Your Opinions
Is Zimbabwe Politics about Power or Change with Substance?
Opinion
By: Njabulo Ngwenya Zimbabwe Political Activist based in UK
People of Zimbabwe 29th of March brings forth one of the most prevalent days in our election history. This day is one whereby most of us harbour secret or not so secret hopes and prayers that it will break the shackles of dictatorship which bind us.
We pray that this day will bring with it an end to the hunger, poverty and feelings of hopelessness which plague us daily. We listen to the Tsvangirayi and Makoni’s with bated breaths and hang our hopes for CHANGE with them hoping against all that their messages of an improved Zimbabwe will come to light. We listen to them make promises to rid us of dictatorship leadership styles, improved economic conditions and better living condition as they try to rally us in to vote for their ideas but do we ever really question what this all means? I mean do any of us actually look into the fact that there are three major candidates running instead of the usual two heavyweights and do we ever wonder what this means in terms of the end vote results?
What is going to happen when none of them manage to secure the 51% majority vote and who is going to end up allying with whom? As we have seen all three major candidate are of questionable intensions and calibre.
First we have seen how Morgan has conducted himself over the years. Morgan failed to unite the party during the Senate debate in 2005 whereby he failed to uphold party constitution. Morgan ignored the results of the NEC 33-31 votes in favour of participation and he went to the outside world and lied saying it was a unanimous decision not to participate. This behaviour resulted in the split of Zimbabwe’s strongest opposition party a party which many Zimbabweans had pinned hopes of CHANGE. In a more recent illustration of questionable leadership and intensions Morgan has failed to unite the party and form a strong coalition against the government and put the needs of Zimbabweans first. Morgan states that he wanted to unite the party but he failed as a leader to convince his team from Matebeleland to unite with the Mutambara faction because of aspiration for power and positions in that region. So now I ask you people of Zimbabwe is this the leader to free us from dictatorship? Do we really need another power hungry leader who disregards our needs in favour of their own desires and aspirations?
Second we have Simba Makoni who is also of questionable intentions. Does anyone find it worrying that Simba seems to stress the point that he is Independent and that he is very vague about what he will bring to the people of Zimbabwe? Yes Simba we know you are real and nobody’s puppet, yes we know that you aim to improve economic conditions and empower our people but all of this sounds abstract to me. What do you actually commit yourself to? You are Independent thus not bound by any party constitution and should no candidate get the majority vote then you have the freedom to align yourself to anyone whom you choose without being held accountable. So what will we do as supporters if you so choose to align yourself with Mugabe? Second yes macro-economic issues are important but how do you explain Foreign Direct Investment to an 80 year old mama with 8 grandchildren to feed? Don’t get me wrong I am actually a Makoni supporter but I have never been one who follows in blind folds. I have come to realise that leaders need to be questioned and they need to be held accountable. As for Robert Mugabe I think all that can be said about him has been said and one needs not even wonder about his intentions
Ok people the whole point I am trying to raise is if it so happens that we have re-run of the elections and it so happens that Makoni or Tsvangirayi run against Mugabe will people be able to put egos aside and unite as one to really fight for CHANGE? As we have seen from past events people like Mutambara and ZANU reformists managed to put their egos aside for the sake of Zimbabweans so do our current leaders have the same qualities? Current Zimbabwe politics is beyond the normal political arena of power play that we witness in more stable democracies such as South Africa. In Zimbabwe it is about complete change and deliverance so that the economic conditions of Zimbabweans are improved and issues are addressed. Looking at all the current candidates running for Presidency Makoni seems like the candidate we should pin our hopes upon as even though I view his promises as vague at least he does not lie and give empty promises. He also has not shown signs of being the next dictator in the making and most of all Makoni is CHANGE. Some of us are tired of the same leaders contesting making promises but failing to deliver.
Anonymous, UK
16 November 2007 1326Hrs
Dear All
This coming from the former CIO informer and later operative in Gweru who was responsible for Patrick Kombayi's shooting and Christopher Giwa's death makes interesting reading indeed. You are now known and exposed. Watch the response.
http://crybelovedzimbabwe.blogspot.com/2007/11/ephraim-tapas-delusions-of-grandeur.html
Read it foryourself!
Sydwel Musungate - UK
21 October 2007 0902Hrs
It is sad that Lucky Dube has been murdered in the face of the Rugby victory. It’s sad.
How can we be so cruel?
Taurai - London (Ex MDC member)
23 October 2007 0900Hrs
Tsvagirai feels completely insecure this is why his battle axe is at work to purge all possible opponents from the MDC. If you work with him, you better lick his shoe before he falls on you!
Cynthia Mhende - Toronto
22 October 2007 1820Hrs
I am responding to your article posted on the 18th last week relating to ‘Chiyangwa’s women’. This guy is well known in Zim to have been a womanizar. Does he think we are stupid. So you Chiyangwa have a lot of money to sponsor the World Cup! Soon we’’ll see how much money you have...
Aaron T - Luton, UK
22 October 2007 1203Hrs
This website is certainly doing a lot to balance the news propaganda splashed by ZimDaily.com Keep up the good job!
John Makaruma - Australia
21 October 2007 1316Hrs
It is sad that the MDC we once hoped would be the hope of the country has plunged into such rubbish at the stake of a one person. Surely shall we be held at ranssome by one person? Come on - I think you MDC office holders must wake up!