Tsvangirai finally, FINALLY, admit the GNU is not working and yet still remain in the GNU!

It took Tsvangirai over two years in this GNU to finally admit that it is not working. Instead of making a decisive break and walk out he has decided to go on a “diplomatic offensive” to tell SADC Head of State that the GNU is not working. And the usual “consult the people”. Typical!

What would Tsvangirai tell SADC Heads that they do not already know? And more significantly; what does Tsvangirai want/expect SADC to do?

What makes this promise of “consult the people” really insulting to every thinking Zimbabwean out there is that he never ever bothers to consult them. He has made similar promises in the past and then addresses a few public rallies where the listeners are told what the party was going to do. And the public at large are then told that the course of action was endorsed by the MDC membership and the people of Zimbabwe.

MDC like Zanu PF has made it a point of honour to deliberately keep the Zimbabwe public in the dark about everything. The two made a devil’s pact not to tell the people anything – a pact both sides can honestly say neither side has ever broken. One would have to be very naïve to think that Mugabe needed to twist any arms to get Tsvangirai and MDC to go along with this one!

And so every time Tsvangirai is stuck he turns to the people to “decide” on matters Tsvangirai himself has deliberately kept them ignorant. How cynical can one be!

Many, many people, Zimbabweans and none Zimbabweans alike have again and again advised Tsvangirai on many critical issues and against forming the GNU with Mugabe. They went to great lengths to explain why the GNU would not work and these events have come to pass. Tsvangirai ignored them for his own selfish reasons.

Mugabe offered Tsvangirai and a few of his MDC friends a chance to hold positions of power plus all the pecks of ministerial car, etc. that went with being PM or minister. It was clear Mugabe would not allow MDC leaders to exercise any meaningful power – that was why the negotiation took seven months before the GPA was finally signed. Mugabe stuck to his guns and MDC settled for illusion of power sharing in which Mugabe, JOC and Zanu PF have all the power and Tsvangirai and MDC have none.

The illusion suited Mugabe in that the after 2008 he under great political pressure to dismantle his dictatorship. The intervening time has allowed him keep and reorganise his dictatorship under the cover of the more international acceptable GNU. Yes it was humiliating for him to even accept Tsvangirai as a sleeping partner but it was a small price to pay considering he faced regime change and serious criminal charges if Tsvangirai had not got him off the hook!

The single most important thing Tsvangirai and MDC owed to the people of Zimbabwe was to ensure there was an end to Mugabe instigated political violence and there is rule of law in the country. Because nothing, absolutely nothing economically, socially and politically could be accomplished as long as Mugabe and his thugs are free to do as they pleased. MDC have singularly failed in this important and critical task. And the escalating violence and the continued economic melt down are proof of this political failure and betrayal!

I sincerely hope that Zimbabweans will have the common sense and realise that with Mugabe and his thugs on a war footing they will be seating ducks. Tsvangirai and MDC did not have any plan on how to rein in Mugabe and his thugs two years ago and still have no plan now. There is a time to stand up and fight but when everything is stacked against you, it is better to withdraw and live to fight another day! With war vets and Zanu PF militia everywhere, it wiser to carry a Zanu PF membership card and foolish to wear a MDC T-shirt!