A response to Patrick Chinamasa

I listened with intense curiosity to the position articulated by Minister of Justice Patrick Chinamasa in his recent deliberations with a group of Zimbabweans in the United Kingdom. I was appalled at the lack of depth and brutal honesty of the questions posed by his audience, which I think is a result of fear, and/or appalling ignorance about conditions on the ground in Zimbabwe and how Zanu (PF) has contributed to their deterioration.

Personally, I do not think any informed Zimbabwean disagrees with the historical issues around land, including the fact that the British, for various reasons, did not fully fulfill their obligations with regard to the provision of financial resources for proper land reform. But many of us disagree with the means by which Zanu (PF) sought to address the problem.

Likewise, nobody disagrees with the necessity for self-determination and sovereignty, for Zimbabweans to pursue their own issues and come up with solutions that they deem relevant to their needs without interference from any other country. The point of departure for me is that, this has been continually abused by Zanu (PF) to oppress us.

There is nothing inherently evil or injurious about indigenisation or empowerment and the right for Zimbabweans to own, control or dispose of their national resources and assets as they deem fit. However, once again, the approach being promoted by Zanu (PF) to achieve this will not achieve the intended objectives.

There is a deep respect by most of us for the role played by those who contributed to the liberation struggle in any manner. This respect is, of course, only due to those who have remained steadfast on the objectives of the struggle – and they are sadly very few.

There indeed is nothing wrong with Zanu (PF), as one of many political formations in Zimbabwe, being given the opportunity to present their views. But this must apply equally to all Zimbabweans. The restrictive media laws imposed by Zanu (PF) stand in disparity with their argument that they have been denied free access to the British press.

The fundamental problem we are challenging is the inherent and demonstrable philosophy of Zanu (PF) of “none but ourselves”. This philosophy has, over the years, shut down opportunities for most Zimbabweans who may not agree with them to create and build their own reality that is outside the world view of Zanu (PF).

This philosophy has resulted in the alienation of a large number of progressive Zimbabweans who differ from the party on how Zimbabwe should be managed and developed. It has created an illusion that there is no outside and thereby robbed us of the possibility of creating a new Zimbabwe, significantly different, in form and character, from what Zanu (PF)’s leadership may imagine.

Individuals within the party and the army have claimed sole and exclusive responsibility for our freedom and yet all those who could, contributed and suffered in some way for Zimbabwe to be free. Access to economic opportunity has not been based on talent or virtue, but on the support and therefore tacit approval of the view that only Zanu (PF) is the only legitimate political formation that is entitled to hold power. That we reject.

My divergence with the honorable minister is based on the need for us to create a modern democratic state, underpinned by fairness and the respect of our dignity; the right for Zimbabweans in general, to differ without dire consequences; the right for us to pursue an alternative socio-political narrative without the interference of Zanu (PF); the necessity for the removal of all impediments, overt and covert, created by the party to limit our personal liberties and the pursuit of happiness; the creation of new laws and institutions that guarantee such liberties and the renewal of our social values to meet our ever-changing socio-economic needs. The British have nothing to do with that.

Our fight is and remains internal. Our agenda as black Africans is informed, not by what the British think or would like, but by who we have become. We are the next generation of Zimbabweans who wish to see and create a significantly different future from the past.

We are saying cohesion, intimidation and fear can no longer be the basis of our relationships. Nor is prescription and economic exclusivity tolerable any longer. We have the right and the responsibility to re-define our reality in Zimbabwe through peaceful, internally driven regime change by participating in free and fair elections, unsoiled by Zanu(PF)’s deceitful schemes to retain an unfair advantage. – Join the debate. Send your comments to: vtmusewe@gmail.com