MDC HAS KNACK TO DO THE WRONG THING: DO HOLD YOUR BREATHE THIS TIME

There is one thing we can count on MDC’s do: i.e. to do the wrong thing!

Whatever reason(s) can proffer to justify why MDC should NOT take part in the run-off the fact of the matter is all of those reason(s) have existed on the ground for weeks. Mugabe deployed the war veterans, the green bombers, etc. within a day or two of knowing the results of the 29 March vote, for example. His intention for deploying the party thugs was self evident and so was the reason ZEC delayed announcing the results of the presidential race. There was absolutely nothing new Mugabe has done in the last four weeks none of us we did not already know or had guessed.

Tsvangirai for his part, he too has done nothing new in the four weeks to all Mugabe’s machinations. True to form he has do what he has always done: the wrong thing. He should have made it abundantly clear that he would NOT take part in the run-off in the atmosphere of wide spread intimidation and murder Mugabe’s thugs had created, for example. Boycotting the run-off now begs the question: did it take hundreds of thousands of beating and torture victims and twenty murdered to finally convince him the political atmosphere was not conducive to free and fair run-off?

Of course refusing to take part in the run-off would be the most logical and sensible thing to do. Tsvangirai himself has been out of Zimbabwe for weeks now “because he feared for his life!” How can he then be expected to have any meaningful campaign programme when he does not feel safe to return back to Zimbabwe?

The 29 March 2008 elections are the closest to free and fair elections Zimbabwe has ever come in its 28 year history. A fact that nearly costed Mugabe the presidency! He was forced to run that risk for one reason; he desperately needed international acceptance and credibility of the election results. The shocking defeat has forced him to take a number of measures he had disregarded as the last five weeks have shown. He nonetheless needs the international acceptance and credibility now even more than ever.

The Zimbabwe economy has hit rock bottom. The people have had to do without the most basic essentials of life for a long, long time. Mugabe knows he simply has do something to get the economy back of track because the people’s anger can not be contained for much longer. The cup is now full and overflowing. And this is why he has been courting international community; the Zimbabwe economic recovery is a pipedream without their financial help. The international community will not lift a finger to help unless they are satisfied the election/ run-off result is a true reflection of the free political will of the people of Zimbabwe.

If MDC does not take part in the run-off Mugabe can claim victory but the international community will not be fooled. And without economic recovery Mugabe’s rule will end soon with a violent outburst of the people’s long bottled anger and despair.

MDC should have done the right thing a long time ago; still it would be great for the party to do the right thing, better late than never! Do not hold your breathe, MDC has a great knack for doing the wrong thing.