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(TALKZIMBABWE) Media 'wising up' to MDC tactics

Media 'wising up' to MDC tactics
Nyasha Nyakonda – Opinion
Fri, 17 Oct 2008 06:47:00 +0000

WHILE many voice the slogan "united we stand, divided we fall," few realize what is required to achieve unity—common purpose, goals, objectives, and fewer still are willing to surrender their personal ambitions, or perhaps their hidden agenda, for the good of the community. In Zimbabwe today, the requisite political organization needed to determine such goals and objectives does not exist.

Zimbabwe is home to a few thousand organizations representing the common interests of their member organizations, and this includes political organisations.

During the last decade, the MDC has had modest victories necessitated by informal and formal cooperation with other civil society and political (not necessarily party political) organizations, but the party has never fully acknowledged the support it received from these organisations.

In the power-sharing talks, the MDC has completely ignored and failed to acknowledge the input of those organisations that helped the party gain the successes it boasts of today; viz the white commercial farmers, the various students bodies, the media and the various bloggers and individuals who campaigned for change.

Yet such acknowledgement and recognition was required to move forward and define the next phase of the development of our country.

Prior to the 2000 elections and subsequent elections, several organizations announced their support for candidate Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC party who won some unprecedented and unexpected seats in Parliament.

Now these organisations are asking: How was the decision to support Tsvangirai made, and what did we get in return for our support? Should civil society, the independent media and other political groups support issues, rather than a party or presidential candidate? What are the goals and objectives of the MDC in its claim to represent us? What are the sources and uses of funds received by the MDC and do they benefit the common people? Is the MDC concerned about the suffering masses or about the welfare of party loyalists?

The answers are not forthcoming.

And while our organizations are ignored, our criticism is getting ahead. The only way now left to our sidelined organisations is to beat the MDC at its own game, but not by merely working harder for change or recognition, but by also working smarter.

We, in the media realize that the MDC sidelines us when it is seeing better days, but runs to us when the going gets tough. We will work much smarter in future and expose the MDC for what it really is.


[Nyasha Nyakonda is a media professional. This name is a pseudonym as he prefers to remain anonymous.]

Labels: MDC

posted by MrK @ 8:01 AM