What does the Zimbabwe National War Veterans Association have in common with the Movement for Democratic (MDC)? Or what does the late Dr Chenjerai Hitler Hunzvi have in common with Morgan Tsvangirai, the founding president of the MDC?This sounds a silly question. The two organizations and their leaders are poles apart. The war vets are an offshoot of Zanu (PF), while the MDC was established in opposition to Zanu (PF).
On closer examination, however, the war vets and MDC have something in common: the two organizations can be credited with giving Zanu (PF) and its president and first secretary, Robert Mugabe, their greatest frights.
In 1988 Hunzvi and his men and women gave the Zanu (PF) government an ultimatum: reward us for our role in the liberation struggle, or else. . . Apparently it was no empty threat. The former guerrillas were awarded a one-off payment and lifelong pension and allowances.
Ten years later, Tsvangirai and the people of Zimbabwe, through the MDC, did not threaten anything but made a strong statement about the need for change. Their weapon: The ballot box. A complacent and over-confident Zanu (PF), having ruled virtually undisturbed and undisputed for decades, had a rude shock.
Even the partys most fanatical adherents and apologists will admit that Zanu (PF) did not rule all these years by playing nice. As often happens, however, the more ruthless and intolerant of dissentreal or perceivedthe populace was subjected to, the more determined they became to fight on for what they knew was not only a good cause but a right.
The people proved the seemingly formidable Zanu (PF) to be what the Chinese (who are among Zimbabwes known best friends) call a paper tiger. In English, they would speak of a toothless bulldog. The Shona people would sing a traditional song which goes as follows: Taiti zizi rine nyanga. Makushe/Taiti zizi rine nyanga. Manzeve (We thought an owl has horns/Its actually furs, feathers and big ears).
Who ever imagined for a moment that Zanu (PF) would humiliate or demean itself by being in a coalition government with Chematama, as that parts leader derisively called Tsvangirai? Despite concerted frustration or provocation, Tsvangirai soldiers on, to fulfill the promise the MDC made to the people of Zimbabwe: better governance and the resultant freedom, peace and prosperity.
The bulldog might have been proved to have no teeth, or to have lost them. Its paws, however, can still inflict damage but such damage cannot be anything near what the teeth would have done. Aluta continua.
Post published in: Opinions