Opinion / Columnist
Is Zimbabwe political discourse, a politics by design or by default?
28 Mar 2015 at 16:48hrs | Views
After being booted out of Parliament by Speaker Mudenda, I was really shocked to see the renewal team UMDC as they call themselves, so saddened, down trodden and almost in despair when the whole team had to gather and give a press conference about the way forward. Mr. Biti was giving signs that he wishes to step down from politics and see what he can salvage from his talent outside politics.
"I have been in the trenches since I was a student at the University of Zimbabwe" he said. Perhaps I should not be shocked at all because Zimbabwean politics has always been about "me and myself," "Pangu pakanaka until the next elections of 2018."
It is never was the politics of absolute sacrifice and service to the people who voted for them. What democracy are they talking about if those elections were rigged left right and centre since August 1st 2013? To me that was another classical example a misplaced politics of the "me self first and the people last." What was there to be sad about? What did they do to their constituencies ever since they won those parliamentary seats in August 2013? Zanu-PF had the absolute majority in both houses, higher and lower house. What change could they have effected under those circumstances? Surely I expected them to jump up and rejoice as they would then demonstrate to the people of Zimbabwe what they meant about true democratic values and principles they purport to uphold.
I expected UMDC to go out of their way full strength and jubilating to the masses of Zimbabwe and tell them about democratic values and principles, their ideology, how they want Zimbabwe to develop the next 20 years. To be sacked out of parliament was a blessing in disguise and UMDC failed to see this. As they were going to demonstrate what makes them different from MDC-T in the first place?
What is their action plan from then on until the election or how are they going to effect change by street strikes as the election strategy has not worked the past 15 years as an opposition party. Are they afraid to go out in the streets and demonstrate and demand change that will benefit the whole nation and not be just members of parliament and their new cars and allowances to attend sessions in Harare parliament? UMDC you have really let us down mufunge. Just by your sad faces at the news interview, it sent a message of absolute despair, you lost a lot of confidence in the people of Zimbabwe.
Ever since the split from MDC-T you have been advised by benevolent minded people, how you could pave the way forward and be seen as a formidable force that can bring about change in Zimbabwe. Your reluctance to engage on issues given to you for free in the social media makes one think you are really not serious about change. It would appear that in Zimbabwe some Mandela needs to be born to bring change we all need in this great country.
You had all advantage points: most of you are young and very educated, one, you had all the confidence from the international community, two, you had some parliamentary seats albeit only 19 of them, that was a power base you never utilized even one day. Did you ever engage with Joice Mujuru & CO after they were purged by Zanu-PF PF and work with a better devil: Mujuru than the devil itself: Zanu-PF PF? Four, the fact that you are based at home means that there is a lot in your disposal to effect change in that country. You are too cautious, too academic to be called pillars of change.
Why are you not taking part in by-elections, you had that constitution you crafted together with Zanu-PF to be adhered, you fight together with MDC-T to see that the election reforms are implemented without waiting for 2018. The magic is now and not 2018, and how you effect and engage with other opposition forces. You still needed to swallow pride and go for the reunification of all opposition parties in Zimbabwe without fear of loss of positions. We dwell too much on what divides us in the oppositions more that the cause to remove Zanu-PF in power.
It is high time we sat with all parties in the opposition and tell ourselves that it's the people of Zimbabwe who need change more than the positions we shall occupy when we have united. Only then, only then can we speak of change in the sense of the word. Tsvangirai needs to know this too that we all need to unite in one tent that is free from positions and lust to be at the top. We need a caretaker opposition union of parties in Zimbabwe, we ask the neutral and genuine bona fide church leaders s to be the hands of trust for us during that period. Leaders will be chosen by the people.
I ask all the comrades in the UMDC to stand up and walk the talk. The walk to victory is not given but fought for. There is a lot out there for young minds like Madzore, Mishihairabwi, Ncube, Mangoma, Gorden Moyo, Chamisa, Gutu, just name them, there are all brilliant young men and women who can take Zimbabwe to dizzy heights with their abilities and capabilities. Again there are a lot of them in the Diaspora, educated elite who, if given the chance can make a lot of inroads regarding technical and administrative development in Zimbabwe.
Inside Zimbabwe the likes of Professor Gaidzanwa and Dr. Simba Makoni needed to be utilized for the benefit of the country. Please UMDC engage with all other opposition parties, it does not matter how far apart in ideologies we can be, we all have one aim to remove Zanu-PF PF from power. Let's not attack each other personally in the opposition Mr. Tendai Biti. You differed with Morgan Richard Tsvangirai ideologically and it was understood, but to attack him personally affects you too. I differ with Tsvangirai equally but I need to work together with him to remove Zanu-PF PF our common enemy.
Think about Comrade Nelson Mandela, if he gave up the struggle because the struggle had turned nasty, do you think South Africa would be where it is now? Sure he was not alone in the struggle, but he had so many people in South Africa who chose collective confrontation than servitude. Let's think less about political positions and more about regime change and we shall be surprised how easy it is to remove Zanu-PF PF from power and we let the people choose whoever they want. Let's confront this Zanu-PF government all in one as opposition, we shall indeed make it. Do not allow Zanu-PF to infiltrate the opposition and make us weak. I hope chiri mumu sakasaka chinozindvira.
Our politics should be by design and not by default.
Ndaboka zvangu mwana we mbodoko
Ugogo omncane
Chirikadzi chenyu
"I have been in the trenches since I was a student at the University of Zimbabwe" he said. Perhaps I should not be shocked at all because Zimbabwean politics has always been about "me and myself," "Pangu pakanaka until the next elections of 2018."
It is never was the politics of absolute sacrifice and service to the people who voted for them. What democracy are they talking about if those elections were rigged left right and centre since August 1st 2013? To me that was another classical example a misplaced politics of the "me self first and the people last." What was there to be sad about? What did they do to their constituencies ever since they won those parliamentary seats in August 2013? Zanu-PF had the absolute majority in both houses, higher and lower house. What change could they have effected under those circumstances? Surely I expected them to jump up and rejoice as they would then demonstrate to the people of Zimbabwe what they meant about true democratic values and principles they purport to uphold.
I expected UMDC to go out of their way full strength and jubilating to the masses of Zimbabwe and tell them about democratic values and principles, their ideology, how they want Zimbabwe to develop the next 20 years. To be sacked out of parliament was a blessing in disguise and UMDC failed to see this. As they were going to demonstrate what makes them different from MDC-T in the first place?
What is their action plan from then on until the election or how are they going to effect change by street strikes as the election strategy has not worked the past 15 years as an opposition party. Are they afraid to go out in the streets and demonstrate and demand change that will benefit the whole nation and not be just members of parliament and their new cars and allowances to attend sessions in Harare parliament? UMDC you have really let us down mufunge. Just by your sad faces at the news interview, it sent a message of absolute despair, you lost a lot of confidence in the people of Zimbabwe.
Ever since the split from MDC-T you have been advised by benevolent minded people, how you could pave the way forward and be seen as a formidable force that can bring about change in Zimbabwe. Your reluctance to engage on issues given to you for free in the social media makes one think you are really not serious about change. It would appear that in Zimbabwe some Mandela needs to be born to bring change we all need in this great country.
You had all advantage points: most of you are young and very educated, one, you had all the confidence from the international community, two, you had some parliamentary seats albeit only 19 of them, that was a power base you never utilized even one day. Did you ever engage with Joice Mujuru & CO after they were purged by Zanu-PF PF and work with a better devil: Mujuru than the devil itself: Zanu-PF PF? Four, the fact that you are based at home means that there is a lot in your disposal to effect change in that country. You are too cautious, too academic to be called pillars of change.
It is high time we sat with all parties in the opposition and tell ourselves that it's the people of Zimbabwe who need change more than the positions we shall occupy when we have united. Only then, only then can we speak of change in the sense of the word. Tsvangirai needs to know this too that we all need to unite in one tent that is free from positions and lust to be at the top. We need a caretaker opposition union of parties in Zimbabwe, we ask the neutral and genuine bona fide church leaders s to be the hands of trust for us during that period. Leaders will be chosen by the people.
I ask all the comrades in the UMDC to stand up and walk the talk. The walk to victory is not given but fought for. There is a lot out there for young minds like Madzore, Mishihairabwi, Ncube, Mangoma, Gorden Moyo, Chamisa, Gutu, just name them, there are all brilliant young men and women who can take Zimbabwe to dizzy heights with their abilities and capabilities. Again there are a lot of them in the Diaspora, educated elite who, if given the chance can make a lot of inroads regarding technical and administrative development in Zimbabwe.
Inside Zimbabwe the likes of Professor Gaidzanwa and Dr. Simba Makoni needed to be utilized for the benefit of the country. Please UMDC engage with all other opposition parties, it does not matter how far apart in ideologies we can be, we all have one aim to remove Zanu-PF PF from power. Let's not attack each other personally in the opposition Mr. Tendai Biti. You differed with Morgan Richard Tsvangirai ideologically and it was understood, but to attack him personally affects you too. I differ with Tsvangirai equally but I need to work together with him to remove Zanu-PF PF our common enemy.
Think about Comrade Nelson Mandela, if he gave up the struggle because the struggle had turned nasty, do you think South Africa would be where it is now? Sure he was not alone in the struggle, but he had so many people in South Africa who chose collective confrontation than servitude. Let's think less about political positions and more about regime change and we shall be surprised how easy it is to remove Zanu-PF PF from power and we let the people choose whoever they want. Let's confront this Zanu-PF government all in one as opposition, we shall indeed make it. Do not allow Zanu-PF to infiltrate the opposition and make us weak. I hope chiri mumu sakasaka chinozindvira.
Our politics should be by design and not by default.
Ndaboka zvangu mwana we mbodoko
Ugogo omncane
Chirikadzi chenyu
Source - Nomazulu Thata
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