So, Roy Bennett (pictured) was back in prison having been indicted on terrorism charges (whatever that means). Following the recent seizure of a private company (Meikles Group) and not to be outdone in idiocy, the re-incarceration of Roy Bennett and the disintegration of the GNU is a brutal reminder that all is not well in Zimbabwe once again! What is wrong with Mugabe? Does he even care about the national consequences of his actions? Many people incensed by these developments called for MDCs withdrawal from the inclusive government. This week they did, now what?
There is no doubt that MDC has become a highly visible casualty of this compromise government. However, the people of Zimbabwe should not be delusional about the political realities of Zimbabwe. Pragmatism must prevail over our emotions. With the MDCs withdrawal the country risks degenerating into another Rwandan or Somali tragedy.
Already a failed state
Arguably, before the GNU, Zimbabwe was already a failed state because by definition a failed state is a country that can no longer provide basic functions such as health delivery, education, social amenities or governance. After all, Africa is home to many failed states such as Somalia, DRC and Sudan.
From the onset, some of us held no illusions that the GNU was going to be on autopilot considering that it involves a highly successful dictator. It was clear that every turn and every juncture would be characterized by fault-lines and impediments as that has been the defining trend world over.
As soon as GNU was first announced in September 2008, I wrote an article entitled Houston weve got a Problem – Called Mugabe which succinctly pointed out the extraordinary slipperiness of the negotiated government given Mugabes time-tested political stratagem and megalomania.
On the international scene, it looks like GNUs are becoming fashionable. The ongoing Afghan political quagmire emanating from discredited elections tainted by irrefutable evidence of rigging and irregularities (allegedly by President Hamid Karzai) is apparently solved! Its official that shortly, governments of national unity (GNU) will be instituted in Afghanistan and Honduras (where a military coup recently took place) sanctioned by the express authority of the US and the European Union.
These latest entrants into compromise governments will join the ranks of Zimbabwe (2009), Kenya (2008), Palestine (2007), Lebanon (2008), Burundi (2001) and Northern Ireland (2007), among others. Elsewhere, like Burundi, unity governments have been successful in solving highly problematic political crises, like Zimbabwe.
Bad precedent for democracy
There are strong arguments against compromise governments primarily that they set a bad precedent for democracy and that they promote human rights abuses. But if anyone lived through the Zimbabwean experience, then one would understand why I argued in favour of unity government back in September 2008 stating that it is better to light a candle than to continue cursing darkness.
If it was not for fear, Zimbabweans would never have chosen to continue to suffer peacefully. Fear of soldiers, fear of CIOs, fear of militias, fear of police, fear of Mugabe, Fear of Zanu PF men and fear of fear itself have traumatized the people of Zimbabwe. There is a pandemic of paranoia, an implacable assault of the brain which has swept across the nation making virtually most Zimbabweans political prisoners for nearly 30 years. That psyche coupled with wretched socio-economic circumstances caused them to resign from effective political engagement.
Even as we undergo this difficult time of intense speculation about the well-being of a fearless modern-day freedom fighter, Roy Bennett, we should reconsider that the GNU was Zimbabwes best alternative. Zimbabweans must not allow this unity government to slip away because an apocalyptic cataclysm might very well be brewing especially bearing in mind that over 20 000 people perished in Matebeleland.
MDC has successfully facilitated the release of a US$512 million loan by the IMF. Could that be the reason Zanu (PF) wants MDC out because it has raised enough money to fund its violent operations? Now that they got the money, they want to rupture the GNU and run MDC out of town. The ease with which Mugabe is willing and ready to set a date for next elections smacks of a setup considering that, in the meantime, he is constipating constitutional reform process.
Fighting from within
The struggle for reform must be fought from within. Instead of quitting, MDC should have continued to engage in intense political dialogue with the help of bordering neighbours such as Botswana, South Africa, Zambia and Mozambique.
Taking moderate stances is not the solution of dealing with Zanu (PF). The dauntlessness of Tendai Bitis defiance in battling the illegal Reserve Bank Governor Gono comforts MDC skeptics. The hope is to have all MDC Ministers taking a leaf out of Bitis rules of engagement (with Zanu PF).
Zimbabwe does not have a crisis of leadership but a crisis of courage. MDC ministers have to stand up to Zanu (PF)s evil ways of doing business. Avoidance of confrontation is what makes MDC Zanu (PF)s prey!
I have nothing but absolute respect and admiration for Zimbabweans who are working tirelessly to make the GNU a success story. People should not buy into the conspiracy theories propagated by Jonathan Moyo (and others) as well as the state media that MDC is seeking to overthrow the government (which includes MDC itself). It is also a smokescreen which they are using to justify rupturing the GNU.
We have all seen enough evidence ofs how Zimbabwe is already back on the path to economic prosperity and social progress within a short space of time. Zimbabwes trajectory towards economic reconstruction is squarely accredited to the MDC.
Post published in: Opinions