Africa. ‘Guys I’ve got four vests. Guys I’ve got four bras – size 46B.’ We would like to check next year if Mr Biti is still size 46B but, sadly, the Vigil doesn’t think it’s likely that the MDC will form the next government, having allowed themselves to be out-manoeuvred by Zanu (PF) for four years to the extent that there is no time left to ensure a level playing field for the elections that the party’s tame judges say must be held by the end of next month.
The Zimbabwe Action Forum, at our fortnightly meeting after the Vigil, was pessimistic about next Sunday’s SADC summit in Maputo. Speakers did not think the summit would force Mugabe to make real reforms to the security sector, the media and the electoral process.
We were joined by Andy Moyse of the Zimbabwe Media Monitoring Project, who took a similar view. ‘Zanu (PF) will control the elections as they have always done’, he said. ‘As for security reforms, they can’t be done in 30 or 60 days. Any reforms will be purely cosmetic’. ‘Some people think there will be another GNU but I’m not sure. I don’t think Zanu (PF) will tolerate another GNU. I think there will be a 51.5% victory for Mugabe. The military can’t consider an MDC victory.’
The meeting was chaired by Ephraim Tapa, leader of ROHR and Zimbabwe Yes We Can, who said the MDC leadership seemed to have lost its appetite for change. Years had gone by and Tomana and Gono were still in office, there were no MDC governors or permanent secretaries – all once non-negotiable MDC demands. Ephraim said the West appeared to be preparing for a Zanu (PF) government, perhaps with some MDC people for PR purposes. The Vigil doubts that Mr 46B will be among those clasped to the bosom of Zanu (PF) as they will be anxious to restore the good old Zimbabwe dollar to ‘boost the economy’.
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