Open Letter from the President of the Movement for Democratic Change, Mr. Morgan Tsvangirai, on the Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding

July 22, 2008

My fellow Zimbabweans,

Yesterday I signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Mr. Robert Mugabe and Prof. Arthur Mutambara. This document commits our three parties to a framework of negotiations that will take place over the next two weeks.

I know that in signing this Memorandum of Understanding, I represent the hopes and aspirations of millions of Zimbabweans to end this crisis as soon as possible. Honest, hardworking Zimbabweans who want nothing more than a life that offers peace, security, economic opportunity, democracy and social and personal development. This is a responsibility that the Movement for Democratic Change and I take with the utmost seriousness.



This Memorandum offers the most tangible opportunity in the past ten years to improve the lives of our fellow citizens. But, our signatures alone do not guarantee that we will be able to make the most of this opportunity. Our signatures on this document must be accompanied by acknowledging some very basic truths:

We are Zimbabweans who want only what is best for our country and our citizens. Our shared goal is best achieved in a climate of tolerance and stability, not divisiveness and anger. We believe that wanting a more democratic future or expressing an alternate political opinion should be viewed as a right and not as a declaration of war. No one has a monopoly on patriotism.

We believe that the will of the people is the fundamental basis on which to ground our negotiations.

We acknowledge that these negotiations can only proceed and succeed if the rule of law is restored, if people are able to go about their business in safety, if the public media refrain from using hate speech to polarize the community, if the persecution of MDC MPs, members and supporters ceases, and if humanitarian organizations are allowed once again to provide aid to the millions of Zimbabweans in need of assistance.

For my part, I call on all Zimbabweans who believe in the ideals of democracy as espoused by the MDC, to continue to abide by the rule of law, to live in a spirit of tolerance and inclusiveness in the knowledge that if we work together in this spirit, a better future lies ahead and justice will prevail.

Yesterday, we committed ourselves to a process that presents the framework in which we can strive to find a solution to the Zimbabwe crisis. This is just the first step on a journey whose duration and success is dependent on the sincerity and good faith of all parties involved.

In the spirit of a shared vision to heal our nation, I call upon my fellow signatories to join me in putting aside our differences and acknowledging that we have a responsibility to the people of Zimbabwe to show true leadership and to find agreement that will bring an end to the violence, polarisation, poverty and fear in which we have all been living for too long. Our fellow countrymen and women look to us to find common ground that will allow us, as a nation, to chart a democratic path forward.

We must acknowledge that the outcome of these negotiations will not be acceptable until it has been endorsed by Zimbabwean civil society, the trade unions and the people themselves. We are not here to form an elitist pact, but rather to represent the hopes and aspirations of each citizen and every stakeholder. This is my commitment to our partners who have struggled with us for a more democratic form of government.

To the people of Zimbabwe I say, have courage, be strong, better days lie ahead.

The heart of the entire world is broken by what has happened in our country, and your bravery is praised among all peoples everywhere. The world stands ready to join us in rebuilding our nation and restoring what has been lost, once our peace and freedom are re-established.

May God bless Zimbabwe.

Morgan Tsvangirai

President MDC

Movement for Democratic Change Head Office
Harvest House
4 Nelson Mandela Avenue | Harare, Zimbabwe

SOURCE!!!!!

Fw: Summary on zimbabwe elections debate _ML

Dear all

 

Find attached an exchange of views on Zimbabwe by Members of the European Parliament and the African Union Rep to the European Union
 

 

Kind Regards

 

Promise Mkwananzi

Europe External Policy Advisors (EEPA)

115 Rue Stevin, 1000 Brussels, Belgium

Tel.: +32 2 234 62 26

Fax: +32 2 230 37 80

E-mail: pmkwananzi@eepa.be

Website: http://www.eepa.be

Development Portal: http://www.developmentportal.eu

 

''The challenges we are facing are greater than the smallness of our politics'' Barack Obama

 

University College Utrecht

87-B Kromhoutweg,

3584 E.G Utrecht,

Postbus 81-450, 3508 BL

Utrecht, The Netherlands

P.D.Mkwananzi@solismail.uu.nl

pmkwananzi@gmail.com

+31612697629

 

 

 

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: BERMAN Thijs ASSISTANT <thijs.berman-assistant@europarl.europa.eu>
To: pmkwananzi@yahoo.co.uk
Sent: Thursday, 12 June, 2008 9:48:31 AM
Subject: Summary on zimbabwe elections debate _ML

Dear Promise,

 

for your information,

kind regards,

Anne

Collegues please take your time to watch this video!!!

http://host1.bondware.com/~mdcukandireland/news.php?viewStory=166
Collegues please take your time to watch this video.
Sincerely
Promise
 
THE PEOPLE SHALL GOVERN

Council conclusions on Zimbabwe

Dear Friends,

The EU's External Relations Council (Foreign Ministers) discussed the situation in Zimbabwe during their montly meeting this morning. The conclusions are here: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/en/gena/100215.pdf

Best wishes,

 

Promise

 

---

Sent from Yahoo! Mail.
A Smarter Email.

Terrorism, Brutalities and Starvation ahead of March 2008, Presidential elections in Zimbabwe

The fact that Zimbabwe is at war cannot be disputed with success. It is difficult at times for outsiders to understand the nature of this war.

The ruling ZANU PF government has lost all popularity in all sectors of the population and does not want to relinquish power. ZANU PF is clinging on power at all cost - even if it means murdering and starving all dissenters.

Thousands of Zimbabwe opposition women have been raped, or abused or beaten by police or government sponsored partisans. In march 2002 when l made gestures against corruption, state terrorism and refused to attend ZANU PF meetings (compulsory for all) my homestead was raided over night by State militias and the so-called War Veterans.

Productive commercial farms and companies have been invaded and looted by the State. Therefore millions are starving to death. Many sectors of the population have been deprived of relief aid; people are resorting to rates, mouse’s and grass for food.

More than 4million Zimbabweans supporting the opposition have been exiled. Tens of thousands of urban residents have been tortured, beaten by State agencies. Millions had their homes destroyed during the "Operation Murambatsvina'.

The main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) president, Morgan Tsvangirai said, 'ZANU PF is banning its rallies, abducting and assaulting opposition activists and ignoring political reform ... ZANU is busy undermining our basic rights and freedom of assembly.'

The Zimbabwe Civic Society leaders told Morgan Tsvangirai that, 'His party should demand a new delimitation process and a new constitution... the MDC should demand free press and international supervision of polls by UN.

MDC spokesperson Chamisa said, “The key issues to be addressed before going to the polls include a new voters registration process, a clean voters roll and the immediate reconstitution of the Zimbabwean Electoral Commission.”

Zimbabwe does not have an Independent Electoral Commission. President Mugabe's henchman administers the elections. Freedoms of Assembly and speech have been curtailed. Independent newspapers have been banned and some bombed by State. Therefore March 2008 presidential elections are not going to be free and fair.

South Africa and Britain have millions of exiled Zimbabweans. Hundreds of thousands have managed to get political asylum. Millions in the Diaspora who have fled persecutions, torture, harassment and possible death by murder or deliberate starvation are not being allowed to vote.

South African president was quoted by the Zimbabwean Newspaper saying, 'He is making headway in his mediation efforts...' Mbeki is condemned by both civil and Church leaders for being unhelpful and supporting Mugabe.

Accounts of torture

In the whole of 1997 NGOs have reported 6000 cases of human rights
abuses by state partisans and agencies. A prominent Zimbabwean opposition lawyer, Tendai Biti said, “In real terms, 70% of the budget is devoted to army, CIO(KGB version), the police, militias, and patronage in form of high allocations to women and youth.”

Velathi Ncube an accounting student at University of Sciences and Technology was severely tortured. Ncube said, 'They put us all in one room and told us to lie on the floor on our stomachs, then they started to beat us randomly.'

Angelo Nkomo, a women activist states, 'We were forced to strip naked and lie on our stomachs before dozens of Black Boots (police) beat us with button sticks and leather belts. After that we were interviewed by male police while we were naked.'

Mandla Nyathi of ZCTU, “We were taken into a room whose walls were covered with blood ... they electrocuted my genitals.

40% of 397 interviewed members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) said they have been tortured by police. 26% needed medical treatment for their injuries.

Jendai Frazer told US INFO that, “The attacks, arrests and abductions continue unabated with more than 500 instances of human rights abuses reported each month... the number of victims requiring medical treatment this year (1997) alone was 3463 – really triple that of 2006.”

The whole country is in chaos. Chiefs across the whole country are forcing people to ZANU PF. The notorious youth militias have been mobilized around the country to force people to support Mugabe's ZANU.

Some people have written asking how they can support us. Our small projects are: Bibles and Literature Project, Campaigning for Justice, Relief Aid to the sick & starving. You may send your donation to:

Account Number: 250605 62089874228, Account in the name of: Foundation of Reason and Justice, Bank Name: First National Bank, Bank swift code: FIRNZA JJ 760, Bank Branch: Rissik Street South, Johannesburg, South Africa.

LINK!!!

Collen Makumbirofa
Foundation of Reason & Justice
http://forjustice.atspace.org
Email: zimnews@mail.com
Fax: +27 86 6502 828

SOME GREEDY VULTURES HAVE LOST THE PLOT COMPLETELY!!!

I'm in a precarious situation where every word I issue is analysed etc....I mean by the real political players. I could give more details but not just now.

My only worry is that certain among us are well-off and can look after their various relatives and can afford to watch the crisis deteriorating for another year.

SHAME ON THOSE CHARACTERS!

Some are surviving by analysing the Crisis and would have no job if the Crisis is over! These fools do not even support us when when we demonstrate etc. I'm updated very well on what exactly is happening and I will write a detailed report soon.

Robert Mugabe is an angel compared to certain vultures who pose as DEMOCRATIC FORCES but all they do is feed themselves, their families, their girl-friends etc.

They will not even support those seriously involved in ending the Crisis! We know you...journalists, businessmen, so-called Analysts...Crisis this Crisis that etc!

Certain drive in Pajeros as Think-tanks etc. Now they pressure Tsvangirai not to talk to Makoni!

You-ve lost the plot you idiots!

We will expose you and set our youths on you!

The people at home are sick and tired of this analysing, think-tanks etc.

Mugabe stands on one platform and his opponents are collecting monies from different donors and can't have one word!

I WILL NOT USE VULGAR BUT I ASK YOU TO FEEL MY ANGER!

Mugabe, evil though he is, is better than all you greedy vultures combined!

MORE NEWS NEXT TIME!

Rev Mufaro Stig Hove.

Patron: THE ZIMBABWE REVOLUTIONARY YOUTH MOVEMENT!


www.zmfinalpush.blogspot.com

MR LUKE D ZUNGA PLEADS FOR PRACTICAL AID TO RESUSCITATE ZIMBABWE!!!

US$50 BILLION REQUIRED, BUT ELITE DOCILE

People of Zimbabwe, both those who support and those against the current systems, are biting their own ineptitude. The educated elite failed to effect change and appear to be making critique of those who are trying. Most of those residing in the Diaspora are keeping to themselves with their families to enjoy the space. Instead of being a tactful retreat, most have become docile, preferring to cross into Zimbabwe in pomp, with a show of goodies to their destitute family members. Some don’t even want to be known as Zimbabweans.

Of course they are able to change country again, trading their skills, if things change for the worse where they are now. But that is shallow mindset, for generations to come. Zimbabweans in the Diaspora have not solved the long term issues, for themselves and their children, have not even planned how to solve the problem, leaving matters to the so-called politicians. Zimbabwe will never be the same. Politicians will not solve the problem unless all of us engage in constructive discourse, not necessarily militating against the current government but planning for the future. It is lack of planning which brings us here.

The average Zimbabwe elite is naïve, chasing jobs, and unable to figure out how jobs are created, how an economy is built, and have not even worked out how many billions Zimbabwe needs to start recovery. The average business person in Zimbabwe, actually those forced into it, were the unemployable. The vision of the country which should come from the educated is blurred. It is something most people can’t see as we are immersed in this mediocrity.

Most of the well known civil society organizations are fighting the wrong war. In the Diaspora, as in Zimbabwe, chronic poverty the problem. The correct war is to fight poverty, then democracy. However civil society huddle in hotels and conference rooms, analyzing, speculating and criticizing. The people they aught to articulate for are largely in rural areas, in deep poverty. They are not aware of the discussions and will never know.


They need jobs, they need food, health facilities and a plan for hope. Civil society seem to lead to infer that problems will be solved out of free elections. The climax of civic society activity is organizing a demo, to parade undernourished faces before the cameras. The funders of these demos will not involve themselves in the welfare of the individual marchers. Is it not strange that while there is a large number of civil society organizations there is very little to show for it. The missionaries left churches, schools and hospitals. Poverty is rapidly increasing through out Africa. Though democracy is essential, it will not solve the problems of Zimbabwe. The mentality of donors, as in their countries, is monitoring. In Africa, not in Europe, poverty more dominant.

The number one problem of Zimbabwe is lack of production – no factories, no products. Start with the fight against poverty, then organize demos of people come out of their factories. If the government can’t do it, show them how to do it. Why is it that Zimbabweans in a democratic country like South Africa still languish in poverty. It tells us that it is not democracy alone which will change our lives. So, what is it that Zimbabweans, wherever they are in the Diaspora, have put together as a strategy?

Zimbabwe Diaspora Civic Society Organizations Forum appear to be having a clear plan. The Forum has no donor funding but by a few Zimbabweans contribute. Sometimes the office and the telephone are closed. Office administrators are giving some good free time. No-one earns salaries. In two years this organization has brought together about 40 NGOs, involved grassroots in drawing up a plan of action to improve the lives of people. These grassroots persons have a much better plan, which need leadership. The Forum is putting together that plan.

The plan is to form three structures for development – the first is a national structure of the NGOs in South Africa, coordinating other regions to do the same. The second structure is the Global Zimbabwe, made up of six regions –Australasia, UK, Americas, South Africa and SADC outside South Africa. The Forum organized a global conference, which will be an annual event, in December 2007. All delegates attended on their own cost. There was no doling of air tickets or hotels. These few Zimbabweans just managed to host the conference, but the Forum ended up with debts. The global conference endorsed the plans and created a global executive, which
co-opted a few more to be as follows:

1. Ms. Grace Kwinjeh - Chairperson (South Africa)
2. Mr. Mandla-akhe Dube - Vice Chairperson (New Zealand)
3. Mr. Luke Zunga - Treasurer (South Africa)
4. Mr. Daniel Molokele - Coordinator (South Africa)
5. Ms. Violet Mariyacha - Committee Member (United Kingdom)
6. Mr. Canaan Mhlanga - Committee Member (Canada)
7. Mr. Simbarashe Chirimubwe - Committee Member (Botswana)
8. Mr. Tamuka Chirimambowa - Committee Member (South Africa)
9. Prof. Stan Mukasa - Committee Member (United States of America)
10. Mr. Promise Mkwananzi - Committee Member (Netherlands)
11. Committee Member – Australia (pending)

The Patron and main speaker at the global conference is Prof. Kenneth Mufuka of USA.
The whole Diaspora should support Global Zimbabwe as main body to negotiate Diaspora space, skills training, leadership preparation etc.

The third structure is Zimbabwe Diaspora Development Chamber as the implementing arm for development. The Chamber started the first training course, of an estimated one million trainees, started on 26 and 27 January 2008. The programs of the Chamber will guided and managed by a board of directors which will be published. The work of the Chamber is to create a funding structure similar to the World Bank to raise up to US$350 billion in the next 10 years and put Zimbabweans in business.

You will notice that black people(the majority) are not engaged in production of goods and services the country needs. If you walk into a supermarket you would find few products made by black businesses. If we increase production, we decrease poverty increase. If you tackle poverty you are empowering people to provide jobs, housing, food, education and improved health to their families. It we do this the 3 structures will be self funded.

I would like to see organizations based in Zimbabwe and their counterparts in South Africa, recognize these Diaspora structures, and work together.

The Forum had engaged the South African President to facilitate our discussions. The South African government provided the office of Chief Director Southern Africa to handle our requests. We inform the South African government what we are doing through this office. Two meetings have been held. Our first request, among others, is that South Africa grant Temporary Resident Permits to Zimbabweans in South Africa. South Africa in principle, will facilitate only those engaged in the Chamber development projects.

We sent a petition to SADC, a large document, urging SADC countries to grant Temporary residents permits to Zimbabweans refugees on their respective soils. This matter has a deadline of 28 February 2008, failing which the Forum, now with Global Zimbabwe, will take the matter to an international court to lay evidence of human rights abuses both in Zimbabwe and in SADC, to force a decision.

We want to see everybody working together or collaborating. But our own elite bothers, civil society in Zimbabwe and their counterparts in South Africa, refuse to participate in these, choosing to follow their donors. Despite talking to them, they turn a blind eye, and want air tickets, hotel bookings and fees for their speeches to attend the global conference. Our own media houses, run by Zimbabweans, refuse to cover these events. It is a game of who is who in these perfunctory elite bodies. They think I they work with the Forum, the donor will recognize them, then there will be too many people approaching their donors.

They cannot envisage an NGO operating successfully without a foreign donor, because Zimbabweans generally cannot dig into their pockets for public good. I once asked one of the donors where they get the money they donate. The answer was “church collections during Sunday service”. So our big minds are budgeting their livelihoods and planning strategy for the country from these pennies. What would be the size of their planning? Zimbabwe needs US$50 billion to raise it from the dead. Can they work it? It is clear to me that the elite, and some civil societies, are destroying Zimbabwe, unfortunately in the same vein as the dictator.

L D ZUNGA 011 339 2929 – This is a personal view.
Forum Treasurer

PLEASE KINDLY READ "DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT"

Ms Grace Kwinjeh joins heated discussion!

No many of the current MDC leaders will pass the class or ideological
test as you put it. I can give you a breakdown of who owns what or who
is friends with who- and perhaps remind you that the restaurant in
which Lucia Matibenga was removed belongs to a senior MDC female
member - neither should I remind you that Matibenga a trade unionist
was replaced by a top class business woman, and a confessed friend of the Chiwenga's.

If you have visited Cleapotra beauty salons they cater for the wealthy- not even this cde can afford their services -amongst other business interests. There is nothing wrong with owning a business - Tsvangirai himself is a beneficiary of various business people who sympathise with his cause - what is wrong is exploitation,cronyism, dictatorship.

Soros whom you mention is involved in good ventures - he is giving back
to society to some of us so we realise our ideals of justice and freedom.Read Soros history then maybe you will understand what informs his involvement in the quest for liberty,in the fight against capitalism - he is a fierce critic of the USA
foreign policy.

And then if our wounds our fight for democracy over the years has not
been about opening spaces so that those like Makoni can freely express
themselves - without our own Chinotimbas threatening them - demeaning
them- then I shudder what the wounds have been for. What is the legacy
we are building that like Zanu we have fought this struggle and non
but ourselves should benefit from it???

Grace Kwinjeh (gkwinjeh@gmail.com)
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B Musonza:
Yes, Sis Grace, I admit they won't pass, the class, and ideological
test
as you put it. Me too in my small ways I am a businessman operating in
Zimbabwe, all out of my handwork, from where I am based. Working life
in
Zimbabwe has never been the same lately for the people back home.
Anyway, I am not into cheap shots of Hair saloons and restaurants, and
all the hand-bags that comes with it.

The issue, for me is, let's seize this moment to create institutional
blocks of ideological beliefs based on what we have and if we push them
into coalitions, when they are competing for different goals, then they
will only seek to destroy each other from within those coalitions and
the end product is another stagnation. Remember, Zanu PF used to "own"
ZCTU, and had very much influence on the goings-on at Confederation of
Zimbabwe Industries, ZNCC etc.

I would rather have them exist as follows:

Beyond Mugabe (Zanu PF and nationalism - Conservatism i.e.. good for
the
upkeep of our culture, peasant farming and reminder to the liberation
struggle),

Beyond Tsvangirai (the labour movement - working for the betterment of
our wages and working conditions, and as eye to the living standards)

Beyond Makoni (The business agenda - concerns for the business sector
and technological advancement through Research and Development etc)

In modern times, business has been drifted in between the left and
right. In America, they have remained with the Republicans, while
Labour
is embedded in the Democrats, in UK New Labour has taken the business
sector aboard from the Tories.

Lets see what they stand for and let them exist in their ethos.
Whatever
the current problems in their leaderships, let them grow and clean
their
act, for the future. That way, our democracy will strive for the good
of
our country. The 3 pillars of State, Judiciary, Legislature and
government will all operate with inherent checks and control measures
institutionalised from the onset of our current on-going transitional
politics.

Zanu PF must not be allowed to die, and so is MDC and the business
agenda must be allowed to grow as a stake holder, and so we must not
force coalitions.

My sentiments on anti-coalitions are very strong because I see other
groups seeking to dominate others. We're moving away from independence
politics dominated by a liberation movement to a period we should be
building institutionalised political bodies that strives for posterity.
We don't have to be forming political parties every other election
because the one we had was persuaded into a coalition. Nope!

On the final note, Sis Grace, George Soros is George Soros. There is
what is called the new World Order, controlled by the masons; they give
with the right and take with the left.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

From kuthulamatshazi@yahoo.co.uk

Soros is not as good as Grace suggests. This is where as Zimbabweans we get lost. If people splash a couple of dollars then we think they are good. Its sadt that ist people who are going to occupy high offices who say such things. Look beyond his "charity organisation". First, how did he get his money? Through the destruction of these very economies and now he is trying to cover his tracks through "philanthrophy. Soros and his friends are the architects of the current rampaging financial markets which have caused untold suffering in the world and felt more acutely in the developing countries including, YES ZIMBABWE. Soros has been the champion of embedded liberalism seeing things from a purely monetarist viewpoint and disregarding the social consequences of their pursuit of profit. He killed the world and now he has been able to buy the best brains to recast him as a champion of philanthrophy and some of us fall for this. I feel for Africa!!!!
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MUSONZA ASKS BRIAN AND BRIGGS, "WHY COALITIONS NOW??"

You don't get, it do you Briggs and Brian? Why coalitions now? Where have you been? Let's stop abusing unity and vision for our own political agenda. Zimbabweans are united and have been united for many years and moons, but unfortunately they cannot exercise those choices that could shape their destiny due to the dictatorship currently prevailing, and have been let down by the conniving beneficiaries of this tyranny amongst the rich and influential.

Unity is not the problem in our country, class is. For many years, since the beginning of our problems, the middle and upper class have helped create the current situation by passively not getting involved in the politics of things. I know quite a lot who gleefully gloat and boast kuti, "I have never been to a polling booth", as if its a legendary badge of honour. That's why I don't buy into so called agents of change. Change should be owned by its subjects and not self appointed individuals.

For all the years, while poor folks have been clobbered, tear-gassed, and butchered by Zanu PF thugs in the slums; 2, 3 story houses have been sprouting in the North Western suburbs of Harare, food has been available, or they could just travel to South Africa or Botswana to buy some. Come election day, they don't feel part of it.

Some of them through Zanu PF patronage have built large corporate empires, using my contributions at NSSA, as the cash cow, Pension Funds have been used to built them modern classy Offices, while the poor redundant worker is send packing into no man's land without any help at all. Most of the companies at the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange owned by this breed of neo liberals, who are now propping up the Simba Makoni agenda, have been financed and capitalised through NSSA. You don't simply get access to NSSA without Zanu PF connection, can you? Credit to them they have been enterprising, but what have they given back to the poor communities? Why have they been not able to influence political change, then?

In my working life as an Accounting professional in both government and private sector, I have seen enough of this rogue band of this lot.

Yes, they fear a labour-based movement would deal them a blow to their cynical business practices. Hence, the likes of Trevor Ncube calls them "mediocre". Why do you want unity from mediocre people?

Now, the middle and upper-class feel they now want to dislodge their leader, and they gang up with other loose intellectuals and decide to call for unity to remove one Robert Mugabe when all the years, they have been ignoring those calls. This is annoying, to say the least.

At the recently held George Soros sponsored rogue World Economic Forum session in South Africa, Simba Makoni, Ibbo Mandaza, and Arthur Mutamabara where the key speakers from Zimbabwe, amongst the cream of global neo liberals, and those 3 are now leading a regrouping of same rogue businessmen and middle-upper class, spiced up by a gang of intellectuals now calling for unity. Where were you all these years?

If anyone thinks kuti this is the right strategy for "Zimbabwe's Reconstruction" as Brian calls it, then you're lost. An example cannot be further than across the Limpopo, in South Africa where Thabo Mbeki, the co-author of this Zimbabwean strategy, led a government of business driven agenda, but events on the ground shows a spectacular failure as most of the proceeds from national growth were repatriated outside through corporate dividends declared in boardrooms while the government is discouraged to put money into social investment, and energy leading now massive power-cuts, threatening the stability of what was once the gem of Africa. ANC as a party have had to reclaim their authority from these people to salvage a situation.

So, please while you support your Simba Makoni, stop abusing unity which you have passively discarded all these years. The Simba Makoni project is a business driven agenda and will remain so and we will oppose it even if he triumphs on March 29.

Credit, to those who have refused to join so called coalitions because they acknowledge they are accountable only to a grass-roots constituency that lives on beyond Tsvangirai or March 29 elections, and not to the whims of invisible external forces whose eyes are daily fixed on the Dow Jones, Dax, LSE, JNBE, and NIKKEI.
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From Brian Kagoro:
Colleagues

I am surprised by some sentiments that I am reading on this platform. If we are to include or exclude each other on the basis of when one joined the fight ,then very few people in the present democratic opposition -let alone civil society -would have the right to speak? Those of us who can claim to have founded NCA, Crisis Coalition;NGO-Human Rights Forum;etc were also late entrants into the game.When we arrived on the scene there were others who had Founded Women's Action Group(1983); ZimRights(1990);ZINASU(1986). Whilst we pride ourselves in the contributions we have and continue to make...we are mindful that others preceeded us on this path. This humbles us and teaches us to accept those who joined much later and those who are joining even now. Many of you might not remember that the year that Raymond Majongwe was leader of the UZ-SRC my good friend Morgan Tsvangirayi and his leadership banned the UZ Students Union from addressing and participating in May 1st activities for having booed Nathan Shamuyarira for suggesting that workers were lazy in 1992. You may not know that I had to plead with Morgan and Izidore Zindoga for Learnmore Jongwe to be allowed to address the May 1st celebrations in 1997/8. That as part of the pact we had to ensure that Jongwe's speech was well manicured to avoid any offense(this task was assigned to Deprose Muchena copied into this e-group). There are those who may not know that the much celebrated advisor to the MDC presidency- Professor Elphas Mukonoweshuro- was most rabidly oppossed to student activism as late as 1993. In fact that him and Professor Welshman Ncube were members of the UZ Student Disciplinary Committee which routinely expelled student leaders. The Professor Gordon Chavunduka was once the UZ SRC and ZINASU's arch rival. But when we were ready to form the NCA we accept the membership and leadership of these colleagues. Even former student leaders like myself who had been brutalized by the state machinery and victimized by the UZ Administration accepted the need to build an inclussive democratic movement. I am grateful for the insights and wisdom and experience that Mukonoweshuro; Welshman Ncube and Gordon Chavunduka have brought into the broader democratic movement. That movement has some white elements who were rabidly racist; it has former army officers; retired police officers and many who were in Zanu PF. As we say in shona "ZVIPOPI ZVINOSVINURA NGUVA YAKASIYANA". In other words, puppies born on the same day will only gain their full sight(perception/vision) at different times. Should those who were not fighting Zanu PF like Mutambara did in 1989 be disqualified? Should those who were demonstrating aginst ESAP like Morgan Tsvangirayi did in 1992 shut up? Should those who were not expelled from the UZ like Tawandah Mutasa and Paul Rumema Chimhosva were in 1992 not speak? Some might ask ......where were you in 1988; in 1989; in 1991; or 1997 when we founded the NCA ? I say it doesn't really matter....it matters though that you are on the right side today and now! This Zimbabwe belongs to all of us and we can only build it if we learn how to include each other and build strategic alliances. For those who might not remember ....as we protested against the levies in 1998...workers built strategic alliances with their bosses(unthinkable for any purist!). Friends ,the task at hand is so big that no small group of brilliant revolutionaries or sycophants can accomplish it alone. We need to build coalitions and we need alliances. This does not mean that we are blind to our ideological differences....we are just alive to our strategic needs. Let me repeat .....I have been with the democratic forces and actors in Zimbabwe since 1989 and I can confirm and certify that I am yet to meet a saint amongst us! We are not in a beauty contest....this is real politics!

Brian
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From B Musonza:

The issue is not about Morgan Tsvangirai, or personalities Brian. It is about class and a business driven agenda for the way forward, as a matter of ideological perspective. I have never been to the UZ as a student. I only got to a University here in the Diaspora and so I cannot pontificate stuff I do not know. I am only learning about the infighting, power games in those Student organisations we thought were fighting for the poor, from you.

To sum it up, I think there was too much NGO money causing the malfunction of our civic society.

My message is plain clear, lets not force coalitions and forget the importance of ideological differences amongst all stakeholders for the sake of removal of Mugabe. Remember, what we see in Kenya is all as a result of plastic coalitions. Let people preach their message, based on what they believe in and not this unity or coalitions mantra. This is only transitional politics and let us built our ideological bases that live beyond Tsvangirai, Mugabe and Makoni so that, in our ethnic groups we belong to these bases and not tribal groupings. If we destroy MDC because we hate Tsvangirai, then we all go on a Makoni wave, no credible opposition what have we achieved? Let us be united in what we believe in, and not out of desperation.

During your student activism, you were my hero and still now you are, Brian. I am not an active member of MDC, remember.
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"Why the 2008 Elections Are Crucial" by Promise Mkhwananzi

I wish to state a few remarks about three key points which are emphasised in all devouted arguments for Simba Makoni, namely:policy,articulation, and ideolgy In terms of articulation, there is nothing out of this world that Simba has proven so far.He has only issued two public statements, the first one announcing his intention to stand as a presidential candidate, where he reaffirmed his loyalty to ZANU PF, which means that in terms of ideology and policy, we can view him in the same vein as the current ZANU PF to which he has unquestioned loyalty, which is basically supposed to be a socialist party backed by the alliance of workers and peasants and whose main thrust was the overthrow the racist settler regime and replace it with a government representative of the people in terms of their demographic configurations, that goal has been achived.What else is ther for ZANU PF to do? This is what Simba Makoni is supposed to stand for until he begins to
preach an explicitly different value system.There is a big problem if Simba wants to insist his loyalty to the present ZANU PF ideology and policies, it is common knowledge that ZANU did overthrow Smith and replaced him with a majority government, it is also true however that the suffering of the people (especially those percieved to be opposed to the ZANU PF rule) worsened.Simba has been part of and presided over some of the functions of this very same government which has led many to death, into exile, abject and cronic poverty, objects of ridicule among the community of nations.

In his second statement, he only insists that he is a ZANU PF Cadre and that he is not an agent of anyone, the rest is taken over by the raverantining Mbudzi.To the utter disappointment of every expectant Zimbabweans, he does roll out any concrete plan of action, he does present any evidence that shows his support from the other so called bigwigs-whom I have always agreed with Margerete Dongo that they behave like Mugabe`s wives.Nevertheless Simba insists he is not working alone.The ZANU PF Politburo, where the cracks are supposed to emerge fron has endorsed his expulsion, Simba did not turn up for the meeeting, which meeting begins to show that as much as Simba still dogmatically believes himself to be part of ZANU PF, the reality is the opposite of his belief .Think of yesteryear examples of Joshua Nkomo-a veteran liberation war and opposition leader, co-leader of the patriotic, and at one time President of ZAPU in whose executive Mugabe was a
secretary, Edgar Tekere, Secretary general of ZANU PF, once very close to Mugabe, branched out in same manner as Makoni andfailed to dislodge Mugabe despite the fact that, unlike Simba Makoni, he had a very strong party, Jonathan Moyo, backed by six Provincial Chaipersons all of whom were expelled along side Moyo, an astute political scientist who at one time single handedly run Zimbabwe on behalf of Mugabe, Moyo only managed a seat in Tsholotsho.Nothing more. Zvobo, Kudzai Mbudzi, and one Mavhaire who was to be reinstated later at the benevolence of Mugabe.These examples demonstrate the cohesion within ZANU and the failure and cowardice of other bigwigs to join progress and ditch Mugabe.

Why we will support Tsvangirai.

True, Morgan Tsvangrai has had his fair share of troubles, at one time promting me to be one of his fiecest critics while I was leader of students in Zimbabwe.The point which however remains is that among all opposition parties that have emerged since independence, including Simba, no other opposition has ever shaken the foundation of ZANU PF hegemony like the MDC. No other opposition has ever formed an alliance with the workers and the civics like the MDC.Today, Simba Makoni has the courage to challenge ZANU PF because he has learnt it from Morgan Tsvangirai that it is possible to challenge Mugabe.I will insist here that, presently, in the state of delipidation that the MDC is, no other party or person present any better hope for change than the MDC.The Authur Mutambara faction has consistently shown a tendency of readiness to step aside for anyone and everyone, there is undeniable evidence now that they stand for nothing:If you stand for nothing, you
will fall for anything.Remeber the old adage, it is difficult to imagine their existence post-election despite their percieved support in Matebeland which has never tested.Their desperation to step aside for anyone that comes along is evidence of their own assesment of their strengths and weakness and their realistic chances of forming the next government on their own, let alone to marshal a significant vote...True, they must just step aside for anyone and allow zimbabweans to decide their own fate.Makoni is problematic in the sense that, unless he unveils other serious ZANU PF Leaders backing him, apart from one Mbudzi and Ibbo Mandaza-I am afraid, his newly found political fortunes will fizzles into thin air.On the contrary, over the years Morgan Tsvangirai has demonstrated enormous dedication and resilience in whatever beliefs that he believes in, whether right or wrong.He has been the pillar and face opposition and the only hope for change in
Zimbawe-even as ZANU rigged/rigs and will rig future elections, History will tesify that he did win these elections for the people of Zimbabwe, sadly the people chose not to claim their victory.

Post Election 2008

Mugabe will win the elections next month Comrades.What is the significance of the elections then, some might ask.My answer would be that the elections will serve firstly as a scientific political survey.Eventhough Mugabe will rig, the data from the elections will prove empirically how the support base of the Zimbabwean opposition is configured.Since 2005, a lot has happened, the main opposition has split into two, more political parties have come on board, Simba Makoni has defected and claims to have massive support..The elections will provide empirical evidence as to where real support lies.As a post phase strategy, the opposition will have to come to a round table, there will be no speculation as who commands what support and the negotiations will be guided by the support base demonstrated by each and every leader.This data will show who marshaled the biggest chunk of support to claim the top post.Forget education, thick CV,e.t.c.The voice of the
people is the voice of God. Assume the people to be soveriegn rationale beings that will choose the person they see best fitted to lead them. Remamber that the second highest person is the person who will have won the elections.In short, the negotiations for a united front must be preceded by this empirical study (elections) so that we avoid urging others to pave way for Makoni simply because he has rebelled against ZANU PF for intentions which are not yet evidently above self aggrendisement.

Secondly the elections should be a mobilisation platform, to raise the political capital.Those enteirng the elections must make it clear to the electorate that the real victory is after the elections.Immediately after elections, when it will be clear who is who in the Zimbabwean political landscape-the opposition forces must immediately declare victory for the second best candidate (As it s clear Bob the Boss will be number one).Meanwhile a people`s conference(whatever you call it) must be convened, in which the opposition parties civic society, workers, students ans peasants will now form a united front based on the demand for a new constitution and a rerun of the elections.By then it will be clear who is who.If Arthur Mutambara scores the highest votes in the Presidential elections (assuming he does not step down to back someone else) then he will have to be the leader of the new united formation and if his party gets the highest number of seats in the
house of assemly, senate and council, then he must get a share proportional to his share of popularity,the same should apply for all the other candidates. Exceptions will only be negotiated for civic society leaders who are known to lead mass-based movements like ZINASU,NCA, ZCTU,etc.

Way Forward

The wayfoward should definitely exclude negotiations of any sort, the courts or any other settlement, more importantly a government of national unity which Mugabe will try to offer on the basis of the botched SADC talks.This amalgamated opposition should embark on a single-effort delegitimation strategy of the Mugabe regime and call for a new constitution which Mugabe promised after the elections.A new constitution will allow for the opening up of the democratic spaces , if Mugabe refuses to grant the constituiton, the delegitimation process must intensify through the confrontation of SADC, AU, on the basis of the failure by Mugabe to provide for a new constitution as he has promised he will do after the elections.An intensive grassroots connection initiative must be mantained to keep the people fully aware of what will be happening.Expecting to do such things through the publi media or under the protection of the state machinery will be naive-in other
words, more strategies must devised to reach the people on top of the available options i.e. studio 7, swradio, public gatherings and others.Lastly, a public declaration of the victory of the re-organised opposition and a beggining of the reclamation of the people`s victory will be possible if the opposition and civic groups can prove to the people a new lease of life based on the values that resonate with the people`s aspirations and backed by a spirit of oneness, selflessness and aimed towards one, old helpless common enemy-Robert Mugabe.

Victory is in Sight.2008 must be the year of storm..

Promise Mkwananzi

PFUMO REVANHU !!!!

"EXTREMISM WILL NOT HELP US NOW : A VISION IS WHAT WE NEED" by Biggs Bomba.

Colleagues;

The urgent task to save zimbabwe from degenarating into a Somalia like violence ridden failes state status requires level headed and calculative thinking from all of us who genuinely love this nation.

I am sad when i see our readiness to dishonestly fling labels at each other and sometimes even mirror the zanu pf tactics and culture were the way to deal with opposing views is to simply smear the messenger in the most thuggish of ways. It is not that the "democratic opposition" can not take power in this state but if it does resolving these contradictions it will be another false solution and as Bob Marley said, " You are go fight again!"

What i think Zimbabwe need now more than anything else is a "winning coalition" of all forces opposed to Mugabe's tyranny. I find the arguements that you cannot unite with those splitting from Zanu PF full of double standards and unsustainable. Who wasn't in Zanu PF? I am not asking about the last ten years but i mean before that. we all know today that zanu pf has never been a democratic movement and some of our very senior opposition leaders today help positions in zanu structures at the hieght of gukurahundi and other dark chapters of zanu. so the arguement that people belonged to zanu when it was clean is neither here nor there. but no one should be excluded on this basis in the same way that whoever decides to genuinely split from zanu pf today should not be excluded. Is it not a shame that amongst ourselves before we listen to each other we now ask each ther whether one was at rufaro in september 99 and whether one was in Chitungwiza for the inaugural congress?

if we had an opposition to mugabe decisive enough to spring to the tipping point maybe we could have the luxury to play exclusionary politics. The delapidated state of the opposition today makes unity not only a necessary condition for victory against mugabe's tyranny but also an urgent task.

This is almost too late to say considering the fast approaching nomination day and statements already made by key players in the opposition: but i think a "winning coalition" of all against Mugabe is the only thing that would present the one opportunity for Zimbabweans to steer the country in a new direction come March. the most contentious iissue in coalition zim politics is always about who is positioned where with what power. This is why at this critical moment, as our country hangs on the edge of a precipice - objectivity, and something greater than our individual interests must drive our politics. My thing is whoever can best unite Zimbabweans against Mugabe must lead. If Morgan is that person then surely this is a good reason to support him. On the other hand if Simba or anyone else is the best person to that then surely he deserves to be supported.

The biggest quandary is that on one hand Morgan does not convince me that alone given the current state of the MDC can dislodge Mugabe or inspire a lot of the apathetic voters to go out and vote. we all know from statistics since 2000 that mdc turnout has been going down even at times when living conditions were acutely difficulty. Also i do not think that Simba has yet shown what he is bringing. In addition to his apparent support from the national businessman and sections of the urban population he needs to demonstrate the support of those "heavy weights" and a capacity to seriously split zanu for him to deserve the mentle.

The question of leadership is something that can be objectively weighed and decided upon. Unity for the greater good of the country must be the guiding principle. This can not happen if we are guided by zealotry and emotional allegiances to individual personalities. Psycophancy is the biggest enemy of progressive politics. It is the very reason why African politics usually elevates mediocrity to the point of sanctity.

more than anything else, zimbabwe right now needs visionaries, who like the American founding fathers ( who are not my idols) can lay the foundation of a nation for generation after generation to stand on. that enduring foundation can only be with a set of democratic principles that we all committ to respect above personalities!

Dare to Invent the Future!

Briggs (briggsbomba@yahoo.com)

Itayi Garande Continues........ Peter Moyo chips in....

Itayi Garande <itayig@hotmail.com> wrote

 

I think many people who are now supporting Makoni are doing it in direct protest to either the MDC or Zanu PF. This is a very dangerous precedent. I think we are missing the bigger picture of judging politicians on their vision of a future Zimbabwe. To support Simba simply because he brings a 'breath of fresh air' is preposterous. To support him because he breaks the monotomy is dangerous. To support him simply because he is criticising Mugabe is irresponsible. Let's exercise extreme caution and judge Simba on the basis of his policies, which mind you all, we do not know yet. To argue that both Mutambara and Tsvangirai have not given us their manifestos so we should exonerate Simba from that obligation is not responsible. I am rather uneasy about Simba Makoni's undeclared Zanu PF supporters. If they do not have the guts to come out now, can we trust them to lead effectively?
 
Itayi Garande
The Zimbabwe Guardian
www.talkzimbabwe.com

 

Peter.Moyo@etv.co.za

There is a lot of suppositions and speculation as to why people are supporting Simba Makoni. I think your suppositions and warnings should have rightly fit in 1999 when people started supporting MDC which at the time had no manifesto – did not know how to deal with land reform, the judiciary question, the economic question except that they were pretending to be what Zanu PF is not. Now we know what they are and what they can offer – still not sure about their land policy though except to criticize what Mugabe has done. Oh, yes, the Mutambara side has aticulated some of the policy questions we had.

On Simba Makoni, he just announced his candidature, tomorrow at 12 pm he is going to announce the programme of action – I don’t care what he offers – his entry into politics removes the stagnation we have witnessed for the past 8 years and its good for our politics. The fact that government is going all out, MDC also on the side seemingly threatened means we are going to have a good 29 March. It’s no longer going to be two hot heads who seem to be failing to agree on anything except hold us hostage to their politics – the other one refusing to leave power and the other crying that elections are rigged or busy boycotting anything or calling for sanctions on the motherland. Any Zimbabwean who is tired of the current politics has a chance to get out of his voter apathy and at least exercise his choice

ITAYI GARANDE OF "THE ZIMBABWE GUARDIAN" COMMENTS!

I think many people who are now supporting Makoni are doing it in direct protest to either the MDC or Zanu PF. This is a very dangerous precedent. I think we are missing the bigger picture of judging politicians on their vision of a future Zimbabwe. To support Simba simply because he brings a 'breath of fresh air' is preposterous. To support him because he breaks the monotomy is dangerous. To support him simply because he is criticising Mugabe is irresponsible. Let's exercise extreme caution and judge Simba on the basis of his policies, which mind you all, we do not know yet. To argue that both Mutambara and Tsvangirai have not given us their manifestos so we should exonerate Simba from that obligation is not responsible. I am rather uneasy about Simba Makoni's undeclared Zanu PF supporters. If they do not have the guts to come out now, can we trust them to lead effectively?

Itayi Garande (itayig@hotmail.com)

The Zimbabwe Guardian

www.talkzimbabwe.com

BRIAN KAGORO'S COMMENTS!

Well , Fellow Citizens, Africans and Zimbabweans!

The business of reconstructing an economy already in tatters ; public institutions in severe dilapidation and public confidence in crisis will -of necessity- be excruciatingly painful. It has to be inclusive of friends and foes alike; of ideological allies and opponnents ;of revolutionaries and quislings alike. The challenge of leadership at this great hour is that ability to accept the pain and discomfort of an inclussive politics. There are many people we all feel justified to assign to the dustbins of political history; there are others whose illegitimacy we deem almost legendary. Yet as we seek to salvage what remains of the pride of our great nation, we must -of necessity -possess the grace and courage to forgive the unforgiveable ; to restrain justifiable appetites for revenge and retribution; to share with those who treated us like dogs and animals of prey. The change we hope to see and the new Zimbabwe we endeavour to build will require a different kind of courage...a rare courage ...a courage to embrace diversity and to do so inspite of betrayal. It is a courage to embrace and celebrate our diversity. An acceptance that we are not a political choir and we will not always sing from the same song-sheet. This courage also requires a great measure of integrity.....rather , the ability to critically engage with friends and foes alike. There are certain principles that we have undermined as we trudged along this course towards political change. In this great enterprise of trying to change governance in our country , we --the change agents ---have remained largely unchanged! We need to see change in ourselves......to become and be the change we wish to see in the world! To change the way we talk to and about each other. In this instance, the way we talk about our history and our future must reflect an alternative to Zanu PF's exclusionary tendencies. Zimbabwe belongs to all of us and we are all Zimbabweans. We are children both of the past .....but of the present and future as well. Perhaps in the future we could afford the luxury of being divided and separate and resentful. The present challenges and the daunting tasks that await us in the future as we attempt to reconstruct our economy and livelihoods require us to be united. Unity though must be founded on justice...both of the present and future . I take it we can not do too much about our past. But we can arrest the rot we see today and fashion a better future for Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe of the future.

Regards

Brian (bkcjnr@hotmail.com)

MUTAMBARA GIVES WAY TO SIMBA MAKONI AND ACCOMPANYING DEBATES! FEEL FREE TO ADD YOUR VIEWS!!!

http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/mdc173.17733.html

Comments arising:

From brightonmusonza@arim.co.uk

Good on him, Mutambara to do pacts with the elite Zanu PF's rich and influential. Let them get consumed and disappear into thin air. In politics, you don't get into pacts for the sake of it, but you do so on identifying the synergies and ideals that match your membership's goals and ambitions. However, Mutamabara has once again jumped the gun and went into a pact with people yet to state what they stand for. Zanu PF businessmen masquerading as nationalists and peasants.

The so called reformists in Zanu PF are a band of businessmen who have seen their profits eroded over the years by the actions of their leadership and hence you read all the praise singing from the usual former and current businessmen crying out loud for Comrade Makoni (as they still call him in the Politburo).

Some of us have been direct victims of Zanu PF. We lost our loved ones, we have fresh wounds and trauma of torture and beatings at the hands of this gang and we would rather stay outside of those pacts and trudge on. We will fight for a complete de-Zanuficatication of our country, even with Makoni in power. It is a long time ago, that I personally made a choice that I would never, ever want anything to do with Zanu PF, i.e. for as long as I can breath.

If Mutambara wants a quick way into power, let him take the Makoni route, i.e. good on him and his sidekicks. If we're to wait, we will hang around in the usual places Trevor Ncube described as mediocrity.

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From Rev M S Hove
Musonza, my brother, besides an armed struggle......the best thing is for all who hate Mugabe to come together

I know you are very angry and bitter....so am I ......so what's the way forward? Extremism?

Rev M S Hove...

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Peter.Moyo@etv.co.za


I will not waste a lot of time debating about who is suitable. What I know that we are all – even those in Zanu PF, Zimbabweans. And we are all part of the solution – so when Simba Makoni comes in and breaks the monotony of the past eight years, I will give him an ear.

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B Musonza


It's not about hate, or desperate removal of Mugabe, it's not about holding extreme views, it is about the upper class ganging up for the continued suppression of the down trodden. The super educated and the elite businessmen dictating to the poor folks at the whims of the likes of George Soros. If you can't see it, I am afraid I can't help you but some of us we have already seen beyond the pacts of new breed of neo liberals.

I am not here to dictate the way forward. For me the way forward is to stand amongst those who believe in the same way I do. I will not be taken by a wave of something co-authored by a gang of elite functionaries and glossed over to make it look like the real deal, when its not.

I am not angry, man!

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Rev M S Hove

Brother Musonza we have various Forums so that we can assist each other. Imagine if everyone had views but had no avenue to express them.

Tsvangson can't sit down with his former subodinates. I tried for months to see Roy Bennett here in RSa to discuss with him certain issues but I can't.

The bloody guys are no longer available to the common man!

Who is there for the common man?

You know I share your views. Your statement about failing to show me certain light is uncalled-for! Withdraw that one!

Now proceed... who is there? Tsvangson?

MSH.

www.zimfinalpush.blogspot.com
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Rev Hove again:

May I dissociate myself from the view that I actuallt support Dr Simba Makoni's candidature!

I've been exposed to certain questions that make me think deeply before definitely making a clear stand. Dr Makoni has a lot to explain to the suffering people of Zimbabwe before he is embraced by them.

I apologise for seeming haste.

Rev Mufaro Stig Hove.

www.zimfinalpush.blogspot.com

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Peter Moyo:

I don’t think you ever supported Makoni. Like many of us you were actually relieved that at least the 8 year monotony had been broken – 8 years of MDC, Zanu PF – then MDC and another MDC and then Matibenga etc – at least Makoni brings a different twist to this two horse destructive race that we had seen

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"THE LEADERSHIP ZIMBABWE REQUIRES" by Rev M S Hove

PRELIMINARY REMARKS


The entering of Dr Simba Makoni into the Presidential Race has generated a great deal of excitement. The equation is now more complex and whether you like it or not, the debate has been made wider. Certain factors still remain eg the rigging, the State-Sponsored Violence, the Propaganda and the related ZANU-PF mischief. The only difference is that Mugabe has a wider sphere to charge at and a greater battle to fight.

FOR MORE PLEASE CLICK HERE

"Beware of the Ides of March"...Daniel Molokele

by Daniel Molokele

Between the years 2000 and 2002 I used to run a hard hitting analysis column with the Gweru based Roman Catholic Church funded monthly magazine called Moto. (Literally translated ‘fire’ from the local Shona language). The column was known as ‘No Holds Barred’.

Further it may also be recalled that during the Moto edition of March 2002, I wrote an analysis simply entitled, ‘Beware of the Ides of March’. The article sought to warn the incumbent president of Zimbabwe, one Robert Mugabe, not to take things for granted in the run up to the March 2002 elections. At that time, I felt that it was appropriate to use the analogy of the assassination of Julius Caesar as the basis of my warning to Mugabe as he prepared to battle the then leader of a much more united and determined opposition MDC, one Morgan Tsvangirai.

It was my contention in the main, that just like Caesar, an over confident Mugabe ran the risk of experiencing a humiliating defeat at the hands of the upstart, the ascendant Tsvangirai. But as history would have it, Mugabe appears to have heeded the warning and fought perhaps the battle of his entire political life. In the end, Mugabe managed to shrug off Tsvangirai as some would argue, by hook or crook, in a very controversial election result.

And so it happened that unlike the great Caesar, Mugabe did not meet his fateful end that March. In fact he has soldiered on, defying all forms of opposition to his stranglehold of the Zimbabwean political leadership mace unto this day.

But that was then.

As I write today, the political state of affairs in Zimbabwe has just taken a new dramatic shift that might in the long term, completely transform the political landscape of Zimbabwe forever.

On 5th February 2008, an ordinary day in Zimbabwe suddenly breathed a new lease of life to the largely moribund political environment of the country. A major press conference was held in Harare that eventually brought the entire capital city to a halt. The event was addressed by a rather quiet and unassuming gentleman, one Simba Makoni, who upset the apple cart by openly declaring his candidature for the presidency in the much anticipated March 2008 harmonised elections.

Personally I was not all that surprised by this turn of events. It appears as if Makoni had read the national political mood so well. There actually appears to be an air of hopelessness and despondency in the Zimbabwean political atmosphere. This was further compounded by a desperate desire and yearning for some real politics of change.


Just a few days earlier on, at the end of January 2008 to be more precise in my chronological context, I spent almost a full week in Bulawayo, the ailing second city of Zimbabwe. And so it happened that during my latest visit to my motherland, I had a good opportunity to collect views and perspectives about the rumour that one Simba Makoni was allegedly preparing to stake a surprise challenge to Mugabe’s leadership of Zimbabwe.

I managed to speak to a wide ranging group of people from some key political activists, civic society leaders, church leaders, friends, relatives and some family members about the alleged ambitions of Makoni.

The result of my elementary and less than empirical public opinion survey was so astounding! I discovered that an overwhelming number of people I spoke to was strongly in favour of Makoni standing up to Mugabe. It appeared as if that the people I spoke to had lost their faith on both Mugabe and Tsvangirai altogether! There was so much disillusionment over the performance of both the key candidates of the last presidential elections in March 2002. Both Mugabe and Tsvangirai seem to have lost their strong appeal over the electorate.

In the final analysis, it was clear to me that Makoni was not necessarily a popular choice but a rather desperate option from a people that had become so disillusioned with the leadership of both Mugabe and Tsvangirai. Makoni was thus an emerging beneficiary of that strong feeling of disenchantment with the status quo.

Makoni’s rather muted entrance into the presidential race has indeed complicated matters in the Zimbabwean political landscape.

First and perhaps foremost, Makoni has breathed a new lease of life in the nation’s confidence in the rather sterile electoral systems of the country. Until his arrival, the 2008 elections were bound to be a huge non-event. Over the years, the euphoria that greeted the formation of the opposition MDC and its promises for political change has evaporated among the long suffering masses of Zimbabwe.

The MDC has not been able to complete the change and has in the final analysis helped to develop a notion that it would never be able to unseat Mugabe via the electoral process since it remained titled heavily in favour of the incumbent Mugabe’s interest. There is bound to be a re-affirmation of faith ion the electoral process of Zimbabwe by the majority of voters who up to now were most likely not to even bother to turn out and vote, let alone support a specific candidate.

Secondly, Makoni’s entrance has perhaps saved the country from the ever growing possibility of a military take over of the country. A duplication of the recent electoral patterns in the country would have resulted in the retention of a hugely unpopular government that would have driven the millions of long suffering Zimbabweans into an abyss of political despair. That on its own could have resulted in a complete loss of faith in all future elections leading to the need for a new paradigm in the ultimate politics of change. As such the notion of removing the incumbent by ‘bullets’ and not by ‘ballots’ would have gathered more momentum. Such a ghastly context could have led to civil unrest, a sure recipe for a coup or an all out civil war.
Makoni’s decision has thus given the electoral politics of change a stay of execution.

Thirdly, the entrance of Makoni as an independent now means that it is certain that the presidential elections will not be a predictable two-horse race between Mugabe and Tsvangirai as it was in the last plebiscite of March 2002. Until now, it was beginning to be apparent that there were only two serious alternatives for the electorate, the same old protagonists in the form of Mugabe and Tsvangirai. Makoni it is hoped will prove to be a viable third alternative in the presidential menu for the electorate to savour upon. This is good for the development of a vibrant culture of credible multi-party democracy in the country.

Fourthly, Makoni is also important in as far as the fact that he appears to have a cross appeal to the nation. He will be able to draw the attention of most voters who over the years have grown disenchanted by the politics of both the MDC and Zanu-PF. It is common cause that both political parties are presently suffering from a crisis of common purpose and disunity, as largely reflected by the factionalism that is clearly evident in both groupings. The past weekend’s failure of the two factions of the MDC to adopt a political pact for the polls is a clear case in point. On the hand, Zanu-PF has also been struggling to come up with a legitimate list of candidates. This is so mainly in Matabeleland were the matter of discord has been exacerbated by the controversial reinstatement of one Jabulani Sibanda by Mugabe. A move that has led to an increasingly open challenge to his leadership credentials by the disenchanted senior party members of the PF-Zapu origins.

Last but by no means least; Makoni appears to be likely to defeat the incumbent than the MDC since he actually fits more appropriately into the political analogy of the ides of March. Just like Brutus, he is from Mugabe’s inner circle. The presence of the likes of Ibbo Mandaza and retired army boss Kudzai Mbudzi appears to suggest that he has the backing of Mugabe’s only credible source of political power, the nation’s security forces. Besides, Mandaza is known to be a close associate of the ruling party’s alleged kingmaker who himself wields a lot of influence over the armed forces, the retired army commander Solomon Mujuru. Makoni himself has already claimed in public that he has consulted broadly and has the support of many senior leaders of Zanu-PF.

And so just like Brutus, it is most likely that Mugabe like Caesar might not be able to survive an attack from his own inner circle. As it is for now, he is no longer sure as to whom to trust within his own party. The postponement of the party’s Politburo meeting this past Wednesday may actually be an indication of the prevailing turmoil and uncertainty within the party leadership. Mugabe is reeling and staggering right now. As it is, he may soon fall down fatally, at hands of his own. Mugabe must be aware of the real Ides of March this time around!

danielmolokela@yahoo.com also at www.danielmolokele.blogspot.com

CDE KUNDAYI BLASTS MAKONI'S ARRIVAL!!

Comrades

MAKONI.... BRINGS who with HIM ???????? THE SAME ZANU LOOTERS WHO HAVE HELPED MUGABE WRECK THE COUNTRY...the same MDC OPPORTUNISTS WHO WASTED 9 YEARS INFIGHTING OVER POSITIONS.....

THE FACT is THAT ZIMBABWE DESERVES BETTER.....

THE OLD GUARD SEEKS POWER ..RATHER THAN HELPING THE NATION ....YEARS AGO HE COULD HAVE OPPOSED HIS PATRON BUT HE WAS FEEDING AT HIS TABLE WHILE PEOPLE SUFFERED.....WEEKS AGO HE TRIED TO MAKE A DEAL WITH ZANU CHEFS AND WAS REBUFFED NOW HE CLAIMS TO SEEK TO OUST MUGABE THROUGH THE BALLOT WITH NO PLANS OR POLICIES OR TRANSPARENT TEAM...ON THE BASIS OF AN INTEGRITY HE HAS NEVER BEFORE SHOWN.

YES MAKONI CAN RUN BUT NOT FOR POWER....THAT HE WILL BE A NEW KIBAKI ....AND NOT TO HAND OVER TO ZIMBABWEANS AN UNTAINTED TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT FREE OF ZANU LOOTERS OR MDC LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNISTS INCLUSIVE OF HIMSELF SAYS IT ALL. ...LEADERSHIP RENEWAL FOR ZIMBABWE IS NOT THE SAME WOLVES IN DIFFERENT SHEEPS FROCKS...

THE POLITICAL CLASS IN ZIMBABWE IS STALLING A GENUINE REVOLUTION BY FORWARDING MORE ILLUSIONS...WHERE WERE ALL THESE SAVIOURS FOR ALL THESE YEARS IF NOT LOOTING THE NATION...IF ALL THESE REFORMED ZANUS CAN GIVE BACK THE LOOT AND FACE TIME IN PRISON THEN SO BE IT BUT THIS IS NOT WHAT HAPPENS BUT .....WHY

Cde Kundayi (africanlion_1@hotmail.com)

INNOCENT CHOFAMBA SITHOLE LAUNCHED THE DEBATE!!!

Former Zimbabwean finance minister Simba Makoni has finally ended weeks of speculation and announced today that he will challenge Robert Mugabe in next month's presidential elections. Makoni's candidacy comes at a time when the opposition MDC's warring factions have failed to agree on uniting the party and fielding one candidate to face the octogenarian Mugabe on March 29.


For more please go to http://chofamba.blogspot.com/2008/02/tsvangirai-and-mutambara-should-make.html