redness to embark on a national resistance programme
We meet at a time when the people’s expectations for a final and lasting resolution of the national crisis are very high. The fulfillment of the nation’s hopes has become a huge burden on the MDC and on your leadership, in particular.
Having lived under a corrupt and brutal regime for the past 26 years, Zimbabweans expect fundamental changes, which are only possible in a new political dispensation. They have lost all faith and confidence in Zanu (PF) and Robert Mugabe, thus piling immense pressure on the alternative despite the odds we face as a party.
Our experience during the past six years limits our options and confines us to a narrow path of democratic struggle to free ourselves. People power and national pressure for transformation shall continue to push us to resolve the Zimbabwe’s crisis of governance.
Six years ago, the MDC arrived at the political scene in response to what we thought then to be an unbearable state of the nation. Zanu (PF) and Mugabe’s answer to that development saw Zimbabwe’s wild spin from a place of hope to one of the grimmest places on earth.
The economy collapsed by five percent in 2000, eight percent in 2001, 12 percent in 2002, and to 18 percent by 2003. The downward spiral has continues to this day, pushing Zimbabweans further and further to the wall. Zanu (PF) and Mugabe have run out of options for a solution, hence the nation’s expectation of relief from the MDC.
The regime’s state of denial and blatant refusal to accept the grim reality at home and Mugabe’s continued intransigence and defiance of local and international opinion have become the primary causes of Zimbabwe’s painful and long drawn programme of political and economic collapse. We are on our own. All indications show that we have to slog it out alone before we can expect any assistance from elsewhere. I am ready to lead the people into that decisive era that shall thrust us into a new epoch.
At the centre of Zanu (PF) and Mugabe’s response to the emergence of the MDC was a defend-power project anchored on violence and deception. Zimbabweans were told day in, day out that tomorrow shall be better.
Those who doubted this propaganda line were brutally attacked as the regime sought to intimidate, subjugate and control a restless nation. Law enforcement continues to be partisan; the militarization of politics is now complete and any pretence to democracy and democratic politics has been subverted through state-sponsored violence.
Initially, the state relied on its apparatus and rogue elements within the war veteran community to suppress dissent. These groups, which overran the country with impunity, are responsible for the murder, abduction, rape and the general reign of terror we have lived with since 2000. More than 400 murder cases were recorded; no-one has been prosecuted and jailed for any of these crimes since then.
War veterans set up torture bases in commercial farms while state security officials targeted community leaders and opposition activists for attacks, intimidation and coercion.
Upon realising that the aging war veterans could no longer perform to expectations as regular storm troopers, Zanu (PF) and Mugabe introduced militias into the violence industry.
At the last count, an estimated 300 000 youths had passed through various training camps where they were brainwashed and schooled to hate. We do not know where these young people are today. We do not know to what use Zanu (PF) is deploying the demonic skills it armed these children with during the past six years. What is beyond doubt is that Zanu (PF) and Mugabe have deployed the militia in various urban areas to act as an intimidating buffer and source of pyschological fear against the people. A devastating impact of this culture of violence has been on the economy.
Violence led to the loss of business confidence and property rights, especially in agriculture. We are without food; we are without jobs. Our economy has suffered after its key macro components were liquidated, partly because Zanu (PF) celebrated violence as a survival mechanism. Commercial activity, vital for the absorption and sustenance of our jobless millions, vanished overnight – only to be replaced by the tragedy of the commons.
We are all in a cultural trap of violence. Tolerance, respect and diversity are at risk from a restless nation, which seems to be turning on itself.
Mugabe and Zanu (PF) must understand that violence is a symptom of a deeper societal dysfunction. As long as certain fundamentals remain unattended to and the police turn a blind eye to their Constitutional duty, violence is set to live with us for sometime. Zanu (PF) cherishes a society in which violence dominates political activity.
Let us dig deeper and find a solution to free our young people from the violence trap.
As provincial chairpersons, the task before you is immense. I know that in your communities, you are often overwhelmed by the pressures from the people on the need for a speedy resolution of the national crisis. I am also aware that you live in circumstances where you are often submerged in a sea of anger over the pace with which as a party we are working to resolve this crisis. The struggle has taken a much larger slot and a longer route than originally anticipated. Avoid the temptation to use violence. Avoid being dragged into the Zanu (PF) violence trap. Avoid the use of force as a means to resolve disputes.
We are the largest political party in Zimbabwe. Violence is a sign of weakness, so expose political fraudsters and Zanu (PF) plants bent on causing trouble among the people. As representatives of the majority, we cannot be seen to use violence to achieve our goals. Let us demonstrate that strength through constant restraint.
While the onus for the maintenance of law and order rests with the regime in power, Zanu (PF) and Mugabe have demonstrated their unwillingness to protect the people. In terms of the draconian security laws here, all political meetings are sanctioned by the police. The police insist on even attending these meetings. Zanu (PF) and Mugabe must explain how a person can be attacked by a mob at a meeting they have sanctioned and at which they are present.
As provincial chairpersons, you must watch out for dangerous political games designed to tie us and force us to focus internally.
Mugabe and Zanu (PF) want to trivialise the Zimbabwean struggle and to make it appear as if Zimbabweans are a mediocre lot, incapable of finding permanent solutions to their national problems.
What we witnessed recently may not be the last act of the regime to dampen our people’s confidence in the MDC and present it as a misguided party unable to offer an alternative government to the Zanu (PF) morass.
As leaders in the provinces, let me emphasise the fact that our colleagues who left the party after October 12 are not our enemies. We must work with them, just as we do with other activists in the broad democratic movement, within the framework of our differences and our passions.
Our problem remains with Mugabe and Zanu (PF). We know his regime shall from time to time select targets for attack using a range of surrogates in order to selectively damage our reputation at home and abroad. Let us keep our eyes on the ball; let us target the goal.
As leaders in your provinces, you are aware that we are now putting final touches to our resistance programme. I am happy to note that we are on course. Your challenge is to ensure that the minimum numbers we expect to come out are ready. Strengthen the structures right to the last hamlet and growth point. Knit-up the weak ends and plug up possible fissures. Assure the local leaders that the nation is fully behind them in this endeavour.
The MDC leadership is ready for a comprehensive roll-out effort. We are consulting civil society on the roadmap and on other critical political alternatives. Our intention is to come up with a democracy charter to guide the setting up of permanent institutions and structures designed to protect ordinary citizens from possible political abuse.
As we discuss these crucial matters, let us be frank and open about our state of preparedness in order to make an informed decision on the timing of the action.
Beware of the Zanu (PF) militias in your communities as you select and train your marshals for our main programme. Their brief, as I said earlier, is to destabilize the MDC. They are keen to sabotage the people’s project and to infiltrate the party, taking advantage of the October 12 split in the leadership. Our participation in the rural council elections should achieve the objective of mobilizing the people against tyranny.