At last the MDC has had the courage to exercise power and make Mugabe and Zanu (PF) scream and cringe with the fear that the GNU is on the verge of collapse. This is good thinking on the part of the MDC. Robert Mugabe is shocked by the MDCs move. (Pictured: John Makumbe)
For nearly 30 years he has always done things his own way and none of his wives has ever dared to challenge him on anything. Now comes this bunch of younger and more articulate workers and civilians who seem to have a mind of their own.
They have placed the old man between a rock and a hard place and this has the potential of embarrassing him no end. Mugabe and Zanu (PF) know very well that they have no mandate from the people of this country outside the GPA. They lost the 2008 elections big time, and a recent survey by the Mass Public Opinion Institute indicates that their support is about 10% or less even in rural Zimbabwe. It would therefore be unthinkable to call for national elections and expect Zanu (PF) to win and remain in power. So the inclusive government must be saved at all cost.
But this is exactly where Mugabe and his bunch of wimps come face to face with reality. Past elections have witnessed the Zanu (PF) Father Christmas, aka Gideon Gono, dishing out all kinds of incentives, bribes and other forms of corruption to ensure that Mugabe and his dead wood win such elections. This time around, Tendai Biti is firmly keeping the keys to the granary and no war veteran or Zanu (PF) militia is going to get even one cent from state coffers.
Without inducement money and the usual gravy, it is unlikely that the Zanu (PF) hoodlums would campaign for the outgoing political party in the same manner as they did in June 2008. But then they can always resort to the national army and the police to do their bidding. After all, these elements are receiving the monthly $150 to $200, so they will obey the commander of defence forces and go out and beat up their mothers, fathers, grandfathers and even their children to make them vote for Mugabe and Zanu (PF). Will they?
Perhaps they will resort to the CIO and the prison service officers. These are also receiving the usual monthly pittance and should be grateful to the supreme leader and willingly go and campaign for him to win the next election. Fat chance Bob! Some of us know that the majority of the civil servants are now subtly opposed to Zanu (PF) and are co-operating very well with these new MDC ministers and their deputies. Who then will do the rigging for the old men and women of a dying political party? No, elections right now are not the best option for Zanu (PF).
The MDC must begin to think quickly about their next move. They have done the right thing to place Mugabe and Zanu (PF) in a no-win situation. Let Mugabe fully express his foolishness by appointing acting ministers and the GPA will be history. Mugabe will be completely without any legitimacy. Sanctions will not be removed; instead, they will be tightened further.
The SADC is unlikely to rescue Mugabe and his sinking Titanic. Ian Seretse Khama of Botswana has already said without the GPA, he is not going to recognise Mugabe as President of this country. Jacob Zuma is only waiting for the right time to say the same thing, and Jakaya Kikwete will not need any serious persuasion to follow suit. Slowly, Mugabe and his minions are being squeezed out of the little political space they have in the region. MDC must now come up with the best way forward for this country. Time is of the essence. God bless Zimbabwe.
Post published in: Opinions