Once Robert Mugabe says it, then everyone in his decaying political party, Zanu (PF) has to shout it even though they might not agree with it. This is the situation pertaining to the call for elections in 2011 by Mugabe.
The majority of the Zanu (PF) legislators are not keen on elections next year because they are fully aware of the real possibility of certain defeat at the hands of the dynamic MDC-T.
Some of them know that any call for elections might be the death knell for their political career, and would prefer that elections be held in 2013 or even later. Most Zanu (PF) legislators actually lost elections in 2008 but the results were manipulated to enable them to win their seats.
This benefit might not be readily available to them this time around and they might end up being thrown out by the voters. Yet they dare not sing too loud about the dangers of holding elections in 2011 lest Mugabe and his running dogs of dictatorship hear them.
This week the devastated political party, Zanu (PF) holds its annual conference in Mutare, and one of the items on their agenda will be to endorse Robert Mugabe as their candidate for the forthcoming elections. No sane party member dares challenge the geriatric for this position and expect to live to tell the story. Indeed, those who have been even slightly suspected of having strong views that are at variance with those of the Dear Leader are mostly six feet under today.
Some were even granted hero status and buried by that partys official undertaker, the First Secretary himself. He seems to enjoy burying them since he is able to deliver some of the most scathing attacks at his political rivals, real or imagined. There will be no dissent regarding anything the supreme leader may wish discussed in Mutare this week. Neither will there be any surprises at that festival. The usual feeding frenzy will obviously be in full colour this time courtesy of some misguided black businesspersons.
It may also be the right time for Mugabe to fill the gaps left by some of the departed members of the central committee and politburo. Hence the widespread praise singing of the commander in chief and the call upon his nemesis, Morgan Tsvangirai, to step down from office on account of the Wiki-Lies.
But Tsvangirai is not going to resign from office because he was placed there by the people of this country, and they want him to stay put. Robert was rejected by the people in 2008 and is the one who should resign given the exposure of his wife Grace and Gonos looting of the Marange diamonds. Life would be wonderful for Mugabe and Zanu (PF) if Tsvangirai would resign from politics. Indeed, since MT formed the MDC in 1999, politics and elections have been a time of shame and misery for both Mugabe and his sinking party. How many former Zanu (PF) legislators are now just ordinary peasants because of the MDCs political clout?
Tsvangirai is correct to call for targeted sanctions to be retained against the 220 or so perpetrators of bad governance and human rights violations in this country. If he has a treason case to answer, then the state should take him to court. But then they will also have to take Grace Mugabe and Gideon Gono to court for looting our diamonds.
We all know who will come off worse than the other. We now know how the first family acquired and equipped the 14 commercial farms they are alleged to own. May God intervene at this stage.
Post published in: Opinions