By A Correspondent- The opposition movement in Zimbabwe has been warned against forming more political parties as this does not solve the country’s multifaceted woes.
Veteran MDC-T activist and fearless campaigner for women’s rights, who came up with the name ‘Movement for Democratic Change’ at its formation, Grace Kwinjeh said Zimbabwe does not need a fresh opposition face as this fueled confusion among the electorate thereby giving Zanu Pf the lifeline even when the party is at its weakest.
Below is the full text by Kwinjeh:
“We can’t solve the multifaceted problems in Zimbabwe by forming more political parties. No!
The late professor Masipula Sithole, may his soul rest in peace, is on record lamenting the unhealthy habit of forming more opposition political parties, on top of existing ones, stating in an allegory, the hilarity of sending two Zimbabweans to the moon, with real chances that they will end up with three political parties.
A leadership deficit, or disagreements in the opposition will not be solved by forming more opposition political parties, notwithstanding that, whoever enters the political scene will still have to contend with the same challenges, to do with Zanu PF’s corruption and stranglehold over power, thus, adding no real strategic value in our quest for freedom.
A fresh opposition face is not what Zimbabwe needs. Since 1980 we have had too many fresh faces, that have at times, inadvertently, worked in adding more drama and confusion to the democratic movement, giving Zanu PF a lifeline, at its weakest moments.
We all remember Dr Simba Makoni, how his presidential ambition robbed Dr Morgan Tsvangirai of victory in the 2008 elections, giving Zanu PF much needed reprieve and how we have never quite recovered from that political blunder.
Zimbabwe has not recovered from that error of judgement on Dr Makoni’s part after he garnered 8% of the votes cast, while Tsvangirai had 47% and incumbent the late President Robert Mugabe had 43% in a run-off.
A move so retrogressive given that Tsvangirai had won in the first round of elections, but had not garnered enough votes to be declared outright winner. So it was back to square one, true to form Zanu PF unleashed the most brutal wave of violence in the rural areas, Zimbabweans got butchered mercilessly, scores killed, with reports of rape and massive displacements.
That is how ridiculous the situation becomes, weighed against the harsh reality of the suffering we are all collectively enduring, in Zimbabwe or exiled, it makes one’s heart bleed, that anyone out there is even contemplating a repeat of such a scenario, which will cause us to be in the opposition in perpetuity.
What Zimbabwe needs right now are not more political parties, but a united front, energised democratic movement to take back the momentum, mobilised around real bread and butter issues, that citizens are concerned about. Citizens are concerned about the collapsed health delivery system, which has become a death trap, as heart wrenching testimonies are daily shared.
The pain and suffering is too much, for us to keep scoring own goals.
Consequently, what Zimbabwe needs right now, are not more power hungry megalomaniacs, with no solutions on how to push the ruling Zanu PF party to adopt the necessary political and economic reforms that will make life more bearable. Ideas that will push the ruling party to the table, for the negotiation of a transitional framework that will lead to free and fair elections.
Issues to do with the incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s legitimacy, are not going to be solved by forming more parties, as a matter of fact, that would work perfectly to his favour, a divided opposition always does.
What Zimbabwe needs right now, is a leadership that is willing and able to rise above the current political differences and difficulties, and deliver us out of the political and economic quagmire.
Political contestation in the country is a messy affair, both in the opposition and the ruling party, there are no winners or losers – just shayisano, kudira jecha.
The first challenge for a collective, united opposition is to take back the momentum lost in the past weeks.
Weeks of being diverted and pulled into Zanu PF’s anti-sanctions fight, of which we found ourselves trapped in a diplomatic spat, that days later has not resulted in the opening of democratic space.
Over the weekend the USA added Security Minister, Owen Ncube to the targeted sanctions list, for gross violations of human rights. While, some can argue this was symbolic and sends a warning to Zanu PF against future human rights abuses, the body language from the ruling party remains arrogant, defiant and intransigent. This is again another point of reflection, which I shall go into at another time.
Just as the executive order announcing the new sanction was being announced, actually before the ink had even dried on it, artist Platinum Prince was abducted by unknown men, tortured then released, apparently for his song, ‘Ndoyacho here President.’
More political parties will add no value to our quest for freedom, unity and working strategies are what we need.”