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Mr Mugabe, elections yes, but new constitution first
I find reports on elections that are being attributed to the ZANU-PF website to be very interesting.
ZANU-PF is itching for new elections because they believe that there are “indications that elections will produce an outright winner”, making an inclusive government unnecessary.
The site says that ZANU-PF has clearly stated that it is ready for the elections and dares both formations of the MDC to agree to elections next year.
ZANU-PF even had the temerity to dismiss its coalition government with the MDC as “a marriage of convenience”, saying that the coalition is “fraught with differences” because the two are like “water and fire” that cannot mix.
On its website, ZANU PF reportedly said that indications were that new elections would produce a single-party majority government and not a coalition as at present.
“There is no reason why the people of Zimbabwe should not go for elections when the inclusive government expires next year,” the ZANU-PF statement, quoted on Zimonline, said.
I find this intriguing, particularly that it is coming from ZANU-PF, whose own polls should have shown them that they will lose any election that is free and fair.
I agree with ZANU-PF about the need to have one ruling party as opposed to a coalition government.
I do. I do and I do!
We have seen how much time ZANU-PF and the MDC spend squabbling over issues that have to do more with their egos than with the nation.
I also find it interesting that, in spite of its perceived weakness, ZANU-PF is spoiling for new elections, as opposed to that expensive but useless appendage reportedly led by Arthur Mutambara, who is on record as saying he wants the current coalition government to last for five years or more.
Even Morgan Tsvangirai dilly dallies on elections; one time he wants them, the next he does not.
However, we all want fresh elections. There is no doubt about that.
ZANU-PF has already taken the lead…the lead to corrupted elections.
I would have believed ZANU-PF had it not been the one that is threatening, displacing and intimidating people into giving coerced testimonies to the constitutional outreach programme.
I would have believed ZANU-PF had they come out encouraging people to freely give their views and inputs to the new constitution.
I wonder if Zimbabwe deserves the likes of Fortune Charumbira, Joseph Made, Stan Mudenge, Joseph Chinotimba and all those morons who hide behind the words “war veteran”.
We know them all.
ZANU-PF is the one that is foiling all efforts to have a new constitution, which is a priority and is a necessity before any more elections can be held.
We cannot have new elections without a new constitution in which all citizens participate and give their input.
That is not negotiable.
It is all very well for Mugabe to go around yapping about fresh elections when he knows very well that he is withholding the essentials that would make such an undertaking legitimate.
This is the time when the likes of Mutambara (Oh, God!) should also be yapping about the need for the outreach programme to be free of intimidation and violence because it is meant to give Zimbabwe a new start.
This is the time when the MDC led by Tsvangirai should be making shrill noises, attracting both internal and external attention towards the re-writing of the new constitution under a conducive atmosphere.
Instead, I read about yet another agreement between ZANU-PF and the MDC to cease fire and let the people give their input.
MDC’s Nelson Chamisa and old ZANU-PF warrior, Didymus Mutasa, reportedly “agreed” to stop hostilities and let people give their input and views to the new constitution peacefully.
Is this not nonsensical? What does the MDC think it is doing and who do they think they are fooling?
This reminds me of Muammar Gaddafi’s speech during the Non-Aligned Conference in Harare in September 1986.
Head of State after Head of State took to the podium and talked in farvour of disarmament.
When Gaddafi, who had just survived a US bombing of his residence in Libya, took to the podium, he lambasted all those who had spoken before him for wasting time debating the issue of disarmament.
“What weapons do you have to be disarmed of?”, he asked, saying that disarmament was an issue for those who are armed, like the United States.
Our situation is no less important than this.
The MDC, through Chamisa, and ZANU-PF, through Didymus Mutasa, reached an agreement to stop violence against the people and to let people give their opinions freely without the fear of violence.
Is the MDC admitting that it is also perpetrating violence?
Judging from their screams, I have always believed that ZANU-PF has always been perpetrating violence against our people.
If the MDC agrees to stop violence, does it mean that they were also responsible for violence?
The heart of the matter is that after fighting and winning our country back, why can’t we get along? We fought the war to liberate ourselves and we won.
We got our country back. Now the onus is on us to get along.
Just to get along and live together peacefully.
Are we failing that?
After chasing the devil away, why are we still at loggerheads with each other in the absence of the enemy?
Because of such a deadly lapse and little care for the people who own the country, the next elections are definitely too too important to be left in the hands of interested parties.
ZANU-PF and the MDC are interested parties and, as such, should play more of a listening role than spearheading constitutional reform.
I take note that a new constitution takes a lot from Mugabe’s institutionalized dictatorship, but I also do not want a constitution that is solely based on the MDC’s infatuations with democracy.
No party should be allowed to influence the constitution.
I do not want a constitution that is imbued with a particular group of people or political party or rich people.
I want a constitution adorned by the citizens of Zimbabwe who produce it without fear, knowing that the constitution is a lifetime of a contribution to the existence and survival of our nation.
If the Nehandas and the Kaguvis died in defense of this nation, who the hell is ZANU-PF, who the hell is the MDC, Mugabe or Tsvangirai?
Our nation still belongs to those who died for it with no mention of socialism, democracy or communism.
ZANU-PF had its chance to prove if they are democratic, because that is what is expected of all nations today, is it not?
And for thirty years we suffered under so-called social democracy and this was just after suffering under capitalism, heavily tainted with apartheid.
It is not funny; I have a cousin brother called Jan (Smuts) and a nephew called Van Ransburg as their first names.
I am not giving anyone any trust anymore.
The MDC is cuddling the wrong people for convenience.
Zimbabwe does not need convenience.
Zimbabwe needs a chance to regain its balance and these politicians are conniving and playing games with a nation that is bent on surviving.
Are there any foreigners around, putting bad intentions in our people’s heads?
Why can’t we get along and put our nation right?
What do you think?
Send me your comments on tano@swradioafrica.com.
Who is Robert Mugabe? He is a mere mortal who wants to go down with our country. He is a coward afraid of being ordinary, which he is.
Who is Morgan Tsvangirai?
A mere mortal who wants his time in the sun…fair enough, Mr Tsvangirai. You got the chance and the platform; do the right things then.
Zimbabwe has been good to all our politicians.
I feel very agitated when I see the MDC slowly assimilating into ZANU-PF.
Zimbabweans have been patient with all our leaders.
Enough is enough.
If they get along so well, why can’t they give us a chance to tell them what we think and want?
Why are they making themselves our enemies? Why don’t they care about our plight?
They are in this together against us so they must do something for us otherwise they are our enemies.
I am Tanonoka Joseph Whande and that, my fellow Zimbabweans, is the way it is today, Thursday, July 22, 2010.
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