We are ready to stop Zanu-PF from looting our future

As the year comes to a close, many people are wondering if next year would be any different. The people continue to be betrayed by a continuous commitment to the failed strategies that have repeatedly let them down. Zanu-PF continues to sing hondo yeminda (land reform) while the opposition is seeking another GNU. It's a shame and huge disappointment that the recent developments in the opposition are a complete betrayal of the democratic movement. Zimbabweans United for democracy (ZUNDE) wishes to update the nation on these challenges and confirm that we are ready to lead the nation in resisting Zanu-PF dictatorship while exposing hyenas in sheep clothing. It's going to be tough but we will be tougher.

The recent concentrating power in one man at MDC-T confirms that the only change in the party is that of converting into an open dictatorship. On the other hand those that claim to have distanced themselves from MDC-T are still unashamedly refusing to own up to their complicity in allowing Zanu-PF to recover and ultimately retaining Mugabe last year. We condemn Mugabe for being accountable to no one and we should also condemn all those that behave like him. We refused to be led by colonial racists, we refused to be led by old dictators like Mugabe and we will refuse to be led by these emerging dictators and sell-outs.

The people sympathize with a donor community that has been swindled of scarce resources by corrupt leaders masquerading as democracy activists. They see both Zanu-PF and the opposition all consumed in leadership battles and wonder when they will be attended to. The people are disappointed that many of the political formations are still to tell the nation when and how they are going to dislodge Zanu-PF.

ZUNDE's message to the people is that we have listened and planned for our national freedom. We assure the nation that we have the plan; our officers are now on the ground and we are now ready to dismantle the Zanu-PF dictatorship. It has become clear that an externally motivated struggle will not get us anywhere. The message from Zanu-PF is clear; they will not give up power even through a vote. ZUNDE takes this seriously. Anything short of an appreciation of this reality is a waste of time.

The people know what works and what will not; hence they have given up on an opposition advocating for less. The people have rightly observed that the opposition is far from focusing on dismantling Zanu-PF dictatorship but is simply focused on positions, personal wealth never mind the corruption. The people have seen an opposition looking, behaving and acting exactly like Zanu-PF. They have surrendered their enthusiasm for change until they see a new leadership focusing on their plight. However, there is, fortunately, an emerging consensus that ZUNDE has the right focus and many have encouraged that ZUNDE to step in.

This coming year must see a different thrust. The starting point ZUNDE wants the people to understand is that we are our own liberators. We know how we are oppressed, what we want and how to get there. Friends can help us where we lack but we have to own our struggle and play our part. We are 10 million people being enslaved by not more than a thousand men. The three million of us in the diaspora have the key to our freedom. Our local counterparts have been milked dry by Zanu-PF and the donor community has been drawn dry by a mediocre opposition which has spent billions of donor dollars in mediocre protests and hopeless court cases.

The outcome of our year of planning and engagement with national stakeholders and the international community is that ZUNDE vision is the most workable framework of attaining our national freedom and democracy. As we engage the grassroots we want to explain and agree on how we will dismantle the Zanu-PF dictatorship. In this task every citizen, especially the youth, has a role. Local activists, diaspora community, students, civil servants, workers, including our security institutions will play a crucial role and we will all have a future in a new Zimbabwe. We will all be called to do the right thing at particular moments of our struggle.

The next phase of our struggle requires more stamina, courage and decisiveness. Tired horses won't make it no matter how they try; they won't have what it takes. We have been fighting an opponent that has laid down the terms that if we want freedom we have to go get it. Negotiations have only delayed and prolonged our suffering through compromising of both our strategy and values. Our struggle has been devalued from a fight for freedom to mere power grab. The motivation for a free and prosperous democracy has been replaced by personal wealth acquisition and corruption.

At ZUNDE we have refused to enter into coalitions focused on personal power and wealth. The only coalition we will enter into is one focused on dismantling the dictatorship. We have turned down selfish activists seeking personal glorification and non-performers seeking positions rather than tasks. We have boarded a different ship to freedom and national development. What has become quite clear is that the long history of occupation by the white minority and racist's governments, the tragic dominance by an unashamed Mugabe dictatorship and the recent GNU prostitution, has produced a deadly cancer and belief that puts power and personal wealth above everything else. The nation has for too long been led down the garden path by false prophets seeking power and wealth.

We have now reached the critical stage where fear is not an option. The youth must gird their loins and be ready with a message of hope. Freedom fighters, wherever you are, this is the cry and call for duty. Our time is now. We have no choice because we cannot live under this dictatorship anymore. Our children have no hope in this Zanu-PF created hell. Our people have suffered enough and they deserve rest. Zanu-PF has looted every provision of our lives and we can't let them loot our children's future as well.

Freedom fighters wherever you are, let us organise the less experienced that they may fearlessly demand their freedom. We need to teach them the values of freedom. We have to tell them why we are not free when we have fought a brutal liberation struggle after which we assumed we were free. Lets rekindle the spirit of sacrifice in our people and be ready to lead them forward.

Let's unite. Fear is not an option. Let no man deceive you and do not waste your time and resources with false prophets. Pray that freedom will be within our time.

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Farai Mbira can be contacted at mbiraf@yahoo.com, ZUNDE Information & Publicity, www.zunde.org