His comments after the disruption of the Constitutional Conference on Monday are most welcome:
“We feel disturbed and we have a sense of abhorrence of what happened,”
Mugabe said. “Don’t forget that we are coming from different political camps and there is always a pull back…but this must not stop the constitution-making process.”
Knowing Mugabe as we do, we suspect these are mere crocodile tears. But, for the sake of our beloved Zimbabwe, we are always prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt.
He can easily prove his sincerity by one simple act. He should sack his minister of youth, Saviour Kasukuwere, and his nephew Patrick Zhuwawo, a deputy minister, who reportedly entered the conference chamber leading a mob of drunken Zanu (PF) youths.
While we earnestly hope Mugabe will do this, we very much doubt that he will. In the absence of any clear signal from him to the contrary, we will be forced to conclude that a nudge is as good as a wink and his loyal thugs will continue to wreak havoc throughout the country according to plan.
Since the constitutional reform process got underway, it has been dogged by problems all of them emanating from Zanu (PF). Their MPs wanted the whole thing delayed. Then they wanted more money. Then they wanted the Kariba Draft to be adopted as the new constitution.
At the same time, party thugs throughout the country ratcheted up the violence against MDC supporters, terrorising teachers, forcing youths to go for indoctrination, evicting former war vets who had begun to support the MDC and generally causing chaos.
In addition, the police, partisan as ever, have been harassing MDC supporters and arresting their MPs on various trumped-up charges. And yet, at the conference on Monday where they were needed to restore order they stood by like spectators and didnt lift a finger.
Perhaps most telling of all was the walkout by senior Zanu ministers Patrick Chinamasa and Emmerson Mnangagwa as the crazed party youths entered the conference centre. Neither of them made any attempt to take the microphone and exert their undeniable authority to restore order.
Word
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:15-17
Post published in: Editor: Wilf Mbanga