(TALKZIMBABWE) Tsvangirai: Chameleon on plaid?

Tsvangirai: Chameleon on plaid?
Commentary
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:51:00 +0000

POLITICAL flip flopping is one of the many deadly sins in politics and political lexicon, says critics from NPR. Managing a flip-flop is a telling enterprise. The presidential race in Zimbabwe brought some of the most astounding reversals, especially in the Movement for Democratic Change’s camp. Few political leaders have managed flip flops very well.

“Just as one man’s consistency is another man’s rigidity; one man’s flip flopping is another man’s opportunity to grow,” said a political analyst.

Did Morgan Tsvangirai buckle to some outside pressure before the election?

After the MDC split Morgan never bothered to mend the MDC differences; yet after realizing that chances of winning an election as a divided MDC were slim, he tried, in vain, to patch up differences. This did not work.

After gaining a majority in parliament, not enough to threaten Zanu PF, and facing a chorus of outrage for not uniting before the elections, he then realized the utility of a united MDC. Unity with Mutambara was dramatically stitched up in less than 24 hours.

Yet it was no real unity, we all gathered. One MDC was from Mars, the other from Venus. It was ‘unity’ on the Presidency; we were told, and that’s why MDC (Mutambara) still fielded parliamentary candidates where Tsvangirai had his own.

Wait a minute! Didn’t they say they were uniting to have a parliamentary majority over Zanu PF?

The self-described democrat made an even bigger turnaround at the run-off — a political faux pas. First he was in, then he was out. Even Bennett who had vehemently defended the ‘in-position’ was flabbergasted. He hasn’t spoken since. Biti feebly defended the position; and later said: the June 27 election “totally and completely exterminated any prospects of a negotiated settlement.”

Maybe not, if they had participated.

Then came that article in the UK Guardian calling for ‘military involvement’, apparently written by Tsvangirai. In hindsight, he probably quickly flip flopped and exonerated himself from it. Who penned it? Oh, who penned the ‘Transition Document’, never mind the fake one, but the one McGee saw?

Tsvangirai should not be oblivious to public reaction from these flip flops, especially to the withdrawal from the run-off; otherwise too many issues will circle around him.

He found little echo to his call to have President Mbeki ejected from his mediation role and was snubbed when he tried to bring Zimbabwe to the Security Council… well that was after that feeble attempt in Zambia to have Zimbabwe embarrassed.

And he's been in damage-control mode ever since.

Now he’s complicit in calling for sanctions (by default at least) — sanctions that will bite those who voted for him on March 29, and for him (in absentia) on June 27. Cutting off electricity by SA will bite harder those in the metropolis, the urbanites, the MDC supporters, than the rural Zanu PF supporter.

Step aside for a minute… commercial break!

Sidestepping liabilities is one of Tsvangirai’s greatest skills. What caused the MDC split? Who fired Matibenga? And what is it with the MDC leader and nepotism? I guess we will never get the answers?

After the split in the MDC in 2005, he chose Hebson Makuvise (his close uncle from Buhera) to be his UK chief representative. He also made sure that Jaison Matewu (who is rumoured to be married to Mrs Susan Tsvangirai’s young sister) was made MDC-UK’s Organising Secretary. He also made sure that Matthew Nyashanu was made the MDC-UK’s Information and Publicity Secretary. Does he not come from Buhera, Tsvangirai’s home?

Hey, even Moeletsi Mbeki said South African affairs do not belong to the Mbeki family. He doesn’t even discuss politics with his brother. We believe him. They are incongruous in their statements.

What a contradistinction with the Tsvangirai family and extended family?

Anyway back to flip flopping…

I guess Tsvangirai could benefit from the flip flops—given the dexterity of his opponent.

Anyway a flip-flop can easily transmogrify and become a public flap. It could become a political career killer?

He could be lucky because of a favorable public mood (especially from unflinching base supporters), the moment in history and whether the charges are synchronized or not, with existing doubts about him.

But he has to be careful. Like Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932 he could easily be described as a “chameleon on plaid”─ a man without principles, well known for a series of policy shifts.

info@talkzimbabwe.com