President Robert Mugabe refused to hand over power following his crushing 2008 defeat – ostensibly because the people would not allow it.
Now once again, the army generals claim “the people” will not allow them to salute anyone without liberation war credentials – an obvious reference to MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
Even in the economic realm, the previous Zanu (PF) government opted for a command economy and, in the process, dragged the country along a path that led to economic ruin for the majority and obscene wealth for those in power.
Even when everyone else, including the Russians, abandoned that ideology, Mugabe was busy declaring himself the “most faithful disciple" of Marxist-Leninist philosophy.
It was only when the government realised it was heading for a balance of payments cul-de-sac that it abandoned its command economy in favour of trade liberalisation.
But nothing has ever and probably never will exposed Zanu (PF)’s deceit as clearly as its current battle cry: "People first".
Those Zimbabweans who support other parties have been branded "traitors" – they are no longer people.
In the name of “the people” Zanu (PF) has destroyed agriculture and, in the process, is starving the very people it purports to be putting first.
It has almost totally destroyed the mining, manufacturing and tourism industries.
Currently it is pushing an indigenisation law that economists have already warned will spook investors and send the economy reeling.
The direct effect of that will be record high unemployment and abject poverty.
The party routinely offers the hordes of jobless youths unlimited alcohol and niggardly stipends in exchange for terrorising their parents and other elders – whose consciences will not allow them to support Zanu (PF)’s insane policies.
Recent laws and other arbitrary injunctions made possible by the use of the Presidential Powers Act have had the effect of making ours a society where there is no freedom, no justice, no equality before the law and where only supporters of Zanu (PF) are safe, says Vote Moyo, a political and social commentator.
"Zanu (PF) says that the MDC is hell-bent on reversing the gains of our hard-won independence. But the truth is that what the ruling party has been doing is what has reversed all the gains of our independence. The President is even trying to kill democracy by blocking all democratic processes using his special powers, proved time and again to be ultra vires the Constitution," said Moyo.
Post published in: News