Tanonoka Joseph Whande hopes the MDC takes seriously the danger they might find themselves in during and after the coming elections. He says: “The heart of the matter is that the MDC’s so-called diplomatic offensive seeks not national safeguards but personal ones for the MDC hierarchy; it is nothing more than a search for protectors and godfathers in case things go wrong for the MDC politicians.”
Tanonoka Joseph Whande says the government must acknowledge the importance of its citizens in the Diaspora and not just because of their large financial contributions. Whande says: “It is the responsibility of any government to take care of its citizens, wherever they are, but ZANU PF has always taken care of only those who support it.
Tanonoka Joseph Whande says the upcoming elections are a chance for Zimbabweans to seize their political imperatives by taking a stand, and voting for real democratic change. He says the polls are the last chance Zimbabweans have “to take control of our destiny; an opportunity to reset our agenda,” and urges people to “vote for those we believe in, not those we are told to vote for.”
Tanonoka Joseph Whande says there are important lessons that can be learned from the recent peaceful government transitions seen in other African countries, most recently in Kenya. Whande says he hopes Robert Mugabe learned something from the Kenyan presidential inauguration, saying his “continued presence in politics is a selfish, self-serving exercise that benefits neither himself nor the nation.”
Tanonoka Joseph Whande says South Africa is unfit to be the mediator in Zimbabwe’s political crisis, saying it has failed to make any difference over the past four years. He says that with elections looming, it is best “to push South Africa off the table and engage other nations and individuals who approach mediation, not to entrench their self interests but to assist a troubled nation get back on its feet.”
Tano calls on the political parties in Zimbabwe to respect their supporters by ensuring the next elections are free from violence. He says it is time to learn lessons from the past and move forward, and to deliver the promised peaceful elections Zimbabweans deserve.
Tanonoka Joseph Whande says the voter turnout during the referendum is not a reason for celebration, because the figures supplied by the authorities still only reflect a minority of the Zim population. He says there is serious need for voter education to encourage people to participate in the general election.
Tanonoka Joseph Whande says the death of 12 year old Christpowers Maisiri should not be touted as the reason why Zimbabwe cannot hold elections, when warnings of violence and persecution were growing even before that tragic event. He says more should have been done before that incident to secure a peaceful country.
Tanonoka Joseph Whande reflects on the death of 12 year old Christpowers Maisiri and what the incident says about the situation in Zimbabwe at the moment. He says that with just 12 days until the referendum, the MDC has a lot of work to do to save the nation from disaster.
Tanonoka Joseph Whande urges the MDC-T to stick by their goals, warning that they have steered “dangerously off the track.” He says there are important issues the party promised to tackle that have been forgotten, and that there is more talk than real action.
