Zimbabweans love to boast, at least until a few years ago, that they are one of the most literate nations in Africa. In this case, the definition of literate as some one who can read and write needed to be revised, as far I am concerned, to include “and understand what read and written”.
If Zimbabweans understood what they read then they would not be so naive and gullible and the country would not be in such an economic and political mess! How is it possible that we have fallen prey Tom Sawyer’s tricks, not once, not twice but multiple times; for a literate nation.
“Tom appeared on the sidewalk with a bucket of whitewash and a long-handled brush. He surveyed the fence, and all gladness left him and a deep melancholy settled down upon his spirit. Thirty yards of board fence nine feet high. Life to him seemed hollow, and existence but a burden.” wrote Mark Twain in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
“ . . . . . At this dark and hopeless moment an inspiration burst upon him! Nothing less than a great, magnificent inspiration.
“He took up his brush and went tranquilly to work. Ben Rogers hove in sight presently – the very boy, of all boys, whose ridicule he had been dreading. . . . .
“Tom went on whitewashing – paid no attention to the steamboat. Ben stared a moment and then said: “Hi- yi ! You’re up a stump, ain’t you!”
“No answer. Tom surveyed his last touch with the eye of an artist, then he gave his brush another gentle sweep and surveyed the result, as before. Ben ranged up alongside of him. Tom’s mouth watered for the apple, but he stuck to his work. Ben said:
“Hello, old chap, you got to work, hey?”
“Tom wheeled suddenly and said:
“Why, it’s you, Ben! I warn’t noticing.”
“Say – I’m going in a-swimming, I am. Don’t you wish you could? But of course you’d druther work – wouldn’t you? Course you would!”
Tom contemplated the boy a bit, and said:
“What do you call work?”
“Why, ain’t that work?”
Tom resumed his whitewashing, and answered carelessly:
“Well, maybe it is, and maybe it ain’t. All I know, is, it suits Tom Sawyer.”
“Oh come, now, you don’t mean to let on that you like it?”
The brush continued to move.
“Like it? Well, I don’t see why I oughtn’t to like it. Does a boy get a chance to whitewash a fence every day?”
That put the thing in a new light. Ben stopped nibbling his apple. Tom swept his brush daintily back and forth – stepped back to note the effect – added a touch here and there – criticised the effect again – Ben watching every move and getting more and more interested, more and more absorbed. Presently he said:
“Say, Tom, let me whitewash a little.”
Tom considered, was about to consent; but he altered his mind:
“No – no – I reckon it wouldn’t hardly do, Ben. You see, Aunt Polly’s awful particular about this fence – right here on the street, you know – but if it was the back fence I wouldn’t mind and she wouldn’t. Yes, she’s awful particular about this fence; it’s got to be done very careful; I reckon there ain’t one boy in a thousand, maybe two thousand, that can do it the way it’s got to be done.”
“No – is that so? Oh come, now – lemme, just try. Only just a little – I’d let you, if you was me, Tom.”
“Ben, I’d like to, honest injun; but Aunt Polly – well, Jim wanted to do it, but she wouldn’t let him; Sid wanted to do it, and she wouldn’t let Sid. Now don’t you see how I’m fixed? If you was to tackle this fence and anything was to happen to it – ”
“Oh, shucks, I’ll be just as careful. Now lemme try. Say – I’ll give you the core of my apple.”
“Well, here – No, Ben, now don’t. I’m afeard – ”
“I’ll give you all of it!”
Tom gave up the brush with reluctance in his face, but alacrity in his heart.”
Beautiful! Genius!
Robert Mugabe pull-off the same dirty Tom Sawyer trick with Morgan and his MDC friends. The primary task of the GNU was to implement the democratic reforms and stop Zanu PF rigging elections. Mugabe’s challenge was to distract Tsvangirai and his 2 Deputy Prime Ministers 30 or so MDC Ministers and over 150 MPs and Senators so they forget implementing the reforms. Distract then not just for a day or a month but for five years. He pulled it off!
MDC leaders failed to implement even one token reform in five years of the GNU.
Implementing the reforms was Zimbabwe’s get-out-of-jail card and MDC failed to play it.
“Mazivanhu eMDC adzidza kudya anyerere!” (MDC leaders have learned to enjoy the gravy train good-life, they will not rock the boat!) boasted Zanu PF cronies during the GNU why MDC was not implementing the reforms.
Tsvangirai and company were convinced they were now fully paid up members of Zimbabwe’s ruling elite with a life-time seat on the gravy train. They had a very rude awakening the morning after the July 2013 elections when Zanu PF had a landslide victory and it was back the ghetto for most of the MDC leaders.
Ever since the lost golden opportunity to implement the democratic reforms MDC/CCC leaders have given up on getting even token reforms implemented and focus their attention on participating in the flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy and win the few gravy train seats Zanu PF offers as bait.
Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC/CCC friends have got away, so far at least, with the blatant betrayal of the people on reforms and the participation on flawed elections because the people themselves as just as ignorant and gullible as the MDC leaders. It is no secret that even to this day the likes of Nelson Chamisa has no clue what the democratic reforms are much less how they are to be implemented. This is why he still talks on reforms even now with just a few months before voting day.
The Zimbabwean voters are so gullible many of them believe in the oxymoronic nonsense of CCC has strategies to win rigged elections. Not just an elections but elections “so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw”, David Coltart, one of very few MDC/CCC with some, not much, grey stuff between his ears.
After 43 years of rigged elections and with the nation in deep, deep trouble because of the decades of corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF rule, one has to be insane to forfeit one’s right to a meaningful vote in pursuit of winning rigged elections.
So, now Zanu PF has the right to rig elections!!!!
34 comments:
Zanu PF leaders wee very agreeable as long as they knew they will not be asked to keep their word or do anything that threatened their hold on absolute power. The did not hesitate for one moment to disregard one man one vote for the 1980 elections and three years later launched the Gukurahundi massacre to consolidate their iron grip on power!
@ Pompey
“We don't shun nothing, we shun lack of transparency and accountability. We shun incompetence, we shun nepotism we shun lack of imitative we shun looting of resources. We shun a leadership who does not have the heart of the people in its governance. We shun thieving habits . Come on man let's wake up we getting left behind by Rwanda imagine a country that was in a genocide. Give people jobs housing health education they will vote 4 you.”
One of the key requirements for a health and functioning democracy is that the people must be informed, educated and it is their duty to hold those in public office to account.
In Zimbabwe Zanu PF has not only stifled debate and democratic competition by denying freedom of expression, association and free media but has used its monopoly over public media to brainwash the people. Many people out there now believe their patriotic duty is to falsify the truth about the leaders’ failures, incompetence, corruption and even treasonous acts vote rigging and murders to protect the leaders and country’s image.
The glory of Caesar is now more important than the good of Rome!
Noble Ngara
What is insane is that 43 years after independence we still fail to hold free, fair and credible elections because Zanu PF thugs believe they have a right to rig elections and CCC, who were voted into power on the promise to implement reforms, have sold out.
It is a tragedy that most ordinary Zimbabweans have not waken up to the reality that CCC are now hunting with the hounds and running with the hare.
Still, the treasonous betrayal and the insanity will be stopped! Mark my words!
Seke Mutema
“The other time it was some very dark west African people who where "bused or planed" to vote at Mount Pleasant who were only seen by Tendayi Biti.Hail winter of conspiracies.”
Here are the video links, see for yourself.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjDzqU-itgA
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=3122689548013651
The tragedy for Zimbabwe is MDC/CCC will participate in these flawed elections no matter what, out of greed!
Seke Mutema
“The other time it was some very dark west African people who where "bused or planed" to vote at Mount Pleasant who were only seen by Tendayi Biti.Hail winter of conspiracies.”
Here are the video links, see for yourself.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjDzqU-itgA
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=3122689548013651
The tragedy for Zimbabwe is MDC/CCC will participate in these flawed elections no matter what, out of greed!
@ Nhlanhla Ngwenya
“Even if CCC does not participate its obvious that Mwonzora and other POLAD members are going to participate in this flawed election. Why so much blame on Chamisa leaving out other political players?”
Here we go again! If you know that participating in these elections will not change anything because the process is flawed and that by participating you will only give Zanu PF legitimacy; then the decision is obvious - do NOT participate.
What you are saying is participate to stop Mwonzora getting the few gravy train seat on offer. Of course, this is a feeble excuse, because that is exactly why Zanu PF is offering the bait seats!
Have you ever asked yourself why MDC failed to implement even one reform during the five GNU years. Mugabe bribed them and the rest is history. If MDC failed to implement reforms when they had all the trump cards and five years, what hope is there of doing it now. They still have their glassy eye of the gravy train bait!
@ Chibvupe
“Economist names Zimbabwe Most Miserable Country in the world; leads war-torn Ukraine, Syria, Lebanon on annual listing.”
Zimbabwe will not change as long as we remain a pariah state that cannot even hold free, fair and credible elections. We had many opportunities to end the Zanu PF dictatorship and we wasted them all.
We are participating in these elections knowing fully well that the whole process is flawed and so can be ruled rigged elections regardless of wins. Worse still, whoever wins they will not be implementing any reforms, of that we can be certain, and so the next elections will be yet another rigged election. We are well and truly stuck!
@ Max
“Mr Wilbert we know what you're saying makes sense but this party CCC is not the only party contesting elections and Chamisa is not the leader of the opposition in parliament even if Chamisa quit elections it won't stop them to take place for now mr Will it's too late for any reforms it's a regret we shall have to face and live with it.”
Here we go again! If you know that participating in these elections will not change anything because the process is flawed and that by participating you will only give Zanu PF legitimacy; then the decision is obvious - do NOT participate.
What you are saying is participate to stop Mwonzora getting the few gravy train seat on offer. Of course, this is a feeble excuse, because that is exactly why Zanu PF is offering the bait seats!
Have you ever asked yourself why MDC failed to implement even one reform during the five GNU years. Mugabe bribed them and the rest is history. If MDC failed to implement reforms when they had all the trump cards and five years, what hope is there of doing it now. They still have their glassy eye of the gravy train bait!
The fight now is to make sure SADC do not have the excuse to grant Zanu PF legitimacy under the pretext CCC participated. This is why CCC must be denounce as discredited sell outs, participating out of greed.
@ Mahupete
“No, it's NOT OUR nightmare, it's yours. Form your own political outfit and sell yourself to the public and see if you get buy-in. Betting on and blaming vana Mdc/Ccc et al as though they were ordained as the deliverer of justice is simply not on. They may be greedy etc but they are there. Iwe uripi, in the greater scheme of things, apart from your keyboard of course!”
Are those in public office accountable only to those who have formed their own parties and active in politics? For your own information they are accountable to ALL, party supporters, critics, keyboard warriors, everybody!
MDC/CCC sold out on reforms and are selling out by participating in these flawed elections out of greed to give Zanu PF legitimacy and thus perpetuating the dictatorship and the suffering of millions of ordinary Zimbabweans. Of course, this is a nightmare for every thinking Zimbabwean out there, note I have now qualified it so it is not a nightmare to you and many others like you!
@ Moses
MDC/CCC had the chance to implement the democratic reforms to end the curse of rigged elections, they have failed to implement even one reform in 23 years, 5 of which in the GNU. CCC are the ones insisting on participating in flawed elections when everyone else include SADC, EU, etc are calling for reforms before elections.
@ Nigel
“Tipeiwo proof of rigged. I asked Jonathan Moyo in 2018 achiita zva Chamisa and am still waiting.”
Do you know what constitutes free, fair and credible elections?
One of those requirements is that all those eligible to vote must be given a reasonable opportunity to register to vote. 3 million in the diaspora are being denied the opportunity to vote although Mnangagwa himself said they will have a vote in September 2018. Patrick Chinamasa said the party is denying diaspora vote because Zanu PF cannot travel to the nations that imposed sanctions on the regime. All nonsense, of course!
Why should any Zimbabwean be denied their fundamental right because of a quarrel in which they had no part? Why was the vote denied to those in SADC countries and all other nation that have not imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe.
ZEC’s failure to produce a verified voters’ roll has created the loop hole to bus in people from rural areas to register and then vote in urban centres.
Today we have seen above a letter from Bimha, Zanu PF national political commissar instructing operative to frogmarch voters to polling station and keep a record of who voted. That is intimidation.
No one who knows what constitutes free and fair elections and has been following Zimbabwean elections can ever doubt we have yet to hold our first free, fair and credible elections. No one!
@ Big Fish
“When will stop blaming the opposition, so what?if they had complained to Sadcc iri iyo inotanga kuti Elections are free and fair.”
MDC/CCC has failed to implement even one token democratic reform in 23 years, 5 of which in the GNU; that is a historic fact. Well the consequence of that betrayal is we are still having rigged elections.
You have no clue what the reforms are, how they are implemented, etc. even now with the benefit of hindsight. You do want the truth to be spoken much less those responsible held to account. I know what the reforms are, the consequences of the betrayal, etc., etc. and I will be damn if I will let myself be silenced and allow this madness to continue!
@ Nigel
What is funny about Zimbabwe failing to hold free and fair elections much less about the consequences of failed state and tragic human suffering? Zanu PF rigged the 1985, 1990 and 1995 elections, that was before Zidera was imposed!!!!!!
@ Max
"Imagine CCC not to participate what's gonna happen giving all parliamentary seats to ZANU pf its gonna get worse,I don't think mr Will is being reasonable i think at some point you're working for ZANU PF."
If you do not understand the import of "the process being so flawed you cannot change anything and that by participating you giving SADC the excuse to grant vote rigging Zanu PF legitimacy" there is nothing more to be said.
SADC was the guarantor of the 2008 GPA and they are the ones who advised MDC not to participate in the 2013 elections without first implementing reforms. MDC ignored the advice and it is naive to expect CCC to do otherwise.
@ Wasvvone
“This is not true. I remember Tsvangirai wanting to pull out of the GNU due to non reforms and vana Mbeki had to intervene.”
MDC never complained to SADC over anything much less reforms.
When Mugabe refused to let Tsvangirai move into Zimbabwe House MDC ministers boycotted cabinet meetings. The issue was resolved by Tsvangirai being given the keys to the US$4 million mansion in Highlands. This was the only occasion MDC leaders ever rebelled against Mugabe!
MDC leaders like Samuel Sipper Nkomo, Coltart and even Nelson Chamisa have admitted that MDC leaders took their eyes off the ball during the GNU and failed to implement the reforms. It is interesting that some individuals, who don’t even know what the reforms are much less how they were to be implemented, are coming up with a totally different narrative.
What were these reforms MDC complained to Mbeki about? So, if Mbeki did intervene, the reforms implemented? Please name just one of these reforms!!!!
@ Godfrey
“There is no way Zanu can be party to a reformation that takes them out of power
There is no way they can comply to any agreement or laws that restrict their grip on power
To believe reforms would have been implemented successfully and effectively is a major omission of their intrinsic behaviour towards the law.
It’s very easy to criticise failure to implement reforms
The test should be on their current relationship with the existing laws
It’s not weak laws that they take advantage of.
Once we agree on that - we then can map the effective way forward.”
In your opinion, would you say it is easier to implement the democratic reforms now or during the 2008 to 2013 GNU? Or is the task equally difficult?
@ Moses
“The problem is you read to argue. Otherwise, if you had read to understand zvaiita nyore. I can tell kuti you don't have a clue why GNU was formed.”
One of the reasons Zimbabwe is in this mess is because we have people who really believe their chosen political leaders are demigods who are infallible and must not be held to account by a mere mortal.
The primary purpose of the 2008 to 2013 GNU was to implement the democratic reforms to ensure the blatant cheating and wanton violence of 2008 elections are never ever repeated. It is a historic fact that MDC leader failed to implement even one reform.
It is shocking that anyone should dispute the GNU historic facts but there are many who do. Worse still, in their foolishness they see it as their duty to defend MDC leaders by falsifying the historic facts and, most annoying of all, attack all those who dare hold their perceived demigods to account.
I totally reject the notion that politicians are demigods and consider it my duty to hold them to account. MDC leaders sold out big time by failing to implement reforms and they are selling out by participating in flawed elections out of greed to give SADC the excuse to grant Zanu PF legitimacy.
I am here to denounce Zanu PF for rigging the elections and MDC/CCC for selling out on reforms and participating in flawed elections. After 43 years of rigged elections the most important task for Zimbabwe is to end the curse of rigged elections.
You are upset to see your demigods held to account for selling out. Well tough shit! I am not here to message your misplace ego!
Chihwa
“Do you still remember vana Kasukuwere, Jonso and others used to swear Tsvangirai would never get the reforms that he was pushing for during GNU unfortunately your bias against CCC is well known…. no surprises there and nothing new - it’s your right anyway but you can’t fool everyone.”
So, now we are to believe that MDC failed to implement even one token reform because of what Kasukuwere and Jonso said! I am not concerned with you feeble excuses. If Zanu PF sabotaged MDC’s efforts to implement reforms then MDC should have taken this up with SADC who were the guarantor of the GPA. They did not!
What I am concerned about is the historic facts that we are stuck with the curse of rigged elections because MDC/CCC failed to implement reforms and are participating in flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy. And I am concerned about the tragic consequences of this betrayal and how to end this madness.
You cannot bear to see your demigods held to account and hence all this frantic efforts to rewrite history and portray MDC leaders as infallible heroes. They failed to implement even one reform in five GNU years because they are breathtakingly corrupt and incompetent. That is a historic fact and I am not bias against anyone. Take that and smoke it!
@ Moses
“Please learn to debate without insults. Why then are you denying kuti Zanupf sabotaged reforms because, as chatting, no election reforms were implemented.”
I did not insult you by asking you to name one, just one, reform Zanu PF sabotaged?
It is you who must learn to back your claims with facts and not made up narratives.
It is you who accused me of having a clue why the GNU was formed. Stick to the issues on the table - what reform did Zanu PF sabotage.
I have told you and will tell you again, MDC leaders sold out by failing to implement even one reform during the GNU. You do not want the truth said and so you are coming up with false narratives because you think MDC leaders are untouchable. They are to you but not me!
@ Godfrey
“We are dealing with a tyrannical government where power is not being used legitimately - that’s what we have to admit first - And reforming that system through negotiation between master and subordinate is unthinkable - let’s not gloss over that fact by referring to GNU failed opportunity. Let us look at the current state of affairs.
Would make sense If we were discussing the dynamics of boycott - And the SADC position on existing flaws.
To say CCC is half hearted in its efforts to gain power and is deliberate in its failure does not make sense.
How can one cause themselves to suffer in prison for example.”
You are just arguing in a circle.
No one is disputing that Zanu PF is corrupt, tyrannical and vote rigging regime. What I refuse to admit is you next bit “And reforming that system through negotiation between master and subordinate is unthinkable - let’s not gloss over that fact by referring to GNU failed opportunity!” This implies we can never end the dictatorship and that the GNU was not going to end it.
Of course, the GNU would have ended the dictatorship. It did not because the MDC leaders sold out. You do not want to accept the political reality that Morgan Tsvangirai and company were busy enjoying the good life of the gravy train they forgot about the reforms!
David Coltart admitted in his book MDC leaders participated in the 2013 elections out of greed.
“The worst aspect for me about the failure to agree a coalition was that both MDCs couldn’t now do the obvious – withdraw from the (2013) elections,” confessed Coltart in his Book, , The Struggle Continues 50 years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe.
“The electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process credibility.”
You are refusing to accept that explanation because it does not suit your narrative that MDC leaders are powerless subordinates negotiating with tyrannical masters. It is a historic fact that MDC had the power to implement reforms during the GNU and they wasted it.
Even since the end of the GNU the question has been not to participate in a process so flawed you cannot change the result. MDC/CCC have participated to give Zanu PF legitimacy to win the few gravy train seats. No one is talking about reforms because you do not give Zanu PF 2/3 majority and expect that parliament to implement reforms.
You want to talk about reforms NOW because that suits you master and subordinate narrative. You gave Zanu PF legitimacy by participating in the flawed elections and then complain about the monster you yourself created. Stop creating the monster! You conveniently ignore that CCC are participating to create the monster out of greed.
Many of the Zanu PF leaders, whom you accept a murderous thugs, faced greater hardship than Job Sikhala and many MDC/CCC leaders have and are facing; that did not stop them becoming the murderous thugs they are today. I reject the argument that MDC/CCC have suffered under Zanu PF therefore they COULD never be sell-outs! They sold out on reforms and selling out in participating in flawed elections - these are historic facts!
@ Benjamin
MDC/CCC have settled for the few gravy train seats they know Zanu PF has to give away to maintain the facade that Zimbabwe is a multi-party democracy. Zanu PF learned in 2008 that the party will not get away with the de facto one party state of the past and has since tolerated having the opposition.
Mnangagwa has even created POLAD as a club of Zanu PF organised opposition to oppose and dilute other opposition parties. Divide and rule, if you like!
MDC/CCC are running with the hare and hunting with the hounds, the only question that matters is are we smart enough to see it and wise enough to admit it and do something about it?
Denouncing MDC/CCC as sell-outs is a must. Zanu PF must not get political legitimacy from the participation a totally discredited opposition!
@ Godfrey
“CCC participation does not legitimise the flawed process
CCC have highlighted the flaws to them and we can conclude they are participating under protest or under duress
SADC know the existing flaws.”
MDC had the golden opportunity to implement reforms during the GNU and had the solid backing of SADC who were the guarantor of the GNU. A honest discussion of why they failed to implement even one token reform will give the answer to what kind of leaders MDC/CCC are!
MDC leaders were falling over each other in their praising of Robert Mugabe. Prescila Misihairambi Mushonga said she was “speechless!” in his presence. Tendai Biti said Mugabe was “the fountain of wisdom, unflappable father of the nation”, etc., etc. They sung the praises freely just as they forgot about the reforms freely!
Some people will not accept that MDC/CCC leaders sold out because they choose not to accept it regardless of all the evidence put before them. I think we have to accept that reality and get on with whatever we have to do.
@ Moses
In September 2008 the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and the two factions of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party agreed to form a power-sharing government, formed officially in February 2009. But over four years after the Global Political Agreement (GPA) was signed little progress has been made on one of the key aspects of the GPA that aimed at preparing the country for credible, free and fair elections. The legal and institutional reforms that are expected to address various political, institutional and human rights issues ahead of the 2013 elections have either not been introduced or are not being implemented.
The so-called unity government, whose partners are anything but united, consisting of the former ruling ZANU-PF and the two MDC factions has failed to hold accountable those responsible for past human rights abuses, including during the 2008 electoral violence. It has also failed to reform key state institutions responsible for the administration of justice, which remain highly politicized and extremely partisan towards ZANU-PF.
The main purpose of the GPA was to establish institutional and legal reforms to create a conducive environment for the holding of free and fair elections.[1] The formation of the unity government, however, left longtime President Robert Mugabe and ZANU-PF—because of their control of key government ministries including defense, state security and justice—with significantly greater power than the MDC, which has been used to frustrate or stop crucial reforms.
The report acknowledges that the primary purpose of the GNU was to implement the democratic reforms to ensure free, fair and credible election. And more significantly, that no meaningful reforms were implemented and hence the reason why we are still having rigged elections.
The report is wrong in saying that because Zanu PF controlled key government ministries including defense, state security and justice—“with significantly greater power than the MDC, which has been used to frustrate or stop crucial reforms.” The process of submitting reform proposals and their consideration had nothing to do with who controlled what because any Minister, Senator or MP could submit a reform proposal of any institution.
Even if one accepted the claim Zanu PF frustrated or stopped crucial reforms, why must ask why MDC never complained to SADC about this for five years of the GNU?
There have been volumes of articles explaining in detail that MDC failed to implement even one token reform during the GNU because they are corrupt and breathtakingly incompetent. It is shocking that some one who claims to do his research has failed to find there articles. Or is it the selective amnesia, you accept only those articles that agree with your narrative that MDC leaders are demigods who are infallible and no mortal must ever hold to account!
MDC leaders sold out by failing to implement even one reforms during the GNU and MDC/CCC are selling out by participating in these flawed elections out of greed to give SADC the excuse to grant Zanu PF legitimacy. Of course, they must be held to account for this and they ARE being held to account!
@ Big Fish
“U said I should name one and you did not comment on it, yet you go on or rather being rhetoric with the same question...ZEC was supposed to be reformed by both parties and it was supposed to be Independent but Zanu pf went solo and named part of the military to run ZEC which the opposition had opposed. If you have run out of questions, stop asking the same question repeatedly.”
You clearly do not know what the democratic reforms are much less how they are supposed to be implemented.
The GNU was supposed to reform ZEC, the institution, to make it independent and come up with ways to appoint/fire commissioners to guarantee their independence. There was not even a token reform implemented during the GNU of ZEC or any other institution. None!
And therefore to suggest that the appointment of individuals into the unreformed ZEC would make ZEC independent is naive, to say the least. MDC approved the appointment of Justice Chigumba as ZEC chair, she has failed to deliver free and fair elections!
@ Big Fish
“Uyuwo uyu, a lot of things were taken up to Sadc and they did nothing about it...delegations from different countries would come to Zim to check on the Reform complaints but Zanu would be the first to KIDNAP them from the Airport and made sure they won't meet the opposition until they went back...saka iwewe uri kurashika papi?”
You should know by now that you will never get away with sweeping claims that are a figment of your imagination.
“A lot of things were taken up to Sadc and they did nothing about it!” Well name just one democratic reform MDC took to SADC and the later did nothing about it.
It was SADC that reminded MDC leaders to implement the democratic reforms during the GNU and their words fell on deaf ears. Well with their snouts in the feeding trough, MDC leaders could not hear.
SADC leaders even made one last minute attempt to get the reforms implemented before the 2013 elections by advising MDC not to participate in the elections without reforms. The advice fell on deaf ears, ears stuffed with the gravy train good life!
“Mazivanhu eMDC adzadzi kudya anyere!” boasted Zanu PF cronies when asked why MDC were not implementing reforms!
Please stop rewriting GNU history, blaming SADC leaders when it is MDC leaders who sold out!
There is no denying that the MDC leaders are breathtakingly corrupt and incompetent. Even the dimwits among the MDC leaders must have known that the primary purpose of the GNU was to implement the democratic reforms. The country had gone through the most barbaric election process starting with the blatant cheating in the March vote followed by the wanton violence, not even SADC and AU could turn a blind eye to the barbarism.
How is it possible that Mugabe was able to bribe the entire MDC team of over 150 Mps and senators, 30 Ministers, 2 Deputy PM and Prime Minister Tsvangirai himself to forget reforms in five years! Five years of MDC leaders slaving away painting the fence whilst Robert Mugabe sat without a worry in the world! No wonder we are in a mess!
MDC/CCC are sell outs and it is unforgivable to let this nightmare continue.
@ Ngarivhume
Many of the Zanu PF leaders, whom we all accept are murderous thugs and tyrants, have faced the same if not a lot worse hardship than Job Sikhala, Jacob Ngarivhume and many other MDC/CCC leaders have and are facing. What matters here is that their suffering did not stop them becoming the murderous thugs they are today. The MDC leaders have followed Zanu PF’s example, they took one sniff of power and they forgot all about reforms - the number one task they claim to be fighting for.
MDC/CCC have failed to implement even one token reform in 23 years, 5 of which in the GNU. Worse still, they have given up on reforms and have been participating in flawed elections knowing fully well their participation will give SADC the excuse to grant to Zanu PF legitimacy. They have participated regardless out of greed.
It is infuriating that the CCC leaders are the ones hell bent on participating in flawed elections giving Zanu PF legitimacy and are then shedding buckets of crocodile tears of Zanu PF oppression. Meanwhile they using their oppression as champaign strategy.
Sikhala and Ngarivhume participated in the 2018 elections out of greed and given a chance they will be participating in these 2023 elections. The nation needs to move on from these vicious cycles of yesterday’s liberators turning into today’s oppressors!
@ Munya
“Are you suggesting CCC boycotts the election? We been there before when Mugabe ran against himself and celebrated victory.”
Here is what David Coltart said regarding the 2013 elections when SADC, literally, begged MDC leaders not not participate without reforms.
“The worst aspect for me about the failure to agree a coalition was that both MDCs couldn’t now do the obvious – withdraw from the (2013) elections,” confessed Coltart in his Book, The Struggle Continues 50 years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe.
“The electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process credibility.”
MDC have been participating in these flawed elections for the last ten years and counting but only to give Zanu PF legitimacy. Anyone with common sense would say Coltart was right, the boycott is the only rational thing to do. But then we are talking about Zimbabweans here, common sense is not so common!
@ Osama23
“This wont get into his head.
It will never.
The guy is wearing blinkers, he is not thinking outside the box
He alone has the solution and it is the CCC boycotting elections
How smart can one be?”
I am not as smart as you, that is obvious and you don’t have to rub it in.
Still, what is the rational of participating in an election process,
so flawed and illegal that not even winning 73% of the vote was good enough to win!
when doing so only saves to give vote rigging Zanu PF political legitimacy; to secure the few gravy train seats for the sell out opposition, the 30 pieces of silver; to the ordinary Zimbabwean to perpetuate the dictatorship and the heartbreaking suffering.
It is insane to keep repeating the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. Participating in rigged elections expecting the opposition, who have already proven beyond doubt that they are corrupt and incompetent, to win after 43 years of rigged elections sure takes the biscuit!
the believe in the oxymoronic nonsense of winning rigged elections is proof of a serious mental deficiency because it shows the failure to appreciate the difference between right and a privilege. And the lack of appreciation of one of the principle tenet of rule of law is that there must be punishment for breaking the law. Of course, boycotting elections must be one of the options to take to rule it out completely is foolish, to say the least. Why should Zanu PF stop rigging elections if the party knows the opposition will participate and give it legitimacy no matter how flawed the process got??????
By the way it is not only Wilbert Mukori who has called for reforms before elections, SADC, EU, the Americans, the Commonwealth, David Coltart, Tendai Biti, anybody with half a brain to see the sheer futility of participating in an election process so flawed there is verified voters’ roll, 3m in the diaspora are denied the vote, etc., etc. But of course, all these people know nothing compared to you, Osama23, you think outside the box!
@ Osama23
For the one who claims to be the smart one, the only one who can think outside the box, your contributions are disappointing to say the least!
“We all want reforms!” you say. How many reforms have MDC/CCC implemented these last 23 years, including 5 years in the GNU? Not even one token reform!
“Boycotting is not the solution!” And participating in flawed elections only to give Zanu PF legitimacy and perpetuating the dictatorship, IS the solution?
To completely rule out boycotting election no matter how flawed and illegal the process get is foolish and I don’t care what the smart one says!
“You can run but you can’t hide. Address the elephant in the room rather than running away from your own home.”
By insisting on winning rigged elections you have per se denigrated the right to free and fair elections into a privilege. It is Zanu PF that now has the right to rig elections. How anyone can view that as a smart move beggars belief. Fcuk me, thank God I am not smart and cannot think outside the box!
@ Moses
“Yeah, boycott hazvibude because any other political party that runs in the elections will validate Zanu PF's victory.”
CCC are participating in these flawed elections for the same reasons they failed to implement even one reform during the GNU - greed and breath-taking incompetence. What other political parties were they afraid of during the GNU?
It was none other than SADC leaders themselves who asked MDC to boycott the 2013 election, as the guarantor of the 2008 GPA they had the power to deny Zanu PF legitimacy. MDC paid no heed to the advice. David Coltart explained why MDC paid no heed.
“The worst aspect for me about the failure to agree a coalition was that both MDCs couldn’t now do the obvious – withdraw from the (2013) elections,” confessed Coltart in his Book, , The Struggle Continues 50 years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe.
“The electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process credibility.”
In other words CCC are participating out of greed and your feeble excuse is bull shit! We are trying to find a way out of this mess and all we getting from you is bull shit!
@ Washvvone
“Umm which SADC are you referring to here which encouraged MDC to boycott elections? I strongly doubt the credibility of your sources.”
SADC held a special summit in June 2013 where the regional leaders proposed that the Zimbabwe elections should be postponed to allow reforms to be implemented. Jealous Mawarire launched a court challenge to question the legality of the postponement.
The real reason SADC dropped the proposal was because Patrick Chinamasa, then Minister of Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, revealed that there were not only no outstanding reforms in parliament to justify the postponement but that MDC had not submitted even one reform proposal in five years of the GNU.
You can read about the Maputo Summit on https://zsdemocrats.blogspot.com/2017/06/know-first-what-coalition-is-about-says.html
@ Osama23
“The guy cant discuss anything else but reforms.
He wants security sector reforms, a condition that Zanu pf has made clear to all who cares to listen kuti "hatidi and we will never reform ourselves out of power."
Even Sadc yacho failed to get us to agree on that. So must we still sit back and let Zanu have a free rein, no, never.”
For one who claims to be the smart one who thinks outside the box, you really never seize to amaze me!
Of course, Zanu PF will never reform itself out of office and that is why the GNU was the golden opportunity to do so and MDC wasted it.
People like Tendai Biti and David Coltart, some of the CCC leaders with some working grey stuff between their ears, have admitted on the sheer futility of participating in these flawed elections.
“Look, you can't keep on participating in flawed electoral processes that serve to give big benefits to dictators such as Robert Mugabe. Mugabe has perfected the art of winning elections. So it will be very foolish for the opposition to continue legitimising these sham elections which don't deliver. This country will go through a serious economic crisis in 2020 caused by Zanu PF. And yet, this is the only country where a government doesn't perform, it is encouraged by a super majority in parliament,” said Tendai Biti in a 2015 interview with Isaac Mugabi.
“So you can't continue subjecting Zimbabweans to processes where their hopes just get crushed.”
One of Zanu PF’s dirtiest tricks was to con MDC/CCC supporters (not leaders) into believing the opposition can win rigged elections. (MDC/CCC leaders know better and are participating for the few gravy train seats on offer as bait.) The con has been so thorough we now have the great intellectuals, the smartest of the smart, hell bent on participating in these flawed and illegal elections.
“So must we still sit back and let Zanu have a free rein, no, never!” The penny has not dropped that all MDC/CCC is doing is give Zanu PF legitimacy, even after 43 years of rigged elections! Of course, it is insane!
It is Zimbabwe's worst curse that insanity is peddled as wisdom per excellence!
@ Chris
How many opposition supporters have tried to register to vote but failed? How many have registered but come voting day failed to vote? How many have voted for the opposition but their vote was counted as a ruling party vote? This is what we are talking about when we say elections are rigged.
The most foolish thing some people have done is to ignore the many ways Zanu PF has to rig elections under the pretext the opposition can win rigged elections. This mentality has given ZAnu PF the leeway to raise the bar the opposition have to jump over to have a meaningful vote.
Zanu PF operatives have had the ease task of convincing opposition supporters the opposition can win no matter how flawed the process got. When you don’t know what constitutes free elections much less that a meaningful vote is a right and not a privilege, you are gullible and believe whatever you are told!
Zanu PF needs the opposition to participate to give the flawed process legitimacy and let CCC win seats in the urban centres is a small price to pay as long as ZAnu PF win the majority and the presidency!
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