Without pressure both from within the country and from external structures like SADC, it is highly unlikely that Zimbabwe’s political parties will be able to come up with a decent constitution and acceptable electoral reforms leading to free and fair elections.
Short of the MDC formations walking out of the marriage of inconvenience with Zanu (PF), which would be suicidal at this point, the best form of pressure can only come from a rallying together of pro-democracy forces within Zimbabwe to demand democratic reforms.
By continued association with Zanu (PF), the MDC formations risk losing credibility through contamination of their brands. The MDC formations are part of the government under whose watch members of parliament are physically assaulted within the precincts of parliament while the police take no action.
They are part of a government that buys ultra-expensive luxury vehicles for cabinet while begging the international community to fund constitutional reform. The current government is now moving to commit economic suicide by implementing half-backed, loot-and- plunder-oriented indigenization and economic empowerment policies that are nothing but a lame excuse for a political elite to loot foreign-owned companies.
Collective responsibility
Collective responsibility for government policies and conduct for those in government is implied unless there is a clear, unambiguous indication that the MDC formations are not in agreement with such policies.
Beyond such an explicit disassociation, there is an urgent need for all pro-democracy forces in the country to rally together to mobilize the people to reject ruinous policies and demand political change.
Zimbabwe needs renewed energy and a focus on reforms that matter, driven by a united front that inspires ordinary Zimbabweans to believe that a new, better Zimbabwe is possible in our lifetime.
The unity of purpose such as what was exhibited by political parties, civil society groups, women’s groups, social movements, trade unions, students and churches in 2000 when they worked together to defeat an imposed constitutional draft in the February referendum is what Zimbabwe needs today.
My proposal to the pro-democracy political leadership and leaders of women’s groups, students, youths, civics, churches and trade unions, among others, is to have another People’s Convention to examine the political mess that we find ourselves in. Only in the context of ample pressure generated inside the country, can support from regional leaders help to achieve meaningful change.
The MDC formations should constantly return to the rock from which they were hewn – their staying political power is not derived from their being in government, but from the millions of Zimbabweans who have confidence in them.
When we rejected the 2000 constitutional draft, we sang a revolutionary song urging the drafters of the dismissed draft to ‘go back to the people to consult’. In the same vein, pro-democracy leaders must remain with the people and, to borrow a phrase from chairman Mao, be among the people as fish in water.
It is only when we have united democracy that we can attract thousands of young people who are presently disinterested in matters of their country and their future.
The ‘deeply-felt and immediate hopes and aspirations of the millions of our people’ referred to in the Global Political Agreement can only be realized on the back of significant and sustained political pressure for change.
Once we have an active, united democratic front, we can be assured that we are in a position to set the pace and conditions of reform, and not to continuously respond to an agenda set by Zanu (PF) and its allies. – Dewa Mavhinga, Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition Regional Coordinator
Post published in: Politics