Slogans have become the open vitriolic chants with which to rouse the rally audience; no political speech will be complete without it. “Pamberi neZanu (PF)!” (Forward with Zanu (PF)) Mugabe would always start his rally speeches, punctuating each word with his clinched fist. He loved slogans.
The people should have asked, as befits the free, justice and prosperous Zimbabwe they all thought they had fought for, where “forward” are we going? Because 34 years after independence few Zimbabweans can say this is where they wanted us to be! After being misled by Mugabe and Zanu (PF) one would think the people learnt their lesson. Sadly, no!
For the last 15 years MDC supporters have been chanting “Chinja! Chinja!” (Change! Change!)” without a clue what exactly they wanted to be changed. If the party leaders had implemented the democratic changes the party had promised the 2013 elections would have been free and fair. Zimbabwe would have a democratically elected government – not another Zanu (PF) imposition following rigged elections.
Tsvangirai, Biti, Ncube and all the other MDC leaders did not implement even one democratic change, although they had five years to do so, because they were side-tracked by the trappings of power, in the first place. Second, they are breathtakingly incompetent.
“Renewal” and “grand coalition” are the new kids on the block these days. The “renewal” is headed by Biti and Mangoma and a number of the same corrupt and incompetent MDC leaders. What is new there? The grand coalition is to be composed of recycled failed leaders from MDC and Zanu (PF). What is so grand in that!
If we are serious about building a democratic Zimbabwe in which the electorate is expected to cast an informed and meaningful vote and to hold those in power to account; then we must end the culture of empty slogans geared to produce a naïve and gullible electorate.
The Pungwes of pre-independence should have prepared the people for a free, democratic and prosperous Zimbabwe. Instead the nights were wasted in mindless slogans and brainwashing; laying the foundation of the corrupt and oppressive autocracy that has ruled and ruined the nation these last 34 years! – Wilbert Mukori, UK
Post published in: Letters to the Editor