The example of Tekere

That they hounded Tekere out of their party after he opposed Mugabe’s selfish attempt to impose one party rule in Zimbabwe mattered little. That the man probably died with a broken heart at the manner in which Mugabe and his close allies in Zanu (PF) and the military have ruined our once prosperous country did not count.

Imagine, they even posted their uncouth youths at Tekere’s home in Mutare to boo and embarrass Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai when he came to pay his last respects to the fallen hero.

Just how low Zanu (PF) is prepared to sink in order to score some cheap political point, we will never know. But even that is not the issue.

The real question is: amid all this bizarre frenzy to promote themselves, even in the middle of a funeral, do Mugabe and his followers ever pause to think why the mere mention of the name Zanu (PF) causes the average Zimbabwean to shake her/his head in disappointment – or simply look away with utter contempt.

Mugabe is an intelligent man. So are the likes of Emerson Mnangagwa, Sydney Sekeramayi, Simon Khaya Moyo, John Nkomo, Patrick Chinamasa, Didymus Mutasa and many others in Zanu (PF). Could it be that these intelligent minds can see the excellent efforts of Tekere in pursuit of liberation, but honestly cannot see the nightmare that the same liberation has become under Zanu (PF)?

The landmarks of failure and betrayal – Gukurahundi, Operation Murambatsvina, political violence, farm invasions, economic collapse, corruption and diamond smuggling – are so huge that even Mugabe and Zanu (PF) should surely see them.

Or is it a case of the proverbial absolute power absolutely corrupting those who wield it? But we really need not waste time consulting crystal ball gazers to find out whether Zanu (PF) are too drunk with power to notice our plight.

All we need do is follow the example of Tekere and stand up to the dictatorship as he did for those many years – regardless of the price to be paid. It’s over to you Zimbabweans.