(TALKZIMABWE) MDC supporters and the media baffled

MDC supporters and the media baffled
Philip Murombedzi
Sat, 29 Nov 2008 06:14:00 +0000

MANY people are baffled by the latest somersault made by the MDC-T party in signing the Constitutional Amendment No 19 Bill. But how could they be baffled? The MDC-T baffles those that want to be baffled. Endless times those whose protest vote they learnt to the MDC have quibbled the decision of this virgin group of politicians – the green group, I call them.

“It’s a nullity, it’s a nullity,” cried one UZ-trained lawyer, Tendai Biti, against the wise advice of his former constitutional law professor, Welshman. Never defy your elders, unless they are not your elders and unless they represent someone else.

Our elders have been discredited by those whose interests they do not represent; so how could we accept other people’s elders?

“Morgan Richard Tsvangirai is the next President of the Republic of Zimbabwe,” belted a lawyer – an abrupt lawyer whose only trip overseas was to oversee and put in line a group of partisan and blindingly loyal supporters in the Diaspora who were crossing the line and defying the protocol. This is his experience.

The only other time we see him overseas is when he is invited to blurt in front of a more informed group of funders. He informs them that their “investment” is still worth the while. “We can still bet on that horse,” and the horse obliges.

Monday morning: “It’s a nullity. We will not enter into any further negotiations until the facilitator is changed!” We all believed them, despite the perennial history of political flip flops. “This time they really mean business,” said one MDC drunk. I was naïve. I believed him.

Friday afternoon: “If you're optimistic, the glass is half-full, if you're pessimistic, it is half-empty," belted the inexperienced Chamisa announcing, half-heartedly that they had appended their signature to a document they said was full of faults. Are you pessimistic or optimistic Chamisa? When did it ever become our choice? It’s your choice, the MDC’s choice to decide whether that glass is half full or half empty. Tell us: Is it half-empty, or half-full? Save your skin! What did the Funder say this time? Did he or she say “It’s the end of the road?” If not, how do you explain your turnaround? Then again, the history of flip-flops is characteristic of your party’s leadership.

We have signed Amendment Number 19 Bill, the one presented by Zanu PF “pending consultations and endorsement by our different leadership organs,” says Chamisa. How could you sign anything pending consultations and endorsements? You either sign or you don’t and many people I know consult first and then sign. Your party always does things in reverse, doesn’t it?

“Zimbabwe parties agree on power-sharing bill: MDC” writes the Washington Post, hesitatingly! “On-off talks between President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC have made little progress since they reached a deal in September seen as the best hope of pulling Zimbabwe back from economic collapse,” writes the paper further. So Mugabe is the President? Yes indeed, he always was. He has been, since the June 27 runoff presidential election.

“Chamisa said the talks had ended,” reluctantly reported the Washington Post.

"On our part, the MDC leadership will meet next week to discuss this, and give a direction as to how we are going to proceed." Proceed on what? You have already proceeded!

“ZANU-PF officials were not immediately available for comment.” What an amusing statement from the Washington Post. Available for comment? So that they can put their own spin to the comments and twist words from Zanu PF or MDC Mutambara – their usual way of reporting on Zimbabwe? They have become media savvy now and will not communicate with hostile media anymore.

We now impatiently await the next turnaround from the MDC-T party, in characteristic fashion.

philipmurombedzi *** yahoo.com