDC have not only failed to deliver even one democratic change in 20 years but, worst, they are the ones blocking change with the blundering incompetence!

"The Military Assisted Transition (MAT) took place in November last year. It is now six months into 2018 and seven months since the MAT. How are we doing? Our world has certainly changed and it is very noticeable. We have more freedom than at any time since the Rhodesian government clamped down on the nationalists and detained most of them in 1964," wrote Eddie Cross, former MDC-T founder member and MP. 

"The repressive laws adopted at that time were never dismantled by former President Robert Mugabe, who then used them to repress all opposition in his efforts to establish a one-party State." 

All efforts to educate Mr Cross and all his MDC friends that the people of Zimbabwe have risked life and limb to elect them into power dismantle the de facto Zanu PF one-party dictatorship have accomplished nothing. SADC leaders did their best to remind MDC leaders to focus on implementing the raft of democratic reforms designed to stop Zanu PF rigging elections, but they too were ignored.

MDC leaders have wasted one golden opportunity after another to end the Zanu PF dictatorship because they are breathtakingly corrupt and incompetent. They are crap!

Mr Cross says, "We have more freedom than at any time since 1964," in one breath. But quickly adds, "None of these repressive laws have been rescinded - they are just being ignored. … It's a process that has not been formalised (and it's not permanent until it is), but it's real."

President Mnangagwa and his coup junta know that their political legitimacy is hanging a spider thread, the international community was not as easily fooled by all that military assisted transition bull – this was a coup period! The junta is desperate to regard political legitimacy hence the temporary truce on use of the repressive laws. The junta has refused to give up all its other dictatorial powers such as control of public media, ZEC, etc.

The very fact that President Mnangagwa has stubbornly refused to implement even one democratic reforms had alarm bells ringing like church bells in everybody with half a brain. The very fact that no such alarm bell is ringing in Mr Cross' head confirms what we already know.

Ever since the last GNU Zanu PF has never been under more pressure to hold free, fair and credible elections than it is this year. It is very disappointing that the international community especially SADC and the American are the ones demanding that Zanu PF deliver on its promise and MDC are content with the truce on violence even though the other vote rigging activities have continued.

"Still, this is Africa and we must allow for a gradual assumption of such rights - after all, it took Britain 600 years to get there and we could argue that many older States are still not there in all respects. The one thing that is true, is that we are in a much better place to hold a reasonable election than at any time since 1964," concluded Mr Cross.

How patronizing! This is the 21st century for Britain but for us in Africa we are 600 years behind.

For all you condescending and white supremacist attitude, I would like to remind you that Zimbabwe is not being asked to reinvent democracy and the rules to ensure free, fair and credible elections; these are already there. We are being asked to apply them, that is not a tall order. By the way there are countries like Botswana and South Africa, to name just those two, which have successful held free, fair and credible elections. Why should Zimbabweans have to wait 600 years to do the same?

It is the incompetent, corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF thugs who have dragged the nation into this political and economic hell-hole but it is corrupt and incompetent MDC village idiots who have held us prisoner in this hole for the last 20 years. Nations get the government they deserve, by being so reckless in the selection of our political leaders, we certain deserve these Zanu PF thugs complete with the entourage of the MDC and opposition crap!

Mr Cross is not running for public office in these elections. Good bye and good riddance! Please, please spare us your patronizing crap. We have certainly paid dearly for having elected crap like these MDC leaders into power in the first place.