TANONOKA JOSEPH WHANDE

The scariest thing to me is seeing Morgan Tsvangirai and his Movement for Democratic Change actually behaving and acting like they are in control of the government.
It is enticing and quite impressive until you notice that the other half of the government does not pay any attention to such utterances.

I am obligated to agree with those who say that there is no Government of National Unity in Zimbabwe but a ZANU-PF government in which the MDC has been invited to do the cleaning up, campaign for the end of sanctions and beg for billions of dollars on behalf of Mugabe and his party.
Gideon Gono is waiting for that money.

I am disturbed by the fact that the MDC allows Mugabe and his ZANU-PF to get away with some important concessions without itself getting anything back.
The sum total of this misguided approach is that it is always ZANU-PF that ends up being the winner at the expense of the MDC.
Since the so-called talks started, it was always the MDC that had to soften its stand against that of ZANU-PF.
The MDC is the one that has always been compromising and giving away or changing their positions whenever ZANU-PF stood its ground.

The MDC has to calm down as a matter of urgency. They are moving too fast in the wrong direction.
They are ignoring important things, which they could be using as leverage, yet run to embrace other things that might seem to be diplomatic protocol while strengthening ZANU-PF.
The case of Roy Bennett illustrates the impotence of the MDC.
The lamentations and charges of Bennett’s wife that the MDC had let her husband down should be alarming to both MDC supporters and leadership.

Recent statements by MDC spokesperson, Nelson Chamisa, are slowly rekindling fears that these political foes had only reconciled for their own benefit, not for the benefit of the nation.
“The swearing in of Tomana as the chief government legal advisor puts paid to the fierce challenge of his appointment from the MDC,” says a report. “His swearing in on Tuesday can be construed as an indication that President Mugabe was not prepared to sacrifice his avid supporter to appease the MDC.”
When Mugabe unilaterally appointed Tomana as Attorney General, the MDC made it loud and clear that they wanted the unilateral appointment to be reversed, along with that of the Governor of the Reserve Bank. The MDC said both appointments violated the inter-party agreement, the basis of the current government of national Unity.
Now they are part of the government and asked to comment on Tomana’s swearing in, the MDC said his party would not contest Tomana’s coming into Parliament as his party “was not fighting individuals”.
“The MDC appreciates that before the matter is resolved, there had to be an Attorney General in Parliament,” said Chamisa.
An illegal or unconstitutional Attorney General?
“But,” he continued, “our position is very clear. We are not fighting individuals but we are fighting the system, its institutions and processes.”
And the process has indicated that there had to be an attorney general, legal or otherwise, in parliament.
The MDC better calm down and think first because they are betraying their intentions and might not reach the Promised Land they erroneously think is within their reach.

It is frightening that they are no longer playing to the innocent gallery but to themselves and we all know where that leads as John Nkomo and his former PF-ZAPU negotiators found out when they were tasked with convincing people for the need of PF-ZAPU joining ZANU-PF.
After months of being chauffeured around the country in Mercedes Benz luxury sedans, complete with bodyguards and drivers, sleeping in luxury hotels, the negotiators were prepared to join ZANU-PF with or without their brethren to whom they had been sent.

And here we go again!
Why does the MDC think it, alone, is the one supposed to compromise and to give in to ZANU-PF? They are always giving and always trying to explain their capitulation to the people.
This is the selling out period.

Today, while invasions continue, the MDC says that the government “shall not seek to reverse the land reform programme but shall strive to secure international support and finance to both compensate the former land-owners and support new farmers”.
What kind of betrayal is this?
Yes, land redistribution is not negotiable; in fact, it is mandatory but all along it was the legal aspect of the affair that was very much in question.
Crimes were committed.
People were raped and murdered during the violent land seizures. ZANU-PF and its government literally stole those farms to give to their children, friends and relatives and they continue to do so.
Where does the MDC draw the line?
Is it now saying those who murdered are also forgiven? What is the land audit they trumpet supposed to achieve? And if the audit unearths inconsistencies, as indeed they will, what are they going to do or is the MDC also coming up with its own “reconciliation” gimmick?

Last Saturday, Mugabe declared that farm seizures will continue but a few days later, Tsvangirai said farm invasions must stop.
I then wonder what they discuss in their cabinet meetings if they, as government, cannot present to the people a unified and agreed approach. Whose voice should the people follow?
This confusion should be noted and the MDC must do something about it otherwise they have no business in this government.

Chamisa, Tsvangirai and the MDC are never coming back to the people. Their new found mandate now is to always explain why they are giving in to ZANU-PF so frequently while ZANU-PF is not giving the MDC anything in return.
They are now the ZANU-PF apologists in front of the expectant Zimbabweans.
The MDC is now ZANU-PF’s messenger. They are not for the people any more.

The heart of the matter is that the MDC needs to be much tougher with ZANU-PF if they expect to keep their identity and support. They have conceded too much and they continue to do so.
The MDC is too willing to give in to ZANU-PF demands while ZANU-PF is not budging an inch.
The MDC has already started using ZANU-PF terminology to hoodwink the people into supporting the mistake called government of national unity.

Their biggest mandate appears to be to convince the international community to accept the current government.
No, Mr Tsvangirai, sanctions against Mugabe and his lieutenants must remain until there is evidence that he is listening to you. Until there is evidence that you are not being innocently used. Until we all can see that you have been given the powers that should be vested in your office and party.
So please, for now, do not embarrass your staunch supporters in and outside Zimbabwe; do not shame those governments that gave you unwavering support by hurrying to get money which we know will go into Gideon Gono’s hands and we all know where it will end up.
We realise you are being used. You will deny it, of course, but Mugabe is using you.
The MDC must calm down a bit and proceed with extreme caution.
What do you think? Send me your comments on tano@swradioafrica.com
I am Tanonoka Joseph Whande and that, I am afraid to say, my compatriots, is the way it is today, Thursday March 5, 2009.