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

gondo.gism@gmail.com

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

As the debate unfolded at UN 69^th 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

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

The SADC WE WANT; Regional Civil Society to Petition the SADC Heads of State

As Zimbabwe is poised to take over and host the SADC Chairperson-ship and Summit in August this year, the regional civil society groups had hosted the 10^th Civil Society Forum in Harare.

Misheck Gondo

As the intention was to bring a more holistic people-centered SADC; the representatives of all SADC countries showed their determination during the three day forum, an annual event that usually coincides with the SADC Heads of State Summit.  

The delegates discussed fundamental issues that will be forwarded to the SADC Heads of States; of critical consideration were thematised issues around regional integration and development. There were loud calls to shape a SADC that is epitomized by a people- centered development paradigm which takes into account the rights of every person regardless of color, race, region, political belief, social status, and age.

A focusing binocular was projected to create a region that is free from poverty, coupled with stable economies, fair and just trade, redistribution of wealth and productive assets.

Critical core demands were made through a declaration, to mirror a few; SADC has to establish a Regional Parliament to enable citizens of SADC to determine what Parliamentary rule to give voices in the governance of their region.

The call to establish the Regional Court of Justice or resuscitation of the SADC Tribunal  where also louder;  this was said  will go a long way to guarantee all citizens with regard to  access justice,  protection of dignity, and needy  during the times of regional disputes. However, delegates noted that the Court or Tribunal should be independent from western influence as this will compromise the legitimacy of the region‘s jurisdiction.

The SADC-CNGOs, SATUCC, FOCCISA among other representatives deliberated on the need for SADC countries to sign, ratify and domesticate various protocols that have developmental effects to the region.

The delegates had time to contribute issues through commissions such as that of Youth, Children, and Gender, Governance, Peace and Security among others. 

The youth deliberated on several issues that were considered in the declaration; a SADC Youth Protocol was proposed by year 2016; the protocol will cover the participation of young people in the region, taking into account issues such as youth unemployment, youth migration, and access to health, affordable and quality education, youth inclusion in all issues that cut across developmental paradigms.

The youth demanded that SADC has to resolve to empower and utilize the youth constituency as a resource in development of the region and ensure that the member states formulate youth policies that are youth friendly and that are matched with international standards, but not restrictive youth laws; as the case of Zimbabwe Youth Council Act.

Majority of the delegates dismissed the inclusion of Gays and Lesbians in the declaration, with organizations from the apex council such as SATUCC and FOCCISA among other individual institutions that constituted majority citing that there is no consensus from their membership therefore the need to further consult on the matter, other clearly noted that they will distance themselves from the declaration if the issue is included. Representatives from organizations dealing with sexual orientation cited the need to respect their rights and need to maintain the group in the resolution; and this was dismissed by the majority who called for the respect of the Region and African values, yet others proposed the changing of wording to vulnerable groups an umbrella word for all who are deprived of their rights such as people living with disabilities, indigenous and minorities among other.

There were also solidarity statements to Nigeria for the abducted girls, the Swaziland lack of democracy and its stickery to traditional leadership, Palestine‘s bombardment by Israel, and the Eritrea situation among other.

The forum was officially closed by the Deputy Minister of Foreign affairs Ambassador Chris Mutsvangwa who in his words of wisdom acknowledged the work of civil society from the time of the liberation straggle; and the need to continue to work for the development of the region without excessive, negative external influence. The Minister called for constructive criticism that builds the region.

Apart from the challenges facing the region; the citizens of SADC showed their determination and zeal to build the SADC that they want.

Let’s wait and see!

Misheck Gondo is an International Relations Expert with the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) and youth leader in Zimbabwe.