Kitchener gives the tale of a Trinidadian [Trini] and a Barbadian [Bajan] in dire hunger. The Bajan proposed that they bring together what they both have to buy and prepare something to eat together. The Bajan bought rice and Trini bought meat balls. When the cooking was nearly done, the Bajan decided to pull a fast one. He tells his pal that it is not fair to share equally since Trini had only contributed 12 cents meat. Bajan threatens that when it comes to such occasions, he defends his rights. Trini was entirely surprised and began crying, feeling cheated. But crying did not stop the Bajan, he goes ahead and reminded Trini, Man, I am a Bajan and when it comes to the occasion, I die for mi rights, take out your meat from mi rice. When Trini continued protesting, he is reminded that, what he simply needed was a fork to pick up the meat balls from the rice [the balls must have been squashed by now]. Bajan goes to say, Man, if I find a grain of rice on your fork, I am gonna squeeze your throat like a vice.
This calypso reminds me of what we now call the Global Political Agreement. Three political parties came to an agreement on power sharing. When all felt comfortable and relaxing, raw-Butt, like the Bajan, decides to pull a fast one. He makes appointments without consulting the others as dictated by the agreement of power sharing. The man is known to say one thing today and act differently and acts like the victim. One can easily listen to the interview at the World Economic Forum recently to understand how he has learnt from the Bajan.
It is also noteworthy to mention that the other players in the agreement are timid, just like Trini. Crying does not help, rather squaring it out does. The issue of the constitution has been receiving less and less urge by the leaders. There are fears; the Professor knows he cannot win so does Raw-Butt. Hon. Save would definitely win in a free and fair election, but he is acting like a virgin. He wants it, but he is scared, he wished it just happens and he gets over it with no hurt. Of course he has received some bashing and lashing, but thats not the end of the battle. More pressure on Raw-Butt and the professor and Zimbabwe, might be independent. I am careful now of claiming independence, for we thought Raw-Butt brought us sovereignty and independence, but now we know it was not so. So, Hon Save too, has to be tested before we make any claims.
Where we are now is on the verge of let-it-be. All three are playing it safe and raw-Butt is making profit of the occasion and is pulling a fast one. Perpetuate his stay in power until his final demise into the underworld. If that happens, there are three sad complications.
Firstly, that is a defeat for the people of Zimbabwe. The electoral system has failed, thanks be to the team of riggers at the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission. Zimbabwe needs to try Raw-Butt either locally or at The Hague for crimes of human rights abuses and massive murder, call it genocide if you want for justice not only to be seen to have been done, but to be done.
Secondly, if Raw-Butt dies in power, there is going to be chaos in the Movement for Dictatorial Continuity PF [formerly ZANU PF] on the succession of the dead man. Swords are already being sharpened for this by the different camps within MDC PF. If this happens, Hon. Save and the GPA would be rendered useless. The army and police remain loyal to MDC PF, and its most likely that the army leadership will support one person, and defy democracy. That would bring Zimbabwe into a state of emergency.
Thirdly, if Raw-Butt dies in power, and the army takes over, many of those who should be brought to account for their crimes along with Raw-Butt would support the army, knowing full well that most culprits would be protected by the army led or supported government. That would see Zimbabwe sink deeper than the titanic into oblivion.
To avoid this, Hon Save and probably the Professor need to know that the man they are dealing with is a lunatic and changes goal posts to suit himself like the Bajan in the calypso. It is pathetic to realise that the MDC had a wider vision but no drive to move towards it at this juncture. Raw-Butt is an acrobatic politician and other political players seem to forget this. Watch out Zimbabwe.
Post published in: Opinions