The long time leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)
sometimes named with an additional T to distinguish it from other smaller
functions namely MDC-N and MDC 99. Coming from a very brave background of trade
unionism, Morgan defied all odds to challenge the long time and tested leader
from the liberation struggle Robert Mugabe.
Misheck Gondo
Zimbabwe was slowly
generating into one party state, the bravery of the students, church, youth and
the trade unions of that time must not only be hailed but must be also given
place in every Zimbabwean‘s heart. It was Tsvangirai among others who in the
name of personal sacrifice stood the test of time; accepted to be leaders in a
society epitomized by polarization, torture, hate speech, ‘disappearance’ among
other ugly things that a dictatorship can be capable to offer to its citizens.
It was Morgan among other who braved the rural people who
thought that the liberation struggle was centered on individuals other than
attributed to all gallant sons of the soil who sacrificed their precious lives
in liberating Zimbabwe.
It is of paramount importance to note that Tsvangirai, a
brave leader of our generation did not launch this struggle alone, there were covert
and overt cadres who were giving their much needed support to their leader-
coming from party structures among other formations who shared the same values with
one of the strongest opposition parties formed after Zimbabwe’s independence.
I believe the quest for democracy was deriving the MDC to do
better in policy formulation and implementation, to correct what ZANU PF failed
to do in their thirty years of leadership and complement what ZANU PF did best
for the thirty year period.
Given the challenges
that the economy was facing, the MDC attracted support from the people, it also
drew support from western countries both in funding and in principle, though the
western countries were there to protect their own interests and foreign policy,
especially after the much queried fast-track land reform which was done haphazardly
to counter the emergency of a vibrant opposition party.
MDC faced its problems, quick to mention the split that
brought the other MDCs. Apart from other
arrays of challenges a party can face all over the world, MDC had the chance to
test the echelons of state leadership in the name of GNU, no doubt that the
economy which was near to its knees and sink into oblivion due several
governance factors was served when the Tsvangirai government agreed to join
forces with the Revolutionary party, this has to, in every mind of a Zimbabwean
be hailed as it saved not only lives but also souls.
All this was happening under the leadership of a gallant son
of the soil Morgan Richard Tsvangirai, even President Mugabe tested his first
time painful defeat in 2008 that led him to strategize his ‘peaceful’ come back
that landed him at the helm of the government in 2013, leaving the long time
opposition leader and former Prime Minister not only in a state of shock but also
confused, as evidenced by the louder calls for him to step down.
True fighter,
democrat, leader, charismatic of our time; Nobel peace prize nominee among
other names has in his fifteen years of leadership missed three critical
penalties and a free kick in the political match. It is fundamentally correct
to assert the notion that the political match is synonymous with football match
in which goals are considered as a win rather than the style of play or the
support you have, whether the match was played at home or away, soccer funds
will better understand the synchrony and amalgamation nature of the beautiful
game, the referee‘s decision is final, a team might have plaid a carpet game as
Zimbabwe did with Libya recently, but the best team is that which scores even in an unfair game.
Mr. Tsvagirai missed three penalties in his position as the
President of the MDC in a match with ZANU PF, that is in 2002, 2008 and his
biggest loss of all in 2013 harmonized elections. In modern democracy the
captainship must be taken by another team member.
To hide under the auspices of rigged elections is not enough,
as a party that was in an inclusive arrangement, while they were working hard
to serve Zimbabweans, ZANU PF, the revolutionary party was busy mobilizing
grassroots support, putting ‘rigging structures’ in place, and making sure that
MDC endorses law that fast track their entry into power without visible
violence as known. MDC supported the legislation that allows the voting of
people who are not in the voters’ role to use voter slips, while they did not
have any influence with ZEC operations or made it independent to guarantee
transparency.
One wonders if the MDC have any sought of organized
intelligence at all, it seems the party is running from a weak system premised
on fragile framework and articulations of rumors that keep the notion of
believing that, ‘people will just vote for us because they do not have
options.’ The modern day politics requires a solid political framework that
outlines the past, present and future strategies, clearly spelt with scenario
analysis coupled with mitigation measures.
The failure of the MDC to predict the future has exposed
their weaknesses as a party which many people could think they are capable of running
a government. They lack of prediction of possible political outcomes and events
can be attributed to a complete betrayal to the people of Zimbabwe who
supported them for more than a decade and half.
Just on the polling day Morgan lamented the fact that the
loser of the election should accept the results, however, just after his big
loss, he sighted rigging , the corridors of rumors cited that Morgan and his
team were advised of irregularities by SADC fathers among other analysts, but
they chose the adamant way to victory. The victory unexpectedly went to ZANU PF‘s
bhora mughedi series.
Many people are questioning the political seriousness of the MDC
as a party, among other questions, their flip-flopping answers to matters to do
with their policies and values, this with regard to both domestic and foreign
policy. Also, their clear road map on the security of the country, defending
territorial integrity and sovereignty and the issue to do with homosexuality,
land among other questions from the Zimbabweans.
Tsvangirai missed three penalties, yes, in unfair game, yes,
what about a free kick near the sixteen area box. After the death of Susan
Tsvangirai, immediately after such a national tragedy that came unexpectedly
and questionably, Tsvangirai missed a free kick on the moral side. Instead of
passing the ball to his players he chooses to pass it to the opponent for the
reason well known to him. The quest for ZANU PF women gripped him, when MDC
beautiful mistresses were expressing their romantic zeal to complement the sad
leader to usher a political salvation to the hopeless Zimbabweans.
He might have chosen to steak to old idioms of politics which
goes by saying, “Takuvanyengera vakadzi
vavo” which translate to, ‘we are now marrying or getting in love with
their women’. I mean women in ZANU PF. In the modern day politics, issues of
security are considered prime and critical, how on earth one would trust the daughter
of an opponent, how on earth will one be strong in the hands of foreign intelligence.
One wonders were where his advisors, party leaders, among
other close colleagues, there is a saying that goes by ‘, a leader is strong as
followers’, not dismissing other idioms which goes by, ‘rudo ibofu..,moyo muti…,’ but in politics blindness leads to
defeat. Is it that other leaders left him for blunders to counter him as a
political strategy?
The calls for substitution has become more louder, it is true
the party structures are divided over this issue from the apex to the ground,
if not handled maturely we anticipate for the greatest split ever, even in the
midst of ZANU PF power struggle and turmoil, if this split see the day, MDC
might never rule Zimbabwe.
However, it is of paramount importance to note that there is
nothing wrong in democracy to air different views and suggestions, as that done
by Mangoma, Bennet, and Mudzuru among other silent voices. A democratic party
must usher unquestionable full rights to freedoms among them the freedom of expression
in which one expresses his or her issues without punitive measures, in a
democratic atmosphere people are free to say their views or ideas without
persecution.
It is practical and evident that Mr Mangoma‘s letter is not only
coming from him but there is a sizable number of cadres who are behind the
change, and they want it as yesterday, other schools of thought are arguing
that the Mangoma, Bennet, Mudzuru camp want to re-introduce the radical
strategy of street protests among other, this can not be validated unless it
comes from the horse mouth. The other quarter is alluding that the Mangomas has
a new strategy to tackle the Zimbabwean
crisis and this strategy is being supported by long time donors of the party, a
split will leave Morgan team without a cent.
What the disgruntled
cadres are doing is not wrong in the name of Zimbabwe and progress, but one
need to ask them some questions before they take the radical root of early congress
and immediate stepping down of Morgan, be it in 2014 or 2015. The first
question would be, if they believe ZANU PF rigged, to what extent Morgan is held
accountable to the defeat, what new tactics would the
change team bring which they failed to advise Morgan.
I came across several contribution to the MDC-T
leadership renewal debate, one of the contribution is; if not all are held responsible
for the loss from 2002 until now, who then is responsible, is it Morgan alone?
The last question is to what extent the donors are
controlling the MDC party, if they have any sort of control in the party,
people should introspect deeply and find
other ways of expressing their democratic rights, If MDC is controlled by donors will it be able to
defend Zimbabwean sovereignty or it will sacrifice national values when there
are in power at the mercy of foreign interests, as evidenced by what the most
celebrated Mandela did to South Africa, little did people know that he was
quick to sign any treaty from western countries, this cancerous diseases has
been passed to preceding leaders such as Zuma who listens to the last western
man he meets with.
We do not say parties in government should have
unpenetratable foreign policy but there must have policies with mutual
benefits, gone are the days when Africans view countries from the west as their
masters, but we are in the urge of equality, fairness, respectfulness among
other guiding values.
The other assignment to the change team is to
have introspection on the constitution of the party and follow that, with respect
that Morgan was put by majority so he ought to be removed by majority which
goes hand in hand with what the grassroots and party structures are saying.
Whatever they are saying should also be constitutional and non-violent. One
mistake which the MDC should not make is to think that it is the only
opposition that people can trust, if it employs violence, suppressing of
dissent voices among other undemocratic actions, it will definitely work
against its survival and popularity.
It is
normal that at this stage; hate, plotting against each other, back biting and black
mailing will become the order of the day to maintain status quo and grip, but
the common denominator must be the vision for Zimbabwe, there is need to come out
to negotiate on a strategy to save one of the strongest opposition party in the
land, if MDC has managed in the past to negotiate with ZANU PF to serve
Zimbabwe when it to formed2 the GNU, to what extent is it cumbersome to discuss
among themselves to serve the party from split.
The political tension in the MDC-T has come at a
wrong time, the time ZANU PF is on a free fall in a corruption net, clueless on
the implementation of a well crafted ZIM-ASSET, in this scenario western
countries among other global players might shift their support to ZANU PF if
the MDC prove to be radical to voices that raise concern on internal matters of
the party, firing the team is detrimental to their quest for change. As already
evidenced, EU has soften its stance on sanctions, which is a good move for the
economy and a bit refresher for ZANU PF,
as they anticipate for more injection in form of investment.
Apart from showing each other the strength in
grassroots mobilization, mobilizing district leaders in the party, power must
be channeled to unity in diversity, at one point Morgan should pass the baton
to others, not rushingly as the land reform program, but from a thoughtful
process.
I don’t
support MDC, neither do I support ZANU PF, I am a supporter of democracy which
is characterized by a multi-party system, not only that, but strong opposition
that contributes to policy development and growth strategies that benefits the
masses, a weaker opposition will result in heavy loss of gains which sprouted
in the year 2000 reversed to a more unitary state without strong checks and
balances which is extremely dangerous for our beloved motherland, Zimbabwe.
Let’s wait
and see
Misheck
Gondo is an International Relations Expert with the University of Zimbabwe
(U.Z)
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