Zimbabwe: Nothing will change in Zimbabwe unless..

Makwanya

13 November 2007

By Msekiwa Makwanya

The state of the Zimbabwean opposition forces shows us that nothing will change in Zimbabwe unless people change their behaviour. The situation in the ruling party shows us that nothing will work for Zimbabwe unless we have a win-win outcome in the next election. There is a strong case for reflection across the political divide, and listening to each other. Leaders should never take people for granted!

The on-going internal squabbles over the dissolution of the Tsvangirai MDC Women’s Assembly and the Ephraim Tapa led UK and Ireland leadership has been characterised by what other members have called abuse of power. The allegation of under-performance has not been substantiated yet, at least in the eyes of the outsiders. However, one would have thought that if Mai Matibenga was under-performing she needed to be supported by way of extra training and performance management.

If Mai Matibenga was corrupt then the members needed to know and perpetrators brought to book. Dissolving the MDC Women’s Assembly is tantamount to sweeping things under the carpet, is that accountability and transparency the MDC government is talking about?

It will be fair to say that, the performance of other various portfolios of the MDC have not been very impressive either, although the usual at times justifiable defence would be that, it is because of Zanu Pf that certain party organs are failing to do their work. It is true that the same Women’s Assembly is operating in the same environment of AIPPA and POSA.

Turning to the emotive land issue which has become so prolonged, an online publication zimonline reports that Zanu PF supporters blocked the eviction of white farmer in Manicaland. An elderly Zanu Pf activist is quoted saying that, “We have been fighting Chaeruka's militias since last week. We cannot allow Guild to be removed because she has immensely assisted the community here”. So serious was the situation that “More than 20 people sustained serious injuries following violent clashes as war veterans, villagers, and ZANU-PF supporters ganged up to block the eviction of a white farmer by militias aligned to a top ruling party official in Zimbabwe’s rich eastern farming district of Burma Valley”. This is a typical win-win situation for the community.

The coming Zanu Pf extra ordinary congress in December, 2007 presents another opportunity for the ruling party to get the right candidate for their party and the country. President Mugabe is reported to have named his possible successors as Emerson Mnangagwa, Dr Sydney Sekeramai, Dr Simba Makoni, and John Nkomo. Analysts have already pointed out that Simba Makoni is the only “win-win candidate” for the country. His appeal across the political divide means that Zanu Pf will enhance their chances of winning without having to resort to questionable means.

The people of Zimbabwe are capable of seeing who is indicating right while turning left, and who is speaking their language of hope honestly, and more importantly who has the right track record and relevant experience, if only the media could tell us more about all the potential leaders. It is therefore very important for the press to start profiling these prospective leaders and interview them so that we know what they think, their vision for Zimbabwe. Change is about reflecting on the meaning of the experience that we have gone through and listening to the people who have gone through the same experiences so that we will change that which needs changing. It is a way of life not just a mantra or slogan.

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses so the media should help us with more information. It is not enough to report about names without objective character analysis. Choosing leaders is a rare opportunity, and when we get it they should be the best we can get and to the best of our knowledge. The way leaders come into power tells us a lot about their character, but the independent media can enlighten the people before it is too late.

*Msekiwa Makwanya is a social and political commentator based in the United Kingdom.

Nehanda Radio: Zimbabwe's first 24 hour internet radio news channel.

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