Zimbabwe’s Catholic Bishops renew their call for the country’s
political leaders to hold dialogue.
“If, as Catholic social teaching says, the value of polices
is assessed by how they impact the poor then one can safely say that our
political and economic policies have failed. There is so much dehumanizing
poverty and despair among our people. In order to overcome our socio-political
and economic challenges there is need for a meaningful inclusive dialogue in
the country. If there is a lesson from our synodal journey it is precisely that
we cannot go it alone” wrote the Bishops in their latest Pastoral Letter.
“No single political party has all the answers hence the
importance of listening to each other as we journey together.”
Zimbabweans have become masters in the art of talking about
trivial matters, repeatedly as in this case, just to avoid talking about the elephant
in the room. “Kuroimbwa waka vinga mupini!” as one would say in Shona.
The root cause of Zimbabwe’s economic and political trials and
tribulation and the heart-breaking human misery they have caused is the failure
to hold free, fair and credible elections. We have a regime, Zanu PF thugs, that
believes it has the divine right to rule the country and so for the last 42 years
and counting has ridden roughshod on the people, denying them their freedoms and
rights including the right to a meaningful vote and even the right to life.
Many have dialogued with the regime reminding it of its duty
and responsibility to uphold the laws of the land and respect the freedoms and
rights of all Zimbabweans. The message has gone one ear and out the other!
If these Catholic Bishops are serious about end Zimbabwe’s
curse of rigged elections and bad governance then they must join SADC, the EU and
many others who have been demanding the implementation of democratic reforms,
the prerequisite for free and fair elections. And stop wasting time calling for
dialogue.
Dialogue on what? What is there new that has not been said
these last 42 years? Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF cronies will happily hold these synodal
dialogues to the end of time as long as the party retains its iron grip on
power.
Millions of Zimbabweans are living in abject poverty the nation
is standing on the edge of the precipitous abyss. Zimbabwe must deal with the
problem of rigged elections and bad governance head-on
Zanu PF has rigged elections in the past and is set to rig
the 2023 elections. The regime must be told in no uncertain terms that this is
not acceptable and must stop!
If the Bishop don’t want to speak the truth to power then
they “must say nothing”, as the Prophet Daniel aptly put it!
3 comments:
“Speaking on Monday during the Breakfast Club, an online programme hosted by CITE, Lovemore Moyo, who was the Speaker of Parliament during the GNU era, said:
In fact, you may recall the politics towards the final days of the former president Tsvangirai that the character of our politics changed dramatically to a level where it became apparent that it was more driven by tribalism than the need to develop an opposition that is ready to govern.
You may recall the appointments of the two vice presidents or deputy presidents, whatsoever you call it, also was an indication that tribalism was now at play.
History will say that MDC sold out big time in failing to implement even one meaningful reform during the 2008 to 2013 GNU. Lovemore Moyo as a senior member of MDC must be ashamed of their part in this treasonous betrayal of the nation. The very fact that he is wittering on about the internal MDC fight for power shows he really has no clue what MDC’s primary task was, even now with the benefit of hindsight. None!
@ Nkosini Tshuma
“Only a Ndebele President can solve this Zimbabwe mess, period.”
We should elect leaders on the basis of the individual’s ability and not race, gender, tribe, etc. Of course, it is disappointing that there are still some people out there who have yet to learn this simple reality. No wonder the country is in a real mess!
Madhuku described as "ignorant bliss" those condemning the appointment.
"We have always pointed out that the current constitution of Zimbabwe is very defective, and very undemocratic in some respects and that respect might be related to who should appoint commissioners," Madhuku said in an interview with HSTV.
"Here the president didn't do anything wrong, he exercised his discretion which he is given by the Constitution and once you give a president discretion there must be limited room for complaining in respect of how that discretion has been exercised. It can be right or wrong.
"So, it doesn't matter who becomes the president as long as you have a system where commissioners are appointed by the president, even good commissioners would be condemned as long as they are seen in some political circles as being aligned to the president.
"Our urgent need in future is to change the constitution and provide a framework where we do not involve the president in the appointment of at least this one commission called the electoral commission."
So, Madhuku is participating in an election process knowing it is flawed and will never be free and fair because, like everyone in the opposition camp, he knows that Zanu PF is giving away a few gravy train seats as bait. By giving away the POLAD benefits to all the opposition presidential candidate who publicly endorse him as the winner, Mnangagwa has only made the bait irresistible.
Everyone in the opposition camp will participate in the 2023 elections regardless of the evidence Zanu PF is rigging.
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