Monday 10 November 2014

TSHOLOTSHO DECLARATION; HOW FAR CAN MUGABE REFLECT?



The current political turmoil in the revolutionary party should be granted a coin status; the other side of the coin being treated with positivity towards a prosperous nation that most citizens envy. The recent developments might be a positive step towards the disintegration of a harmonized political hegemony, a synchronized dictatorship that haunted our polity for more than a decade.

Misheck Gondo

The recent fight between Dr. Mujuru and Amai Mugabe is a welcome development in the Zimbabwean political arena, though; other desktop analysts arguing that the fight is a mere gimmick of a political group that seeks to divert attention from real economic issues through a political strategy of factionalism-hymn. 

The analysis from our desktop friends carries an element of truth, that is, the current factionalism has helped ZANU PF to divert attention from their election promises, but that does not imply in whole that there are no cracks in the party.

The factional fights have brought a sasant political trajectory premised on the succession issue. The appearing of our own Amai also carries a coin status, the famous side being Mugabe‘s feared incapacitation that may be knocking his political door, hence triggering political preparedness by Amai.

One very interesting thing is the defense line being built by the Tsholotsho Team; coming at the defense of the person they are being alleged for being have a ploy to topple, it is such a delicious peace of political story. 

The King maker and long time critic of His Excellency President Robert Mugabe, the Professor of Politics Jonathan Moyo being seen fundamentally giving credence to the first family, few years ago in his constituency there was well crafted strategy, few years back he wrote acres of articles criticizing now his favorite, a strategist per excellence.

For the opposition parties, they should pay gratitude to Moyo (Professor), as  he deserves more than a gold medal; it is their man who is doing what they failed to do for almost one and half decade, to destroy ZANU PF.

Zimbabweans should also have respect for Mrs. Mugabe on one tropical thing; bravery, she successfully took the opposition parties space; there seem to have nothing to say, than an empty statement which goes by Mugabe should go! 

Grace’s act of bravery has exposed such under dealings in the ruling party, which can be a catalyst towards creation of a political order which is accountable to people, a political dispensation that is questioned and a future nation that does not promote greed and corruption.

Apart from the fights in ZANU PF, people should still know that the party still has chances to survive a split, find each other and continue with their known dictatorship.

A fragmentation of ZANU PF will be a better option, which might bring another opposition with internal information of the former, then follows road to a democratic nation. 

Let’s pray for a split, Zimbabwe will never be the same and a colony again.

Let’s wait and see. 

Misheck Gondo  is an International Relations Expert
 gondo.gism@gmail.com

Thursday 23 October 2014

Dzamara‘s ‘Occupy Africa Unity Square,’ Zimbabwe, Can it be A Revolution Waiting to Happen? Maybe Dark Days are looming!



Protests across the world, from the Middle-East to Europe, to the global Occupy Movements, have been largely driven by young people demanding a greater say in their governance structures, employment and economic life, and societies more generally, as a response to a growing discontent with their ability to influence and have a say over their political, social and economic lives.

Misheck Gondo

With Zimbabwe grueling and yelling in shambles of economic melt-down, young people are hopeless of their future- with unofficial 90 percent of unemployment.

The gesture by one Itai Dzamara should be a signal and simple reflection of the general feelings of youth in Zimbabwe. Any road has an ending or it joins to the other.

The political elites have frivolously failed to map a sustainable strategy that guarantees change; with the recent political confusion in the Ruling Party-diverting from economic answers to focus on political factionalism- a sad development for desperate young people in Zimbabwe.

The point is drawing near where people are placed between the Lion and the steep Rock, the Pan and the fire, the only option being whether to die in the Pan or run through the fire.

 Let us  be reminded that Tunisia was ignited by a mere vendor in the name of Buazizi, let us all be  graciously  remember how the battle at Chinhoyi started- with six young cadres bravely confronted the Smith Regime.

Smith had enough time to negotiate for his exit before humiliated by the gallant sons of the soil, majority of them being young comrades.

One can not stand bravely in the face of a storm or kneel down and pray on the midst of a lion attack; the signal and discounted of general citizens should not be taken for granted.

To make matters worst, there is fear of intra- party revolutions that might trigger a circle of confrontations.

It is most people‘s zeal and anticipation that Zimbabwe escapes a circle of this feared trepidation in which our national leaders wait for masses to invoke Passive Resistance and Peaceful ways to push them off -power.

Our leaders are endowed with adequate space and time to make things right; remove the suit of arrogance and wear an overall of humility that allows mass advice and participation in issues affecting them.

Dzamara‘s occupy Africa Unity Square; Zimbabwe, Can it be A Revolution Waiting to Happen? Maybe Dark Days are coming!

Let’s wait and See!

Misheck Gondo is a Political Analyst



Wednesday 1 October 2014

President Mugabe‘s UN Speech; Zimbabwe, is She a Victim of Western Machinations?



As the debate unfolded at UN 69th General Assembly Meeting in New York; as expected President Mugabe categorically castigated the Western for their interference in the affairs of other nations against the well known United Nations Doctrine of Non-Interference in the business of other Independent States. 
 
Misheck Gondo 

The presentation by the Head of State laid out critical issues of prime importance to the development of international community. Among other things the President tackled the issue of Bretton Woods Institutions such as IMF, World Bank among other that need urgent reforms; a measure that will titillate the current realities that involves all states as equals, not only the elite few such as USA and  UK that continue to dominate the international political economic business.

As anchored by the President, the governance structures of the Bretton Woods Institutions need urgent change, it stands to be a cost to many developing states as they were instituted with a down syndrome mentality which treated Developing States as recipients of dead Aid, not as engines for sustainable development.

The President also articulated bravely on issues of International Peace and Security, the need to solve the issues holistically. The Palestine –Israel saga that has shown the weakness of International Law in protecting weaker states was one of the examples he gave.

 The hypocrisy of Western countries that hides behind a finger yet committing atrocities in the name of democracy was laid out.

To show the synchrony, the President talked of Sustainable Development Agenda (SDGs) and their relevance to Zimbabwe; where there is a blue print named Zim ASSET; that seeks to sustainably develop the country.

After such good points on international development that realistically need urgent attention; the President as expected turned his sword on Western countries pertaining the challenges facing Zimbabwe.

The big question by his fellow citizens remains; Are our challenges totally as a result of Western Policies?

Is it not worrying if a failed father starts to blame the next door on his domestic infertility? Indeed; the neighbor might have contributed to some inconsistencies; but the poverty in the house should be dealt with by the head of the house.

Lack of consistency in economic policies from 1980, before the touted sanctions should be introspected upon.

 Gross dishonest in Government, outrageous embezzlement of public funds in addition to militarization of state institutions is a worrying factor to the development of our beloved mother land.

Zimbabwe polity have resulted into bloated bureaucracies, the national pride has been since eroded against our Coat of Arms and the National Anthem spirit, but what has become cumbersome to grasp is the impunity  with which  our dear leaders iconoclastically  subjected to all the national articles of devotions to their  idiosyncrasies to the detriment  of the national development.

We are endowed with a leadership that amass wealth and keep the majority suffer; unemployment has grown to stratospheric level, the rate of immorality  is now worrying among the young ones; lack of economic activities has affected the goggle generation.

Imagine with how our leaders had internally failed to craft sustainable measures; imagine with the rate of terrorism in the world, with the current madness in the name of Islamic State. 

Imagine if the extremist group set its recruitment in the beloved soil of Zimbabwe were 90 percent of people are unemployed and econom-phycatrically burdened, especially the youth.

I leave you to conclude on whether our challenges are sorely pillared on Western Policies.

Let’s wait and see!

Misheck Gondo is an International Relations Expert.
gondo.gism@gmail.com


Saturday 13 September 2014

ZANU PF FACTIONALISM A THREAT TO NATIONAL STABILITY





 The ongoing political instability in the revolutionary party ZANU PF is a cause for concern; apart from being an interesting piece of story that is being closely followed by others and blindly followed by many.

 Misheck Gondo

With the party congress coming in December, a lot of changes and shocks are being expected, the party‘s total disintegration is imminent; if Mugabe fails to map up holistic strategies to curb factional fights. 

As evidenced by the utterances by Grace Marufu Mugabe on her endorsement meeting in Mazowe recently, she told the delegates that she was aware of the plans to unseat Mugabe by some thugs within the power matrixes of ZANU PF.

It seems at every structure the revolutionary party is now fragmented; with the conflicts now even found at student movements level as they ushered conflicting statements and positions. 

The President and his Vice President are being reported to have lost faith with each other, following indications that Amai Mujuru is set to take over power at the upcoming congress. This development might have caused the drawn of strategies such as roping in of Amai Mugabe to be at the helm of the Women Assembly; as a measure to balance power. 

There are indications that Cde Mugabe will dissolve several Provincial Party structures and formulate new ones before the much awaited congress. However, such move is likely going to be heavily challenged by the Mujuru faction that is being reported to have the majority in terms of support at party structure level.
The other notable thing in this debate is how Mugabe‘s power is being undermined by people such as his Vice President and the Secretary of State Dydimus Mutasa, several analysts are citing that Mugabe is no longer as powerful as he was a decade ago; this however follows that his rivals now command a sizable support at every level which can be a justifiable road to unseat him.

 The rise of Mujuru camp is being alleged to have a reasonable support even at intelligence level, as well as at security sector level in general.

It is very sad to predict that; if this internal fight is not solved amicably, it will trigger internal fights that have potential of generating into a civil war with a larger predicted percentage of growing into a full flagged war.
The Army is likely going to be divided according to factional lines, same with the Police and the Central Intelligence Organisation, not forgetting division along ZAPU and ZANU line; a coalition which is now premised on a shake ground.

The likely scenario after ZANU PF split is that the army will take over in form of coup d’état; followed by a period of civilian victimization in form of curfew. There will be also arrests of those believed to have being challenging the status quo.

The ZANU PF squabbles are a threat to national stability; we hope our liberators will save our country from the other decades of political turmoil; we hope that the President will become open on the succession issue, to avoid a potential war that is peeping on the borders of Zimbabwe.

The developments in ZANU PF however must also be treated with positivity as it might be an advent of a new political dispensation which will be epitomized by democracy and the rule of law.

Let’s wait and see

Misheck Gondo is a Political Analyst; International Relations Expert