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(TALKZIMBABWE) The power of Tsvangirai's signature

The power of Tsvangirai's signature
Musekiwa Makwanya – Opinion
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:17:00 +0000

IN MY discussions with patriotic Zimbabweans across the globe, I have discovered that there is a very strong view that if Mr. Morgan Tsvangirai’s signature is the one that will save the country then he should be accorded the power that is commensurate with the power of his signature.

The power of Mr. Tsvangirai’s signature comes with responsibility and therefore requires necessary say in the major decisions in the Government that will obtain in Zimbabwe because people should be able to measure his contribution.

Any performance is measured against the job description and specification.

Mr. Tsvangirai appears to be asking for clarity of his role in a Government of National Unity. This is necessary to avoid unwarranted conflict in a situation where tension will be inevitable – in any change process – because people are resistant to change.

The idea of a ceremonial role is understandably viewed as an insult by both President Robert Mugabe and Mr. Tsvangirai because you do not fight an election to have a ceremonial role. People do not elect leaders to have a ceremonial role. In a situation that Zimbabwe finds itself in since 29 March 2008, it makes sense for Zanu PF and the MDC to share power 50-50.

Professor Arthur Mutambara of the smaller MDC faction has been a subject of serious criticism for tipping the balance of power in favour of Zanu PF, and misusing his king-making position. Zimbabweans would hope that Mr. Mutambara has good reasons for his decisions.

Professor Mutambara lives among Zimbabweans and it is the mark of a transformational leader to listen to the people who follow him/her lest they are accused of being arrogant and out of touch with reality. This would be a cardinal sin that any leader can ever commit in politics.

For a person of Mutambara’s intellectual ability, who has researched on rocket science, it should be easy to gauge and ascertain the people’s wishes and feelings.

Change is about people’s feelings and emotions and if you cannot connect with people then there will be no buy-in and change.

Mr. Tsvangirai has been referring to the March 29th election as a better measure of ascertaining people’s feelings. In that election he was ahead of President Mugabe and the power of Mr. Tsvangirai’s signature is understandably derived from that election.

President Mugabe had told the nation in the period leading to the June 27 run-off election that challenged the pen will never defeat the gun. In the on-going talks between Zanu PF and the two MDC formations, it is clear that the pen and the gun should co-exist to save the country.

In any case, it was the signatures of President Mugabe, the late Dr Joshua Nkomo and Ian Douglas Smith (and even Bishop Abel Muzorewa) that brought the independence of Zimbabwe at Lancaster House in England in 1980.

It is a truism that Zimbabwe will not move forward without Mr. Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the main MDC’s signature. So does it mean that Mr. Tsvangirai is under pressure to save Zimbabwe with the power of signature? It looks like a Messiah moment for Mr. Tsvangirai and, with it will come serious criticism if things go wrong and praise and even worship if he gets it right and it’s now a fine line.

The question for Mr. Tsvangirai is: Does he go into the theatre without enough tools or go in and ask for the tools once he is inside?

Mr. Tsvangirai should not under-estimate his power even without all the tools he wants, his presence in the theatre will make a difference to the lives of the people of Zimbabwe much more than he might imagine.

It will take his creativity, imagination and initiative. It cannot be disputed that Mr. Tsvangirai’s role in the future government should reflect the power of his signature.

Labels: MORGAN TSVANGIRAI

posted by MrK @ 2:50 AM