Opinion / Columnist
A united approach: the only force strong enough to bring change in Zimbabwe
28 Jun 2016 at 01:11hrs | Views
Zimbabwe has been at the mercy of the Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front's (ZANU PF) merciless injustices and misgovernance since 1980, which has been characterised by gross human rights abuses - including genocide, and killings, abductions, torture, beatings up, and burning down of houses of perceived opponents.
This period has also witnessed the shameless mismanagement of the Zimbabwe economy, which in 1980, competed favourably with any of the global powerhouses - and yet today the country is the laughing stock of the world.
Millions of Zimbabweans are unemployed, thousands of companies have closed down, those that are still operational can not even pay their employees, the population is failing to pay for basic necessities, such as food, accommodation rentals, and school fees for their children, schools do not have books, and hospitals have no medication - leading to a cruel unnecessary loss of lives.
As the country bleeds, and its people mourn in agony and anguish, the ZANU PF government and its leadership are amassing wealth at frightening rates, through mostly corrupt means, as them plunder the country's resources at the expense of the ever-suffering majority.
The people of Zimbabwe have had enough of this callousness and want this shameless ZANU PF government to be booted out.
Zimbabweans have wanted ZANU PF out for decades, but have encountered several challenges in this endeavour, such as electoral fraud, and intimidation.
However, the people of Zimbabwe have been awarded the greatest opportunity ever to remove ZANU PF from power in 2018.
ZANU PF is at weakest ever since it's formation, which has been witnessed by severe infighting.
This infighting has seriously crippled the party to such as extent that, with only about one and a half years till the next decisive elections in 2018, there is practically no time for it to re-energize.
ZANU PF is as good as defeated.
There is nothing easier than defeating a divided for.
This is a vital lesson for the Opposition in Zimbabwe to also seriously consider.
It would be grossly delusional for to Opposition to believe that they can just go into the 2018 elections as divided as they are and defeat ZANU PF.
The fact is, the Opposition is as divided and dysfunctional as ZANU PF itself, and thus, as the situations currently stands, the election results can go either way.
This is the greatest opportunity the Opposition will ever have to finally defeat ZANU PF, but they need to get their house in order before dreaming of any election victory.
Any one Opposition party that seriously believes that it can go it alone in the 2018 elections and win, is as delusional as Robert Mugabe dreaming than he can do without all those people he is dismissing from his ZANU PF.
It is time that the Opposition pur the welfare of the people first.
The people of Zimbabwe has suffered for far too long and the desperately needs a party that can get them out of this hell on earth.
This is the time for the nation to see who is seriously concerned about their interests, and who is after they own selfish interests.
Although, there are many advantages in going into this election as a united front, it is very sad that any serious political party that is truly after the needs of the suffering people would need any prodding at all to go into a coalition with other Opposition parties.
A coalition of Opposition political parties would seem an obvious choice to any one who truly wants the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe to end.
Any Opposition political party that does not automatically see that need, is very questionable, and the people of Zimbabwe should naturally be wary of such an entity.
This assertion is based on the fact that, based on the Opposition parties' manifestoes, there is no significant difference in their doctrines regarding Zimbabwe.
Unlike in the United Kingdom (UK), for instance, where there are parties that vary considerably in their ideologies, here in Zimbabwe the Opposition parties all seem to be signing from the same song sheet.
So why would they find it so hard to form a coalition?
Could it be that these are mere personality and personal issues at play?
If so, then Zimbabwe is in seriously trouble, as any political party that can not rise above petty personality issues for the greater good of the nation is a politically immature one that has no business in Zimbabwe's affairs.
The country is bleeding and dying.
People are literally dying daily die to ZANU PF induced poverty, and there is no time and space for political parties that can not be mature enough to attend to those needs first before their own personality issues.
If the main Opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) could find it prudent to enter into a Government of National Unity with its arch-rival ZANU PF in 2009 - for the greater good of Zimbabweans - what would stop all the Opposition parties from forming a grand coalition - no matter what their issues are.
ZANU PF differed - and still differ - ideologically immensely with MDC, but they could work together in the GNU (between 2009 and 2013), resulting in a marked improvement in the country's welfare.
There is no reason why the fractured Opposition can not work together today - except for pride and selfishness.
There are, of course, other reasons that a grand coalition will be an advantage to the Opposition parties.
There is no other way to take advantage of this once-in-lifetime opportunity to defeat ZANU PF in 2018.
It is only through a grand coalition.
The Opposition has to learn from the example of so many other countries that have failed to remove a dictator from power just because they were fragmented and split the vote.
Many dictators are still in power today, not because they are vicious, but because the Opposition is divided.
Recently, the Opposition in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) agreed on a grand coalition in readiness for the upcoming elections in that country.
This will certainly enhance their chances of winning and finally removing the Joseph Kabila regime.
The Opposition in Venezuela managed to pull off an electoral victory against Nicholas Maduro in the recent parliamentary elections due to their united front.
This is the party of Hugo Chavez that no one ever thought could be defeated.
At the moment, the united Venezuela Opposition is making great strides in pushing for a recall referendum on Maduro, which they may most likely win.
These successes by the Venezuelan Opposition do not mean that there are no serious differences amongst them, but they chose to put these aside for the greater good of their country - and it is bearing fruit.
These are clear - and seemingly obvious - advantages of a united front as opposed to splitting the Opposition vote.
This is about the people, not about personality.
Fielding one Presidential and Member of Parliament candidate is also cost effective, as parties do not need to field a candidate in each and every constituency.
This will also free up resources that can then be channelled for other needs.
Additionally, in fielding candidates as a coalition, the coalition can better monitor the election process inn order to stamp out any attempts at rigging.
It is time that the suffering people of Zimbabwe took first priority in the eyes of the Opposition.
They have suffered enough.
The Opposition should set aside any personal differences and work together for a common good.
Never will an opportunity to defeat ZANU PF as 2018 will ever again be presented to Zimbabwe on a silver platter.
If this chance is wasted through petty personal differences, ZANU PF may be under new leadership in a few years time, and this leadership can be more vicious than the current Mugabe dispensation.
The new ZANU PF leadership will have enough time to regroup the party - meaning that the Opposition may never have another easier opportunity as in 2018.
° Tendai Ruben Mbofana is a social justice activist and commentaor, writer, and journalist. He writes in his personal capacity, and welcomes any feedback. Please feel free to WhatsApp/call him on: +263782283975, or email: tendaiandtinta.mbofana@gmail.com.
This period has also witnessed the shameless mismanagement of the Zimbabwe economy, which in 1980, competed favourably with any of the global powerhouses - and yet today the country is the laughing stock of the world.
Millions of Zimbabweans are unemployed, thousands of companies have closed down, those that are still operational can not even pay their employees, the population is failing to pay for basic necessities, such as food, accommodation rentals, and school fees for their children, schools do not have books, and hospitals have no medication - leading to a cruel unnecessary loss of lives.
As the country bleeds, and its people mourn in agony and anguish, the ZANU PF government and its leadership are amassing wealth at frightening rates, through mostly corrupt means, as them plunder the country's resources at the expense of the ever-suffering majority.
The people of Zimbabwe have had enough of this callousness and want this shameless ZANU PF government to be booted out.
Zimbabweans have wanted ZANU PF out for decades, but have encountered several challenges in this endeavour, such as electoral fraud, and intimidation.
However, the people of Zimbabwe have been awarded the greatest opportunity ever to remove ZANU PF from power in 2018.
ZANU PF is at weakest ever since it's formation, which has been witnessed by severe infighting.
This infighting has seriously crippled the party to such as extent that, with only about one and a half years till the next decisive elections in 2018, there is practically no time for it to re-energize.
ZANU PF is as good as defeated.
There is nothing easier than defeating a divided for.
This is a vital lesson for the Opposition in Zimbabwe to also seriously consider.
It would be grossly delusional for to Opposition to believe that they can just go into the 2018 elections as divided as they are and defeat ZANU PF.
The fact is, the Opposition is as divided and dysfunctional as ZANU PF itself, and thus, as the situations currently stands, the election results can go either way.
This is the greatest opportunity the Opposition will ever have to finally defeat ZANU PF, but they need to get their house in order before dreaming of any election victory.
Any one Opposition party that seriously believes that it can go it alone in the 2018 elections and win, is as delusional as Robert Mugabe dreaming than he can do without all those people he is dismissing from his ZANU PF.
It is time that the Opposition pur the welfare of the people first.
The people of Zimbabwe has suffered for far too long and the desperately needs a party that can get them out of this hell on earth.
This is the time for the nation to see who is seriously concerned about their interests, and who is after they own selfish interests.
Although, there are many advantages in going into this election as a united front, it is very sad that any serious political party that is truly after the needs of the suffering people would need any prodding at all to go into a coalition with other Opposition parties.
A coalition of Opposition political parties would seem an obvious choice to any one who truly wants the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe to end.
Any Opposition political party that does not automatically see that need, is very questionable, and the people of Zimbabwe should naturally be wary of such an entity.
This assertion is based on the fact that, based on the Opposition parties' manifestoes, there is no significant difference in their doctrines regarding Zimbabwe.
Unlike in the United Kingdom (UK), for instance, where there are parties that vary considerably in their ideologies, here in Zimbabwe the Opposition parties all seem to be signing from the same song sheet.
So why would they find it so hard to form a coalition?
Could it be that these are mere personality and personal issues at play?
If so, then Zimbabwe is in seriously trouble, as any political party that can not rise above petty personality issues for the greater good of the nation is a politically immature one that has no business in Zimbabwe's affairs.
The country is bleeding and dying.
People are literally dying daily die to ZANU PF induced poverty, and there is no time and space for political parties that can not be mature enough to attend to those needs first before their own personality issues.
If the main Opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) could find it prudent to enter into a Government of National Unity with its arch-rival ZANU PF in 2009 - for the greater good of Zimbabweans - what would stop all the Opposition parties from forming a grand coalition - no matter what their issues are.
ZANU PF differed - and still differ - ideologically immensely with MDC, but they could work together in the GNU (between 2009 and 2013), resulting in a marked improvement in the country's welfare.
There is no reason why the fractured Opposition can not work together today - except for pride and selfishness.
There are, of course, other reasons that a grand coalition will be an advantage to the Opposition parties.
There is no other way to take advantage of this once-in-lifetime opportunity to defeat ZANU PF in 2018.
It is only through a grand coalition.
The Opposition has to learn from the example of so many other countries that have failed to remove a dictator from power just because they were fragmented and split the vote.
Many dictators are still in power today, not because they are vicious, but because the Opposition is divided.
Recently, the Opposition in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) agreed on a grand coalition in readiness for the upcoming elections in that country.
This will certainly enhance their chances of winning and finally removing the Joseph Kabila regime.
The Opposition in Venezuela managed to pull off an electoral victory against Nicholas Maduro in the recent parliamentary elections due to their united front.
This is the party of Hugo Chavez that no one ever thought could be defeated.
At the moment, the united Venezuela Opposition is making great strides in pushing for a recall referendum on Maduro, which they may most likely win.
These successes by the Venezuelan Opposition do not mean that there are no serious differences amongst them, but they chose to put these aside for the greater good of their country - and it is bearing fruit.
These are clear - and seemingly obvious - advantages of a united front as opposed to splitting the Opposition vote.
This is about the people, not about personality.
Fielding one Presidential and Member of Parliament candidate is also cost effective, as parties do not need to field a candidate in each and every constituency.
This will also free up resources that can then be channelled for other needs.
Additionally, in fielding candidates as a coalition, the coalition can better monitor the election process inn order to stamp out any attempts at rigging.
It is time that the suffering people of Zimbabwe took first priority in the eyes of the Opposition.
They have suffered enough.
The Opposition should set aside any personal differences and work together for a common good.
Never will an opportunity to defeat ZANU PF as 2018 will ever again be presented to Zimbabwe on a silver platter.
If this chance is wasted through petty personal differences, ZANU PF may be under new leadership in a few years time, and this leadership can be more vicious than the current Mugabe dispensation.
The new ZANU PF leadership will have enough time to regroup the party - meaning that the Opposition may never have another easier opportunity as in 2018.
° Tendai Ruben Mbofana is a social justice activist and commentaor, writer, and journalist. He writes in his personal capacity, and welcomes any feedback. Please feel free to WhatsApp/call him on: +263782283975, or email: tendaiandtinta.mbofana@gmail.com.
Source - Tendai Ruben Mbofana
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