Anti-Mugabe protests will come to naught

Every vow made must be fulfilled or according to author Richard Paul Evans, "broken vows are like broken mirrors. They leave those who held to them bleeding and staring at fractured images of themselves".  Many a vows have been made against President Robert Mugabe and subsequently left egg on the faces of the vow makers to their colossal mortification. One is quickly reminded of Archbishop of York, Dr John Mugabi Sentamu who in December of 2007 vowed that he was not going to wear his clerical collar until Mugabe is removed from power by dramatically cutting it on a live BBC show. These theatrics were premised on an erroneous assumption that President Mugabe was going to lose the 2008 elections and one wonders how the holy man of God is fairing on that vow some nine (9) years later.

The writer is reminded of all this after reading the sentiments by Happison Chidziva, an MDC youth chairperson who is also in the #Tajamuka/Sesjikile Campaign who vowed that "The Occupy Africa Unity Square is now part of #Tajamuka/Sesjikile Campaign and we are going to occupy the square till Mugabe resigns". The group has also vowed to go around provinces demonstrating against alleged "misrule" by President Mugabe's administration. Before making such an portentous vow maybe the group should have consulted their mentors in MDC T that vows are difficult to keep as evidenced by their ill-advised decision to boycott future elections until electoral reforms are effected. The party is now at pains to come up with a plausible reason of rescinding its foolhardy vow.

It is a ludicrous joke that the Occupy Africa Unity Square together with the Tajamuka Campaign are vowing to occupy the square until President Mugabe resigns. Like Archbishop Sentamu these deluded youths are going to find that that vow is excruciating and unattainable. Considering that it is the same people that failed to come up with bail after being arrested and had to depend on a well-wisher, the going is bound to be tough indeed. As for they plans to go around provinces inciting people to demonstrate against government, again I refer them to failed MDC, who have been there and done that. Even the videos that this Tajamuka/Sesjikile campaign have been circulating on social media are a prelude to the eventual outcome of this campaign. In one video clip, a young man was inciting people queueing for their money at a bank that the Reserve Bank governor, John Mangudya has their money at the central bank and people were completely oblivious to this seditious speech going on with their business.

Zimbabweans are no longer gullible so as to be swayed by antics of desperate mercenary individuals who masquerade as "political activists" who are mooting these "anti-Mugabe demonstrations" with the sole aim of removing him from power.  These cuckolded vigilantes calling themselves # Tajamuka/Sisjikile are nothing but lawless individuals who no-one pays attention to let alone Zimbabweans. If Zimbabweans have ignored calls to go in the streets by such opposition leaders like Morgan Tsvangirai why does this group of misfits think Zimbabweans are going to listen to them. Before embarking on this useless campaign maybe they should sit down with Morgan Tsvangirai, the biggest political failure to grace the Zimbabwean politics that the "tactic" is hopeless. Zimbabweans have become impervious to calls to go in the streets.     

People are weary of being used by political opportunists who are bent on manipulating people to their ends. In the 90s, Zimbabwe witnessed mass protests which at the end of the day did not bring bread on the table for many hard working Zimbabweans. Resultantly, Zimbabweans said NO to the manipulation and this has been the case ever since. The opposition have huffed and puffed, but Zimbabwean have remained resolute, that mass protests do not solve anything but worsen their lot.

Zimbabweans are a democratic people who constantly have their say through the ballot. People have come to appreciate that anything outside that noble system remains a pie in the sky. Hence, for the Tajamuka/ Sesjikile crew to misguidedly assume President Mugabe can be removed from power through mass protests, then they are yet to learn the difficult lesson of Zimbabwean politics. President Mugabe has the mandate to rule the nation until 2018 and my best advice will be for these unruly elements to wait until then to have their voices heard.

Zimbabweans remain a peace loving people who would rather work to improve their lives than be fooled by fly-by night politicians who only want to line their pockets. President Mugabe cannot be wished away as proven by false prophecies that have been proffered on him over the years. He remains the astute president of this wonderful nation called Zimbabwe. The one-million march just affirmed an open secret that President Mugabe still command respect and admiration among Zimbabweans against a few mercenaries who have found a career in grandstanding.  

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Mandla Nsingo <nsingoma@gmail.com