Now that the full results are out, the question remains as to what next? For Mugabe it’s a question of whether he fights on or uses the window of opportunity to negotiate a safe landing for himself. For the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) it is a strenuous situation – to hand the victory to Mugabe or go back to the trenches risking limbs, legs and lives of the supporters in the rural areas.
Many would favour the MDC fighting on, but what if the results remain the same, will there be a run-off of the run-off? These are questions that we the ordinary people grapple with in our minds.But should the MDC decide to stand in a re-run, I am certain that they are likely to garner more votes than they did in the first round.This is mainly because the Mugabe regime has convinced many that they are barbaric and would not want to cede power.
All those who thought Mugabe and his government were being persecuted by the Western imperialists must have been sobered by the way in which Zanu (PF) could not stomach defeat, what with the Generals, who ran scared at the thought of Mugabe leaving power.
Everything that Zanu (PF) did has been to their discredit.However, my main reason for writing is the strategy that we as civil society need to take for things to work for our good. The first thing to note is that this run-off will not be won on Zimbabwean turf, but most likely on South African primarily and then in Botswana.It is time for civil society and the opposition to rally the support base that has fled the country in pursuit of greener pastures. It would work in the MDCs favour by campaigning on South African soil; the best would be to do it through contact to contact rather or rallies though the latter is likely to be scuppered by Thabo Mbeki, given his stance regarding Tsvangirai’s candidature and suitability as a president.
The plan has to centre on convincing as many to go home and vote and they should be prepared to even foot the bill of those who might be willing to travel and vote, but without the money to do so.I have witnessed many people who spend the day milling around the streets of Joburg, Central Methodist is a case in point, and you would think you are at Chikwanha shopping centre when passing Small Street.
With about 2.7 million Zimbabwean people in South Africa, Tsvangirai only needs to work towards obtaining at least 200,000 votes from these people, which would go a long way to ensuring victory.This is no longer about Tsvangirai doing everything. He can lead from the front, but we in the grassroots can take our own initiative through the work that we Zimbabweans are doing here. From Gautrain engineers, builders, artisans and accountants – they are carrying the South African economy forward as this country lacks the requisite skills.But we are doing this at the expense of our own well being; soon one person in the Diaspora will have a burden of taking care of the whole clan. Let us rise to the occasion and reclaim our nation from the jaws of a despot. The previous four elections have left his gripping jaws in a weakened state; let us not give him a chance to recuperate, which I doubt given his advanced age.
 We cannot take chances. We owe it to the people back home. They tried in their numbers to rid our nation of this monster, so let us rise to the calling and save our nation.Zimbabwe needs us back; a victory for democracy in Zimbabwe would paint a grim picture of South African tourism given the high crime rate here.May God bless our plans and be the leader and guide, for this battle is not ours but the Lord’s.
Post published in: Opinions