HARARE - Zanu (PF) reacted with characteristic arrogance and a sense of exaggerated over-confidence to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangiras (pictured) announcement of his partys partial withdrawal from the so-called inclusive government. In short, President Robert Mugabe and his party are letting it be known that, contrary to fears being expressed in certain quarters, the decision will not make any difference. The government will continue as before, with or without the MDC, as in the past.
How can the government continue to function when Mugabe says Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara of have one leg in and one leg out of that government?
After what happened at the harmonised elections, it is strange that Zanu (PF) is confident it will be business as usual minus MDC. How can the status quo continue when Zanu (PF) was shaken to its very foundation by the MDC and especially that its leader was rejected? Zimbabweans vowed then that what happened over the past 10 years will never happen again (just as Zimbabwe will never be a colony again).
How can the country do without the MDC? Mugabe acknowledged at a party meeting at the weekend that Zanu (PF) is not government but in government, adding: It is part of a government like the other two. Later in a speech at Heroes Acre Mugabe referred to Zanu (PF) as the important party in the government. A case of some partners being more equal than others? Herein lies the root cause of all the squabbling that has dogged the inclusive government from the start.
Put another way, although the government is three-legged, Zanu (PF) says it is equal to two legs and the MDC formations are one leg. But just what does a government without the MDC mean? To the generality of Zimbabweans, the following come to mind:
collapsed social services (health, education)
endless queues for the little cash to get the few basic commodities available
gross human rights violations/abuses (against ordinary people, opponents, civic leaders, journalists)
corruption, looting and nepotism in government institutions and programmes
an undemocratic electoral and political environment
blatantly selective application of the law
world record hyperinflation and an ever-crumbling infrastructure
abductions, violence, intimidation and brutality perpetrated by state agents and war veterans (who know they will go unpunished).
unashamedly biased media that is bent on convincing us all to think the alike.
The list is unlimited. The status quo means putting the clock backwards to the hell-hole Zimbabwe was until recently. The country has surely changed for the better since the signing of the three-party accord, lop-sided as it is. Can all these impressive gains, achieved in a relatively short period, be thrown down the drain just like that? God forbid!
The sooner Zanu (PF) stops believing it was anointed to rule for all time because of its role in the liberation war, the better for Zimbabwe.
Post published in: Opinions