the recent developments on the front of negotiations for a political settlement involving the two MDC sides and Zanu (PF). The outcry has been loud and clear from the civic groups, and it is that the MDC has sold out! It is so serious that the two sides might be heading for a divorce.
Civic groups are crying out loud and blasting the MDCs for settling for a very small piece of cake by accepting the 18th amendment, viewed by some critics as a Zanu (PF) project. “Here we have a regime that is sinking and close to collapse and then you have the MDCs rescuing it and giving it another lifeline,” a civic leader said. The MDCs has gone into a unity accord with Zanu (PF) similar to the swallowisation of Joshua Nkomo’s Zapu in 1987, they say.
In countering, MDC officials among other things allege that the major cause for all this panic within civic groups is the prospect of losing out massively on donor funds. “They are benefiting from this crisis and they put their selfish interests ahead of anything else hence their anger over any progress towards solving it. They would have wanted to be included in the thick of things in order to cash in,” an MDC official believes. In other words, basing on this allegation, it is civic groups which are selling out big time?
But that might be a bit over the top. I seriously doubt if those in civic groups would be immoral to the extent of wanting 14 million Zimbabweans to continue dying whilst they enjoy the Greenbacks, Sterling Pounds and other major currencies from donors. Surely, it must be understandable how the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) feels aggrieved by what could be a very simple compromise by the opposition leaders regarding the issue of constitutional reforms when they settle for a very small crumb that the 18th amendment is.
Lovemore Madhuku and his colleagues at NCA have endured repeated battering and torture for several years and kept fighting for the constitutional matter to be included high on the agenda until today. In that case one understands where they are coming from, and why they believe someone has 30 pieces of silver in their pocket, or almost finishing selling them on the black market!
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network and the Media Institute of Southern Africa have also treaded on dangerous waters and faced the Zanu (PF) regime’s wrath whilst fighting for a more democratic electoral framework and media freedom respectively. Again, one understands why they would not settle for 30 pieces of silver, as it were. The same applies to many other members of the civil society such as WOZA, ZimRights, MMPZ, and ZCTU. For that reason, they have genuine concerns and misgivings about recent developments. However, in acknowledging that but before reaching a conclusion, it is important to seriously analyse and consider the circumstances that have led to the current scenario, as well as empathise (yes I mean that word) with the opposition. I have always been on the side of those critics believing the opposition is not doing enough to confront the regime and push for change, but lets face it, forcing Zanu (PF) onto the negotiating table, and have it accede to some demands by the opposition is a major goal. Not that I am saying the MDC or the democratic forces should not aim higher, but I am coming from the position of being fully aware of the ruthlessness, arrogance and contemptous nature of Zanu (PF) and Mugabe. The nature of negotiations at this level must be emphasised. It is a give and take game, and if you go there insisting on taking only you risk coming back empty handed and in more trouble. The regime was certainly hoping for the slightest of opportunities to chicken out of the negotiations and blame it on the MDC, and it would be game on-more inflation, hunger, violence, subversion of rule of law and rigging. People are suffering, people are dying and the regime has demonstrated its thirst for blood, as well as how it awaits provocation. We all know how Mugabe has been, showing SADC and other international bodies ultra-stubborness merely for staying in power. It has happened before, and it is a major trait of Zanu (PF), that of contemptously pulling out of processes aimed at solving this country’s problems. The nation has been the biggest victim.
Madhuku and others will obviously say we will then continue with the struggle, but it is pertinent to admit the lack of capacity and sufficient commitment by the democratic forces to mount protests or confrontation capable of dislodging the regime or causing change.
For the opposition it became a symbol of its own power that the regime accepts to talk and what more, give in to demands for significant changes to the electoral system, amending of security and media laws as well as having to do away with Mugabe’s appointed bootlickers in the House of Assembly.
In all fairness, it is major-and quite far reaching-to do away with a bootlicker called Tobaiwa Mudede who has rigged elections all along and have a Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) with representation from Zanu (PF) and MDC. The same applies to abolishing Mugabe’s Delimitation Commission and have ZEC do constituency boundaries. It is also an achievement to have all the 210 members of the House of Assembly directly elected, and not a single one appointed! Those crying out loud for having been sold out ask whether these will guarantee the coming of change, and the answer is no, as is also the case with whatever else we can embark on including a new constitution. But these breakthroughs are steps towards levelling the playing field and that is what all genuine Zimbabweans have been crying for.
Quite a good number of us have been very dismissive about the whole talks thing even doubting if there would be agreement on the agenda because of what we know the Mugabe system to be. But for a couple of reasons, including that the dictator is drowning in the morass of his economic madness and there is sustained international pressure, he has to give in. That is a window of opportunity for all Zimbabweans. I am convinced that it is retrogressive to outrightly allege that the MDCs have sold out, and mobilise for their condemnation.
Admittedly, the MDCs could forever regret this commitment especially if the widely feared possibility occurs, that of Zanu (PF) continuing to indicate right but turning left, by in essence accepting these things only on paper but go on to unleash its evil machinery of militia, use violence and subvert the rule of law to steal another election victory. If the MDC cries out, Zanu will easily tell them off and say but they agreed to these reforms and were satisfied. Thabo Mbeki has made himself the guarantuor on this deal, and despite his own questionable intentions and desires, he cannot afford to be messed up by Mugabe again given what South Africa and SADC stand to continue losing merely for harbouring an old dictator in Harare.
In the same manner, chances are realistic that whatever Zanu (PF) has at the back of its mind as the way out or the plan B might flop thereby forcing it to face reality in an election with some acceptable conditions for being free and fair. Then, indeed the reality will strike!
In conclusion, civic groups must be urged to accept that this is a done deal, and despite their genuine fears that someone got drugged to compromise, put the interests of the nation ahead and hope for the best out of this process. Lets have them continue shouting vociferously parallel to the dealing between Zanu (PF) and MDC about a new constitution, media freedom, respect for human rights etc. That way they keep the momentum and continue piling pressure on what others have already dismissed as a government of national unity involving Zanu (PF) and MDC.
On the other hand the MDC must remain awake to the real dangers of dealing with a character like Zanu (PF) in such processes to avoid really selling out eventually. The opposition must make it a point to always count its fingers every time it shakes its partner in this deal, or its teeth if the rapport gets to levels of kissing. Because we all know Zanu (PF) is a big crook.
Above all, Zimbabwe invariably needs at this point in its history a positive approach and optimism, which are the strengths of the majority yearning for emancipation from the bondage of the Mugabe dictatorship and have helped them endure this abuse for so long without presenting Mugabe an excuse to slaughter them.
Post published in: Opinions