By Farai Maguwu| The year was 2000. Robert Mugabe’s ZANU PF lost a constitutional referendum to the opposition and a coalition of CSOs who mobilized people to reject the draft constitution. The White community in Zimbabwe largely voted NO and are alleged to have mobilized financial resources for the No Vote and also for the MDC. The referendum took place only 4 months before a watershed general election and was seen by many pundits as a barometer of things to come. Mugabe had no time to come up with a campaign message that would change people’s minds.

Mugabe transformed himself into a radical anti-white, pan African activist. He became the spokesperson of all black people in the world. He declared war on the white community in Zimbabwe and unleashed thugs on farms. He exploited the historical land imbalance to his advantage and declared 3rd war of liberation which meant sending his supporters to grab farms from whites. His officials, including himself, emerged with several farms each. Mugabe is estimated to have grabbed more than 11 farms. His wife could have grabbed more. A land audit is being fiercely resisted for obvious reasons. A significant number of white Zimbabweans fled the country and settled in neighbouring countries whilst others went to Australia, New Zealand, Britain and other countries.

But what kind of society do Zimbabweans want to build. The answer can be seen in the voting patterns in MDC since 2000 and now remarkably in ZANU PF too. It is very clear Robert Mugabe’s anti-white rhetoric was for political preservation. I also would like to posit that Mugabe hated whites for dumping him for the MDC and he acted like a jilted lover who would rather set himself and his estranged lover alight than see her go with another man.

Since 2000, the Movement for Democratic Change has had a significant number of white politicians being overwhelmingly voted into party structures and also into parliament. Arguably the most prominent of them was the late Roy Bennett, a man with whom I had personal friendship. Roy Bennett had a farm in Chimanimani where he employed hundreds of locals whom he also sometimes supported from his own pocket in difficult times. They nicknamed him Pachedu (among ourselves) or people who have a deep relationship. In 2000 he overwhelmingly won the Chimanimani seat.

In 2004, Roy Bennett was elected MDC Vice Chair Person for Manicaland. Immediately after his election his team, led by Pishai Muchauraya and Prosper Mutseyami called for an all stakeholders conference for all MDC structures in Manicaland and civil society. I was invited. Morgan Tsvangirai was invited too. Bennett spoke fluent Shona. As way back as 2004, civil society had began withdrawing itself from MDC for one reason or another. Bennett reminded us how the MDC was formed and said we are a family, fights do happen but we must find each other. I am sure I speak the truth when I say Manicaland Province was the most organized MDC province under the leadership of these three. Roy Bennett went a step further. He used personal resources to help the party. He was later elected to become the National Treasurer, a position he held with distinction.

I can say with certainty, he loved Zimbabwe and his love for his country didnt go unnoticed by the Zimbabwean people. When he campaigned again for parliament in 2005 he overwhelmingly won and ZANU PF put him in prison. In 2009 the late Morgan Tsvangirai appointed Roy Bennett to the position of Deputy Minister of Agriculture but Mugabe refused to swear him in and eventually forced him into exile. In Mutare his friend, Brian James became mayor of Mutare but again ZANU PF forced him out. As a resident of Mutare, I have heard people on countless occasions saying Brian James was the best mayor in a generation. He started a project of greening Mutare which abruptly stopped when he was forced out. He would visit patients in hospitals and even personally present Xmas presents to them.

In 2010 I spent a night in a police cell with another white MP, Ian Kay of Marondera. He shared with me his dream for a new Zimbabwe. In the following days I also met his wife Kerry, who joyfully stood by her husband throughout his ordeal. There were several other White Zimbabweans, including Eddie Cross, who were elected to parliament on an MDC ticket. And now the MDC structures have elected David Coltart to be the Treasurer General of their party.

But also of great importance, post Mugabe ZANU PF has also started creating room for white Zimbabweans in government and parliament. In Chimanimani Joshua Sacco stood on a ZANU PF ticket and won. President Emmerson Mnangagwa also surprised many when he appointed olympic gold winner Kirsty Coventry to be Minister of Youth, Sport, Art and Recreation.

What do we learn about these developments. Zimbabweans want a multi racial society where both whites, blacks and asians work together to rebuild the country. There are still race issues to be addressed, the land question need to be handled in a non – racial, non political manner, government must put in place sustainable black empowerment projects, the country need healing from its toxic politics of the recent past. Without unity I don’t see how this economic jigsaw puzzle will be fixed.

Politicians must be guided by the people.