Tendai Biti is 100% correct in highlighting the extensive capture of the nation’s institutions by Zanu-PF and attributing this as the root cause why Zimbabwe is a failed state.
"We have had a policy and a polity pillared on the emasculation of State institutions. There is no institution in Zimbabwe that is independent. There is no institution in Zimbabwe that is not an extension of Zanu-PF's Politburo.”
I ask you to rewind back to the 1990s. By the late 1990s is was clear to the people of Zimbabwe that Zanu PF was NOT going to deliver mass prosperity, “Gutsa ruzhinji!” as Mugabe never tired of repeating it. The country’s economic was in decline and the nation was heading for mass poverty instead.
More significantly, the nation also realised that as long as Zanu PF retained its carte blanche de facto one-party state (imposed after the signing of the 1987 Unity Accord) dictatorial powers, including the power to rig elections, the nation was stuck with the corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF regime.
The nation needed to elect opposition political leaders whose number one task was to bring about all the necessary democratic changes, reforms, to end Zanu PF’s dictatorial excesses. Morgan Tsvangirai, Tendai Biti, Nelson Chamisa, David Coltart and all the other MDC leaders and members launched the party in 1999 to answer the nation’s cry for democratic change. They even named the party Movement for Democratic Change.
Back to the present. Mnangagwa and Zanu PF blatantly rigged the 2023 elections - proof MDC/CCC leaders have failed in their set number one task of delivering democratic changes, reforms, to end Zanu PF’s dictatorial powers.
MDC/CCC leaders have failed to implement even one token democratic reform in 25 years, including the 2008 to 2013 GNU years when they had the golden opportunity to do so. Mugabe bribed Tsvangirai & Co. with the trappings of high office, the E-Class Mercedes Benz, generous salary and allowances, US$4 million mansion for Tsvangirai himself, etc. And in return, MDC leaders throw reforms out of the window!
Ever since the GNU debacle, MDC/CCC leaders have participating in flawed knowing fully well that would give Zanu PF legitimacy and perpetuate the nation’s suffering. They have conned millions of their brain dead followers to participate on the basis of idiotic lies of the opposition winning RIGGED elections. They have done all this for the same reason they failed to implement reforms during the GNU - greed
"Every institution—including those I cannot mention because I am a practicing lawyer—every institution in Zimbabwe has been captured and captured thoroughly," confessed Tendai Biti.
Well the one institution that Zanu PF has “captured and captured thoroughly in the MDC/CCC! It is a great tragedy that MDC/CCC are Zanu PF team B in all but name, playing for team A to win and have legitimacy.
After 25 years with not even one token reform to show for it, one would think that ALL Zimbabweans would now have finally awakened to the police reality the MDC/CCC too have been captured by Zanu PF. Alas! This is not so. There are millions especially the Chamisa chete chete brigade who consider Chamisa a demigod who can do no wrong.
How is it possible that anyone can be so thoroughly brainwashed to think a mere mortal a demigod; especially the likes of Chamisa with a well documented track record as corrupt, incompetent and a liar!
Tendai Biti was speaking at Dr Ibbo Mandaza SAPES platform calling for National Transition Authority (NTA) as a way out of this political crisis.
"The sum collection of this is that we have a crisis that needs to be managed to avoid an implosion. That is where the NTA comes in. The NTA is an idea that is anchored on dialogue.
"The citizens of Zimbabwe must talk and dialogue, where the first process has to be a national conference. The convention must articulate issues that speak to Zimbabwe's fragility and vulnerability, and these issues must be put on the table," argued Tendai Biti.
The 2008 to 2013 GNU was the golden opportunity for Zimbabwe to reset its failed political system. Sadly the opportunity was wasted because the MDC/CCC leaders were Zanu PF team B, completed captured by Zanu PF. The tragic reality is these politicians ARE still captured by Zanu PF.
The proposed NTA is expected to implement the democratic reforms the 2006 to 2013 GNU failed to implement. The NTA is doomed to Zanu PF thugs and their thoroughly captured side-kicks play key roles in the new arrangement.