The MDC led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is on a roll.Whilst some moribund and hitherto nationalist political parties are still trying to acquaint themselves with the rigours and challenges that confront political organisations in the new millennium,the MDC has re-positioned itself as the only political party that can genuinely and effectively drive the agenda of meaningfull economic empowerment of the previously disadvantaged people of Zimbabwe.
As a party whose bedrock is social democracy,the MDC easily identifies with the wishes and aspirations of the majority of all progressive Zimbabweans living within the country and in the Diaspora.As a party with a focussed leadership and openly democratic credentials,the MDC has developed a certain level of irresistable charm and attraction ever since it was formed a short ten years ago.
It is amazing really! A visitor to Zimbabwe today might easily be convinced that the MDC is a very old and established party because of its resilience against all odds.This party is a revelation and a shining example to all social democratic parties in the developing world; particularly in Africa.This is a party that has proved to the entire world that democratic change in Africa can be painstakingly achieved through a peaceful democratic struggle rather than through violence and bloodshed.
At a time when a tired and hopelessly faction-ridden party like ZANU (PF) is pre-occupied with the politics of kleptocracy, autocracy and gerontocracy, the MDC is busy mobilising its massive support base countrywide for peacefull democratic change.Whilst ZANU (PF) preaches the ” gospel” of racial hatred,tribalism,homophobia and generalised thuggery,the MDC is siezed with the more serious business of extricating Zimbabwe from the depths of mass poverty and socio-economic trepidation brought about by years of ZANU (PF) misgovernance and corruption.Zimbabwe became a pariah state wholly because of unprecedented misgovernance and massive looting of State resources by ZANU (PF) functionaries.These are people who perfected the ” art” of looting public assets from ZUPCO, the GMB, the NRZ and now to the diamond fields of Chiadzwa.
All state-owned companies were mercilessly stripped of their assets to such an extent that a parastatal like ZUPCO, which was very organised and as efficient as any other public transport operator in the developed world at independence in 1980; is now just a shell with a few ramshackle buses operated by a thoroughly demotivated staff. This is the legacy of ZANU (PF); a hitherto revolutionary party that failed to manage success and to adjust to the compelling need for periodic leadership renewal in order to sustain generational longevity and relevance.A political party that finds wisdom in being led by a man who is about to become a nonagenarian surely belongs to the dustbin of history.The story of the dinosaur becomes apt.The dinosaur stubbornly refused to positively adjust to the changing environment and we all know what became of it.I will bet my bottom dollar that ZANU (PF) is following the dinosaur route; to total oblivion.
Zimbabweans do not eat propaganda.The people of this great and majestic country are not as naive and docile as some latter-day ZANU (PF) propagandists and political turncoats seem to believe.Tafataona Mahoso and Jonathan Moyo can write acres of rabid propaganda pieces in the ZANU (PF)-controlled media such as the Herald and the Sunday Mail newspapers but they can be assured that their toxic and hate-filled propaganda will only serve the purpose of galvanising the masses against ZANU (PF) thuggery and autocracy.The people know who exactly authored the unprecedented hyper-inflation that pauperised more than 90% of the population.
The people know who was responsible for non-stop printing of worthless Zimbabwe dollars when basic economic fundamentals show that no country in this world has ever managed to solve its economic policies by massive printing of money.If ZANU(PF) failed to learn from the economic history of such countries like Germany and Equador then what guarantee is there that they will learn from anything? At any rate, it will take a miracle for such a faction-ridden party to rejuvinate itself.If a party rigs its own internal provincial elections in Harare,then one would be a fool to trust such a party with the management of the country’s economy.The good thing is that the majority of the people have peacefully decided to dissociate themseleves from ZANU(PF).
The overwhelming crowds that attended the MDC consultative rallies and meetings throughout Zimbabwe during the past few months is clear testimony of the fact that the Movement’s message resonates with the people.The people of Zimbabwe are aware of the lack of genuine power-sharing in the inclusive givernment but they know that this is just but a transitional phase.The people of Zimbabwe want real change and they know that only the MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai can deliver real change to their lives.
Zimbabwe is at the crossroads.The people will never accept their vote to be stolen again.Losers of elections should never dream of clinging to power against the wishes of the people.And the wilful and flagrant violation of the terms and conditions of the global political agreement (GPA) will be harshly punished by the people come next election.
The MDC is acutely aware of the desperate attempt by some failed politicians in both ZANU(PF) and its sidekick led by Mutambara to drive a wedge across its leadership.These attempts will never see the light of day.Morgan Tsvangirai is the popular and undisputed leader of the Movement and all party cadres are aware of this.Tsvangirai is the face of the people’s struggle against ZANU (PF) tyranny and thuggocracy.
Those opportunists who rebelled against the Movement on October 12, 2005 are free to wine and dine with ZANU(PF).We know that they are greedy losers who will clutch at anything in order to fatten their pockets.Their political lives will be as short as the duration of the inclusive government.Thereafter,these opportunists and chancers will be relegated to the trash can of Zimbabwe’s political history where they properly belong.
With an unemployment rate of about 90%, Zimbabwe is a sad story within the SADC region and indeed, in Africa as a whole.We are poor but we are rich.Why? Ask ZANU(PF) and they will tell you that we are in this pathetic state because of so-called ” illegal” sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by Britain and her Western allies in response to the ” successfull land reform program”.What errant nonsense!
We are in this state of poverty and socio-economic trepidation wholly because of ZANU (PF) misgovernance and poor governance; a system of government that rewards mediocrity and incompetence.A system of government where looting of public resources is celebrated as the hallmark of indigenisation and black economic ” empowerment”. What a shame,really!
The country needs a Messiah to enable it to reclaim its rightfull position amongst other prosperous nations of the world.And this Messiah cannot be a man who is fast approaching the age of 90.The people’s salvation is to be located in the MDC; a social democratic party that does not believe in the personalisation of political power.Zimbabwe needs a new style of leadership and governance such as the one exemplified by the MDC.
ZANU (PF) is yesterday’s party.It has had its time.It has dismally failed to liberate the people from poverty and destitution.If anything ,ZANU (PF) has acted as a catalyst to the mass pauperisation of the people.Little wonder,therefore, that ZANU (PF) can never again win a free and fair election in Zimbabwe.
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