MDC Scores Own Goals.

From being the breadbasket of the region under white rule it fast becoming a poor pariah state under its new black rulers who did not care a hoot about the ordinary people.  Their only goal was to plunder and to enrich themselves. 

The people flocked to the MDC under Morgan Tsvangirai, the former Secretary General of the powerful Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions.  They had had enough of ZANU (PF)’s arrogance, cruelty and self-aggrandizing policies, which were arbitrarily imposed without involving all the stakeholders in the social and political arena.

By the year 2000 the MDC had become a monolith party ready to wrest power from the ruling ZANU (PF).  It was the party of the downtrodden and the poor.  It demonstrated its people power when it campaigned successfully for a NO vote in the referendum for a ZANU (PF) constitution which was indeed defective.

In the general elections under the old constitution, the MDC won, hands down, but the election was stolen through heavy and obvious rigging.  The Movement for Democratic Change, however, did not despair. It soldiered on under its brave leader.  Arrests, beatings and torture did not deter them.  Emancipation from ZANU (PF) tyranny was their avowed goal.

As was inevitable, under the profligate and flamboyant life style of ZANU (PF) leaders, the once robust Zimbabwean economy finally crashed.  Commerce and industry has been systematically destroyed.  The agricultural infrastructure which was a showpiece to the world was dismantled and the rate of inflation is now the highest in the world.

The people were fed up.  The scenario was all set for change.  Even from within ZANU (PF), rumblings of discontent could be heard.  Stories of party dissenters disappearing or dying in suspicious accidents oiled the rumour mill.  The free press was gagged and a crude propaganda machine set up to churn out lies that all our problems were caused by Western imperialist powers.  Nobody believes this drivel, not even the most gullible of the ZANU (PF) supporters, of course.

The people are saying enough is enough.  On the other hand, any kind of reform has been thwarted by the Machiavellian leader, President Robert Gabriel Mugabe, who wants the very status quo to remain with him in power until he dies.  As the Shona say, Chisingapere chinoshura. Change is coming. Today there is open dissent within that impenetrable party.  Insiders say 90% of the politburo are behind Simba Makoni, the upstart economist who has dared to openly challenge Robert Mugabe.  ZANU (PF) is indeed in disarray and open to defeat.  Some say their rigging machinery is now in shambles. 

Instead of gearing up to deliver the coup-de-grace at the next elections, unfree and unfair as they are, what is the MDC doing?  It is indeed painful for us political observers to watch while that giant of a party scores one own goal after another.

The first goal was when some leaders broke away over participation in senatorial elections.  The second goal was when they entered into negotiations with ZANU (PF) without their civil society partners and were tricked into signing the 18th Constitutional Amendment by the will Thabo Mbeki, President of South Africa who regards Robert Mugabe as his godfather.  The latest own goal is when party leaders they imposed candidates upon the people to fight the elections next month.

Just after nominations closed, I visited some of my MDC friends in Dzivarasekwa.  They were sad.  They told me that they had expected their own man, Peter Karimakwenda, to stand as their parliamentary candidate.  He was a founder member of the MDC and understood their needs.  He is the vice-chairperson of the district.  Last year his house, a bus and his grinding mill was burnt down by ZANU (PF) operatives to stop him from working for the party.  At one time he was abducted, tortured and thrown into the bush to die.  He recovered after several weeks in hospital.  After the people of Dzivarasekwa asked him to stand, he submitted his CV to the party headquarters.  This was a formality since he had been the councilor for the area before councillors were dismissed by ZANU (PF).

When he was ready, with other aspirants to go for primary elections the people were told by the party hierarchy that there would be no primaries.  A Mrs Masaiti, whom they hardly knew, was going to be their candidate.

When the people of Dzivarasekwa protested, they were told that his was in line with the party’s new gender equality policy. One resident told me, Wakatama, the way the people at the top use us and then ignore our views is frustrating.  Since I wont be able to vote for Peter Karimakwenda, I will vote for Simba Makoni.  I don’t know this Evelyn Masaiti we are being asked for support.  I only know that she was the wife of a now deceased MDC chairman.

Peter Karimakwenda said, I am sad.  I so much wanted to represent my home in parliament.  However, I can’t destroy the party after all I have gone through.  I will campaign for Masaiti so that the MDC can win.  We have suffered enough.  We cannot afford to loose.

Please Morgan Tsvangirai, listen to the Peter Karimakwendas in the party.  They are the true heroes of the struggle.   Gender equality is important, yes, but it’s not the priority at this stage.

He who has ears to hear, let him hear.