Sidelining of Ncube not a guarantee 2013 election victory

Having noted mixed reactions some of which make anyone collapse with laughter, I meant to make a comment about the Mugabe-Mutambara-Tsvangirai tripartite talks on the constitution this last Thursday. Many have been left in dangerously false hope.  Just because Ncube was left out in the quay, through deliberate acts of personal interests and defensive political agenda does not mean Ncube is heading for doomsday. Such an assertion or form of confusion to make skewed conclusions sounds misdirected, misplaced and ill-informed.

Many from the social rubble and dust have taken the stage to attack Welshman Ncube for not being at the talks that were held arbitrarily behind him as the supposed principals left him out in the cold only to emerge with victorious signs of hope before the press. No one as yet has the finer details as to what was expunged or implanted into the national document.  After the upcoming elections, I hope to see the same zeal and life on some of the faces that emerged from tea with the President after the talks.

Abraham Lincoln, a celebrated President of the USA once stated that you cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. Please mark my words. Neither of the three leaders emerged stronger because of Ncube's absence.

Mutambara has no constituency to boost his standing. He has no mandate from the people. He just got an easy ride into town or rather had a relay stick trusted to him and once he got it, never looked back to the team as he forgot that his task was supposed to be temporary. For that lack of mandate and without having enough electoral base to vouch for his premiership, his ground is sinking sand because he has no foundation. His days in the helm of power are limited as he has run back and forth. To occupy that DPM seat without checking the true effects of his diaphanous situation sounds puerile in the circumstances. This is surviving on borrowed time because there is no way he is going to make it back to the DPM post. That being the case it is best for him to exploit all these possible vantage points and enjoy the sunny weather before the drenching rains come. Already thick clouds are gathering in the political sky. After elections it will be another story altogether because the voters will decide who gets where.

To assume that a mere participation in the Constitutional talks is a harbinger to victory in the upcoming elections is just to assume that Zanu PF will make a landslide victory in 2013 after all we have seen and heard. The economy remains tattered. Corruption levels have hit unprecedented levels, touching big fish and small fish. Violence is up in the air as Chiangano is sharpening machetes and sears. The empowerment program has been hijacked to favor the chosen few and the results on paper do not match the reality on the ground. More continue to suffer and sing for the few who have become wealthier by the day. In the midst of all that claimed wealth, the United Nations is trying to raise $131 million for Zimbabwe elections. What a travesty! A few continually get richer as the majority wallows in poverty. Investor confidence is at the lowest as mines, industries and factories have become personal property to others.

Chiyadzwa diamond proceeds are now Zanu PF politiburo's pocket money and the residue is now used to fund and oil the electoral process through the whims of Zanu PF. Those who do not tow the Zanu PF line have been sidelined openly. With all that injustice, Zanu PF then expects to head back to Parliament with full honor and full colors. That should be the greatest fairy tale of all times.

With that same belief Mutambara also hopes to head back even without the voter's sanction. That also is another embarrassing anecdote. Even all the attending principals should have developed some sense of finesse, conscience and accountability in their surreptitious attendance for such crucial national business in the absence of an important figure like Ncube in the talks.

The exclusion of Ncube from the Constitutional talks was only a strategic gimmick that only encapsulated greed, power hunger and malice on the principals as a set. Others have argued that Tsvangirai would not be expected to fight Ncube's war because they do not get along after the dissenting convictions on party politics. Others too hold that Mutambara had ongoing issues with Ncube and therefore could not shoot himself in the foot as he would give way to Ncube to attend the Constitutional talks. It is public knowledge that Ncube is a constitutional law expert. He knows what to articulate and what could have worked for the situation from a professional standpoint. It is also beyond cavil that Mutambara, while being a professional, would not be the best attendee for Constitutional talks. That means all three who attended only did so to sheepishly nod to Gushungo to run the show.

Whatever they discussed behind the scenes and not timely disclosed to the public remains to be known.

Whether they gave Gushungo a two thumbs up to continue on a longer term or what, only time will tell. The sidelining of Ncube therefore became a historical breakthrough before intoxicated devotees as the two sheepish principals were buoyed by Ncube's absence.  In other words Ncube's presence could, to some extent have tranquilized the voice of Gushungo who at times despises being challenged on issues that he thinks he knows best. In this contemporary world of diversity, it is surely a healthy initiative that folks can agree to disagree. The "my way or the highway" approach is not in vogue anymore because the world over has evolved into a new dispensation emerging with a new order.

The Constitution of Zimbabwe is not a Mugabe-Tsvangirai Mutambara issue. It is a national issue that should jettison all vindictiveness, jealous issues or any other prevailing traits that make others resent someone's presence. If it was a true democracy, the final talks could have been aired live on TV for people to see what was going on. There should not ever have been any guess work because this is a document that will shape the future of Zimbabwe from now moving on. No one should therefore personalize an opinion in this issue because many could be prejudiced in a matter of minutes as their future is placed in quandary.

To celebrate the absence of Ncube in the talks sounds unfortunate and self-indulgent. Fortunately, the voter will tell which way the political terrain of Zimbabwe will go. Some are having their last moments in cabinet as some are drawing invitation cards to those who will attend their inauguration. In any case once the voter decides, the right leader will get in. The Constitution is not a guarantee that will determine who gets to lead Zimbabwe. The voluminous childish commentary that has poured in could tell the motive behind some of the brains who submitted their distinguished opinions on the sidelining of Ncube. While we live in a free world with various aspirations and definitions to free speech, some of the views we hear need timely correction because at times ignorance can be inexcusably fatal in the cause.

A conference to discuss the constitution is not a barrier to Ncube to run for Presidency. The talks held by Tsvangirai and Mutambara are not the victory pills that will make them ready and healthy to rule Zimbabwe. That process was simply a window dressing exercise with a placebo effect demonstrated through a showdown of preferences and nothing else. Gushungo is not God. Mutambara will not be there forever either. His days in office are as numbered as those of anyone else who does not bury his own head in the sand. Statistics on the ground are stubborn and painful. From a layperson's perspective, the supposed victory through the invitation card to the talks, was therefore temporary and simply went into thin air just after the journalists packed their microphones. Kudzipakata handiko kudziridza anhuwee. A valet service employee does not own the Porsche that he is tasked to park.

More better government business is in the pipeline. The elections will define the future of Zimbabwe regardless of how emotional or excited some folks are getting at the moment. Approving some provisions of the Constitution behind the scenes over a cup of tea does not make someone more important. This is simple national duty and should always be transparent before the masses.

Professionalism was expected in this cause. For now not a single person has the right answer on what is to come after the historical election. Some are already packing their bags to leave. The elections will decide once and for all. To assume the obvious based on past precedents is simply a myopic mirage that is tantamount to being impervious to the truth. In any case some of these leaders are having their last scoop and parting salvo as they hang out with the President and pose for some memorable photos. This is the latter day. After the elections, the shocking results will make some cringe as they wish they had never run for office. The fall of big trees makes lots of noise and at times destroys lots of vegetation. The axe forgets. Only the tree remembers. Time will tell.

Article kindly re-produced by permission of www.zimeye.org