Maravi

(TALKZIMBABWE) Is it time for the MDC to take stock?

Is it time for the MDC to take stock?
Itayi GARANDE
Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:16:00 +0000

THREE months after the harmonised elections on March 29, 2008 and after months of extreme tension and unprecedented violence in Zimbabwe, it is a good time to take stock. Is Morgan Tsvangirai the future of opposition politics in Zimbabwe? It is shocking that Tsvangirai’s staunch(est) supporters are reluctant to see his political infantilism, unfitness for political decision-making and the fluidity of his political moods ─ qualities that are responsible for his numerous ruptures with political associates in the MDC.


Suddenly awake and thrashing, he has issued a 24-hour 'ultimatum' to President Robert Mugabe without giving his supporters any electoral outlet for their support in the meantime.



Clothing himself in the robes of democracy, Tsvangirai has offered no alternative suitable programme, but only a litany of complaints, with a Western tone.



The mystery for his supporters is how he will sustain his momentum after tomorrow’s election, and how they can display their support in another period of Zanu PF authority.




New political demands




After these three months, it has become all too evident that the political, social and economic scene must be settled after tomorrow’s election. But what is the role of the opposition MDC in that process?



The demands of Zimbabwean politics have revealed serious shortcomings on the part of the opposition parties, not just the MDC, in Zimbabwe.



In Zimbabwe, opposition party loyalty is almost non-existent, instead what you have are gossamer thread political alliances managed by the most consumate politician.



My double-tounged dictionary tells me that there are trapos on both sides of the political fence. But there are probably more trapos on the MDC side because this is where most of the political deals are currently being made in order to bring about ‘change’.



One of the assumptions that many carried after the harmonised March elections was that Zanu PF had folded and was about to crumble, so it made sense, and was cool, to support the MDC. Those who flirted with this idea did so to the point of near hysteria.



They were supported by co-trapos from many different parts of the world, who also flirted with that idea and helped massage the egos of the would─be leaders (in the MDC), after Mugabe.



Everybody focused on the implications of an MDC narrow parliamentary victory, but forgot that it represented a Zanu PF loss. How was Zanu PF going to respond to a loss? No one was concerned.



Zanu PF, after March 29 parliamentary loss, woke up and regrouped and restrategized while everybody was concentrated on the squeaky victory by the MDC.



Other players went on to demand President Mugabe’s immediate exit, forgetting that the process required a run-off. At least that’s what western media expected: Mugabe’s exit without a fight. How naïve.



Everyone who wanted Zanu PF obliterated found a voice. Even some squirrels under rocks could be seen emerging; joining forces with a world-wide ‘movement for democratic change’ going gang-ho against Mugabe.



No one took time to strategize and restrategize, except Zanu PF.



But no one questioned whether these assembled political forces against President Mugabe were strong enough to put him down. Laying aside (for the meantime) the stratagems and legality of their actions, these people compromised the political opposition and as an alliance, they became weak.



Many of them brought in petty personal intrigues that spoiled the process, and rang a death knell for the MDC.



Incongruent and conflicting voices made the MDC look like a hotch-potch of anti-Mugabe individuals with no clear strategy to handle a supposed transition. They could care less about strategy or policy — they were concerned about the exit of Mugabe. Some even said: “At all costs. Even by military means.”



Such a hotch-potch would be the MDC’s achilles heel and the reason why people ─ even their own supporters ─ in general would then not trust them. Who and what exactly was the MDC? The party became a balimbing – the fruit with many sides.



The self-destructive impulse was set in motion.





The 'cry-baby' tactics




Morgan Tsvangirai’s unpredictability and impetuousness, un-useful and less inspiring, tended to backfire in day-to-day dealings, confusing his friends more than confounding his enemies.



Tsvangirai at the Dutch embassy was the ‘spectacle of the Century’. Coming out to give a press conference and then going back into ‘safety’ was laughable.



He withdrew from the presidential run–off election; but remained mum on the parliamentary election also scheduled for tomorrow.



What should be done Morgan?



How about urging your MPs-elect to withdraw as well? There should be a synchronised election withdrawal. How can you withdraw from the presidential election and not from the parliamentary election? This is a ‘sham election’ afterall…



Morgan cannot have his cake and eat it?



And the ‘24-Hour Ultimatum’ on President Mugabe to negotiate…



To me it seems Morgan is trying to jump the gun and maintain influence over events he has resigned from.



Yet despite the efforts of the assembled host of political forces, the MDC party has failed to push President Mugabe out ─ even in the name of democracy.



As a political force the MDC seems to be loud only to the press, visible only in the West, and at best alliances between the groups are shallow. It has used every trick in the book to agitate the political situation and even recruit more players to champion their cause.



Is it so weak that it has to enlist the members of the clergy, and seek refugee at Dutch embassies?



Will they succeed now after withdrawing from the run-off election? Who knows what cards Fate has dealt this time around. Win or lose, this present MDC will go the way of most weak opposition parties — disintegration.



The rest of their wobbly supporters will be back in the trenches again.



As for Morgan Tsvangirai he is going to have the luxury of an opposition that is not so much focused on the government's agenda as on itself.





itayi@talkzimbabwe.com

Labels: MDC

posted by MrK @ 7:49 PM