The headline story was President Mugabe talking about the impending football game. Second in line was Mugabe giving computers to a school. Then came a report on SADC and regional peace, then the Chinese Ambassador talking to army staff. After a commercial break and 21 minutes into the bulletin came the real news: the MDC were disengaging themselves from Zanu (PF) and the cabinet. In less than two minutes and airing just a few sentences of Morgan Tsvangirai’s press statement, ZBC soon turned to their invited guest for comment. The blame is on the Rhodesians; Roy Bennett is a Rhodesian, Morgan Tsvangirai is having difficulty pleasing his white masters, said the analyst. The news reader’s smirk grew as the absurd comments continued and we thought about what they hadn’t reported but what had actually happened.
It was a shocking week in the country when Roy Bennett, deputy Minister of Agriculture, who is yet to be sworn in, was detained in custody by a magistrate in Mutare. Everyone, everywhere was talking about it. Disbelief, shock, contempt, disgust and anger were the widespread, unanimous expressions. The MDC issued statements immediately using words like ‘provocative’ and ‘persecution.’ Perhaps the most appropriate part of their statement rang true for everyone: “This latest action is deliberately provocative, unnecessary and motivated by hatred of a personality.” Two days later Tsvangirai held a press conference. He came out with the fighting talk that we are all familiar with but haven’t heard for a year. He said provincial governors have still not been appointed, the issues of the Attorney General and Reserve Bank governor remain unresolved and the government itself is not even properly constituted.
The Prime Minister said he knew the countryside was being militarized and that 16,000 Zanu (PF) youth have been imposed on the government payroll. He said Zanu (PF) was a dishonest, unrepentant and unreliable partner. Then the Prime Minister said the words that have been burning a hole in the hearts of our oh so patient nation:
“The truth of the matter is that it is our Movement that won the election of 29 March 2008. It is our Movement that has the mandate of the people to govern this country. It is our Movement that has strategically compromised on that mandate by executing the GPA and by entering into the transitional government. It is our Movement upon which the hope and future of millions of Zimbabweans is deposited.” Yes Mr Prime Minister, your Movement did compromise the mandate of the brave people of Zimbabwe who courageously stepped forward and literally risked their lives to give you and your party their votes. People were beaten, tortured, raped and lost everything to bring the MDC into power, hundreds were murdered. The MDC gave us back money in our pockets and food in the shops but now its time for accountability and real democracy, not this sham. The time for threats, words and strategic compromise is past. Until next week, thanks for reading, Ndini shamwari yenyu
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