atic dispensation.
But what irks is that others have chosen to work against our noble aspirations by painting a misleading picture of the opposition movement. In a bid to confuse the masses, the misguided critics have kept on peddling myths and trumping up unfounded accusations against the MDC leadership as well as those solely opposed to the tyrannical policies of Robert Mugabe’s regime.
I am appalled that they squarely woof and write a lot of drivel in the public media without telling what solutions are for our troubled country. Lucia Matibenga rightfully calls them “Desktop Critics”.
One wonders what they are up to. They are just an outrageous liability in the face of our struggle. Perhaps they are simply myopic or they have lost touch with the general reality in our country. We must disapprove of such shameful actions in the strongest possible terms.
More often ignorant people unwittingly become a tool in the hands of unscrupulous Zanu (PF) mafia politicians. It is important to know that if one lacks judgement about practical political realities one can be easily abused for political gains. In this context, what happened recently to Philip Chiyangwa and Jonathan Moyo serve as classic examples. But I do not know why people fail to register such lessons in their minds.
At a time when we are hostage to one of the most reclusive fiefdoms in existence, principally devoted to serving the interests of the barbaric elite, people should not be found in actions which amount to complicity with our oppressors. We are at a watershed of history that requires our procedures to decide whether we remain in abject misery or we salvage ourselves.
Given the onslaught of savage militiamen, escalating poverty, gross human rights impingements, muzzling of the private media and wholesale pillaging of state resources by the satanic despotism, it is obvious we live in turbulent times. We cannot afford to have with us any longer a filthy dictatorship that has deliberately defied all the fundamentals of logic for the purpose of clinging to the position of authority.
If indeed we are inclined to see our nemesis fall apart, let us be foresighted and vigilant. There is desperate need to unite instead of aimlessly attacking those determined to liberate us. We need the intellect and knowledge to distinguish between a political killer and political saviour.
JAY-ZAT, Jozi
Where are they now?
EDITOR – Political oppression and foolishness brought the RF down. Instead of managing change through a controlled handover of power, Smith precipitated
a civil war. Thankfully, he was forced to the negotiating table before many more young Zimbabweans were killed.
A failed economic philosophy that led to economic mismanagement and corruption is bringing Zanu (PF) down. Instead of allowing for a transition
to new ideas and leadership within the ruling party (contrast China), the ruling party opted for business as usual – demagoguery under the same old
leadership and persecution of any voices within its ranks calling for change.
When real opposition inevitably arose by the beginning of the millennium, Zanu (PF) opted to ignore history and fight change, by any means necessary.
To break the link between (white) commercial farmers and the opposition, they were prepared to virtually destroy commercial agriculture (using
Hunzvi, Green Bombers and “War Veterans”). For the media they successfully used Moyo with near-similar devastation for the independent media. To
control industry, banking and financial fields, they have turned to Gono using the RBZ. For the urban population, civil servants (the ZRP, army and
CIO) are used against their paymasters – the people.
In all this, both Smith and Mugabe initially achieved their objectives and managed to hold onto power for some years. But they did not address the underlying problems. Smith tried belatedly, using the Muzorewas and Sitholes that had given false promises that they would deliver. So too Mugabe and Zanu (PF), who have their own false economic prophet. Yet, where are Smith and the RF today? In these dark times when all seems bleak, it is worth reminding each other, be it again and again, that the only certainty in this life is change, and that it will not take a thousand years this time either.
RWENDO, Borrowdale
Shame on the UNDP
EDITOR – Last month the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) invited government ministers to Kariba to confer on the establishment of a human rights commission.
Yes, read that again, it really did happen. These well remunerated and misguided UNDP sheep actually got into the same bed with Zimbabwe’s ruling party foxes.
What an insult and what a harsh blow to inflict on the long-suffering people of Zimbabwe. Who is accountable for such naivety?
The big boss of UNDP was appointed as its venerated administrator for a five year term commencing 15th August 2005. His name is Kermal Dervis.
I have no idea whether Kermal has ever visited Zimbabwe, but if he ever did it is pretty obvious he never wined and dined in any of the high-density suburbs.
Peace, security, economic development and freedom; these are the millennium development goals of the UNDP.
Under Kermal’s leadership, the UNDP is tasked to advocate for change and to help people build a better life, and that includes Zimbabweans.
Its main objectives are to persuade and to promote the practice of democratic governance, the reduction of poverty, the avoidance of crises, and the introduction of effective programmes for the alleviation of HIV AIDS.
And so what do the local UNDP blokes do? They form an alliance with the very decision makers whose policies are the complete antitheses of their own. Such idiocy defies rational explanation.
Let’s give Kernel a break just in case he’s never heard of Zimbabwe. Who’s on the spot? Well now the UN country team in Zimbabwe is headed up by resident coordinator Dr Agostinho Zacarias – a senior lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand in S Africa.
Now at last a logical and rational explanation comes to mind. Could it be the ever pervading all powerful and far-reaching influence of President Thabo Mbeki’s policy of quiet diplomacy?
MIKE ROOK, London
We just have a new constitution
EDITOR – Our dream of a new Zimbabwe is one that we should not take for granted. To realise this dream we need to ponder our past mistakes in a bid to learn, rectify, and also prevent repetition.
Many of us are inclined to the fact that removing Mugabe and his cronies will ensure us of a better future. Furthermore, we expect the MDC to work miracles in turning over the fortunes of our beloved country. Need I remind you, we also thought replacing Ian Smith with Robert Mugabe, in 1980, would have a positive effect but look how it turned out. In reality Mugabe is indeed a liability to our country but let us not over generalise our demise by heaping all blame on him. This would be like heaping all our eggs in one basket. We need a close scrutiny of all political processes that gave rise to this quagmire. This will at least ensure we do not repeat some of the mistakes we already made.
Political power is corrupting, because it encourages those in power to exploit their position for personal advantage and at the expense of the populace. In the case of Robert Mugabe, we as a nation endowed him with political power in 1980. In all grace, he turned out to be a power- seeking hypocrite who concealed personal ambition behind the rhetoric of public service and ideological convictions.
In view of the above fact, it is our duty as nation to ensure we have a mechanism that allocates authoritative influence and also determines its boundaries in our society. Our constitution, as a nation, need to be rewritten so as give power to the people not the politicians.
In the present state of affairs replacing one government with another is like robbing Peter to pay Paul. Anybody who takes office should be responsible and accountable to the people. The only way for us to do this is if we redraft our constitution.
TICHAONA SANANGURA, Milton Keynes
Police brutality condemned
EDITOR – Police brutality and torture of the ZCTU members should be condemned instead of being applauded. Any democratic leader should strive to distance themselves from such uses of force but surprising our president decided otherwise.
The president ‘s speech in Cairo actually applauded the police brutality and torture of the ZCTU activists at Mutapi Police station. He even goes further to warn the public that the police can use violence against them. The president had the mettle to praise such unconstitutional and inhuman treatment on foreign soil. He decided to tell the people and the world that the police in Zimbabwe have presidential blessings when they use force.
Freedom of expression is one benchmark of democracy and that right has been relegated to a privilege in our beloved country. It boggles the mind that people lost their lives fighting the Smith regime for its inhibition of the freedom of expression among other ills. Police brutality and torture were some of the reasons for the war of liberation-now our president decides to throw his weight behind the police force.
People thought the police brutality and heavy handedness were the work of some overzealous officers at Mutapi. But the president’s words tell us otherwise and prove beyond reasonable doubt whose blessings the police have. The problem now is the whole force will try to outdo their counterparts at Mutapi – that will spell disaster for us.
The least the president should have done was to remain quiet if distancing himself from the brutality was difficult. The president should have denounced the use of violence by the police. The remarks were undemocratic although they were not a surprise to many as police torture and brutality has been on the increase.
SAVIOUS HARI, Gweru