Many people have said Tsvangirai and MDC are better off staying in the GNU than walking out. If MDC was to walk out Mugabe will call for fresh elections straight away – something he has been itching to do.
Holding elections in the current atmosphere of violence is something many people right across the political divide have said would mean a “blood bath” as Minister Tendai Biti put it. There is no doubt that the political violence will certainly go into overdrive!
But every political analyst would also tell you that since the 2008 elections the threat of violence has remained hanging over the nation’s head.
Soon after the 2008 sham presidential run-off Mugabe was at his most vulnerable position in his political life. For once he was totally disarmed- he could not used violence, his number one weapon of choice, to win an election. With all the rape, beatings, and murders and the international community right across the board refusing to accept Mugabe as the legitimately elected president of Zimbabwe – not even one of his fellow African tyrants dare stick their head above the parapet to say the whole process was free and fair. If fresh elections had been held then – Tsvangirai and MDC had only to refuse to go into the power sharing arrangement to trigger fresh elections – it would have been impossible for Mugabe to use violence again. Not with the whole world watching!
The situation is totally different now; Mugabe is once again free to use violence. In the last two years the tyrant has had time to reorganise his party, the youth militia, and State Security Agencies who have now been co opted to form one cohesive Zanu PF terror machine. The windfall from the sell of Marange diamonds has allowed the dictator to have a full treasure chest to finance his election campaign and pay his thugs. And above all, time heals; the world has forgotten what he did in 2008!
The GPA Tsvangirai signed with Mugabe was so one sided, giving all power to Mugabe and Zanu PF and leaving precious little for Tsvangirai and MDC, it beggars belief. Why did Tsvangirai sign? The only thing Tsvangirai, Tendai Biti, etc got out of the marriage was to be PM, Minister of Finance, etc.
And, of course, the only reason why the entire MDC leaders are fighting to extend the life of the GNU, even after they have finally openly admitted it is not working, is so they can enjoy a few more weeks as PM, Minister, etc.
Some people have urged that the GNU has brought some economic stability. “Look at the shops,” they said. “They are full of food and other goods!”
Yes, the shops are full but how many people can afford to buy the food given that unemployment has stubbornly remained at 80% plus throughout the life of the GNU. And what about our aspiration for freedom, human dignity, a meaningful say in the governance of the country, the right to life, etc., etc.? Are we supposed to forget them all now that there is bread in the shops? It is one thing for the ordinary man and woman to expect so little out of life – they have often got worse than nothing from Africa’s leaders. But it is a different kettle of fish for leaders themselves to have neither vision nor aspiration!
Some MDC leaders are particularly proud of the economic stability and will never tire of reminding the nation of this. They should ask themselves why the nation waged a bloody war end the white colonial oppression and exploitation if all we cared about is to have bread in the shops? The country’s economy was in a far better state under Ian Smith than it has ever been under Mugabe or since the formation of GNU. With such narrow minded leaders like Tsvangirai it is hardly surprising the nation is in this mess!
That Tsvangirai should find himself in this pathetic position of damned if he stays in the GNU and damned if he walks out is to be expected. It was a foolish thing to have entered into the GPA and the fact that he had no plan “B” if the marriage failed only served to compound the sheer stupidity of it all. All attempts to rationalise the initial or subsequent decisions is folly.
Hindsight has the proof and knows the true cost of past mistakes and therefore have the confidence to judges them even more harshly intuition ever can. It is far wiser to acknowledge past mistakes and move on than to continue the pretence of ignoring the elephant in the room. Like all foolish decisions, they get worse not better with time.
Mugabe will call for fresh elections at a time he pleases, that is quite clear.
MDC have done nothing to ensure there will be no more political violence. And Mugabe, for his part has done everything to ensure that there is violence if that is what it will take to ensure a Zanu PF victory. Even if elections are postponed it is Mugabe alone who will decide the level and extend of political violence in Zimbabwe.
If Mugabe calls for fresh elections and the GNU is still in place Mugabe will want MDC seen as the one organising and running the elections although, as usual, MDC will have neither the power nor authority to do anything! Mugabe will see to it that some MDC “win” seats.
By walking out of the GNU MDC will end this scandalous and frankly humiliating power sharing arrangement in which every one knows Mugabe has all the power.
By walking out Tsvangirai will show the first time that he is decisive. He has finally publicly admitted that the GNU; so why is he still in the GNU? The obvious answer is that he is totally incapable of making that final and logical move. God knows it took him two long years of abuse to say nothing of the thousands of MDC supporters who have been terrorised and murdered to force him to accept the GNU was not working!
Mugabe will have good cause to worry if MDC walked out of the GNU. The dictator will know whoever MDC elect to replace Tsvangirai - can not see Tsvangirai remaining as MDC leader if he stepped down now – will mean Mugabe will have a fight in his hands – he or she can not be as incompetent and inapt as Tsvangirai, not even a party known for shooting itself in the leg can elect two complete idiots in quick succession – touch wood!
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