Zimbabwe: beyond the job boycotts

Zimbabwe: beyond the job boycotts

TODAY Zimbabweans are urged to join a nationwide job boycott in protest at the dastardly destruction of property by security forces who are on a "clean up" of our major cities.

It is not the first time that such a call has been made, and it is unlikely it will be the last.

Those behind this call are well-meaning Zimbabweans driven by a desire to put an end to a tyrannical administration.

Lovemore Madhuku has, perhaps, been the only opposition figure who has led from the front, usually at the expense of his freedom and at great risk to himself and his family.

The same can be said of Munyaradzi Gwisai, the great advocate for socialism who has helped thousands of workers unfairly dismissed or disciplined for various excuses by employers.

These are just two of the many figures calling for a demonstration of unity among all Zimbabweans in defence of civil liberties that are under siege in Zimbabwe. They are all great people!

"The "alliance" risks turning into a laboratory for costly political experiments which will wreak havoc on the public's confidence in alternative leadership"

MDUDUZI MATHUTHU

However, the strategy adopted by the "broad alliance" is one that can backfire spectacularly, with disastrous consequences for the opposition unit as a whole.

My problem with this "stay away" is that there is no clear measure of its success or failure, besides the numbers of people staying at home or companies that shut their doors.

Unless there is a second layer of action planned, this "stay-away" would appear to be a pointless exercise. For all their good intentions, Madhuku and his comrades could be diving into an empty pool which will only hurt them and their movement.

It is doubtful that the "alliance" can achieve the level of participation that Morgan Tsvangirai mustered during those heady days when he was at the ZCTU. For this "stay away" to be meaningful, the "alliance" should be looking beyond a job boycott which will not affect Robert Mugabe's parade through Harare's streets as he opens Parliament on Thursday.

Without that plan, this "stay-away", no matter what the response of the people is, will only hurt and dumpen the spirits of the anxious majority that wants to see change. "Stay aways" and street protests have been tried before, and they have only turned out to be perfect opportunities for petty thieves and cowards to venture out, loot and destroy property.

When the "mass stay aways" and street protests have failed, it is ordinary Zimbabweans who have been left to bear the brunt of Mugabe's brutality. Indeed, the opposition MDC which has sponsored many of the past "stay-aways" is split over this particular call. Are those bitterely opposed to this "mass action" thinking what many people are thinking?

The ordinary people's approach and attitude to this call to stay at home is measured and cautious. If this mass action fails to trouble Mugabe, as I am sure it will fail, the confidence of Zimbabweans will take a knock when they wake up to the realisation that their actions have not achieved any meaningful outcome.

There is no straight answer to what the "alliance" should be doing, but it risks turning into a laboratory for costly political experiments which will wreak havoc on the public's confidence in alternative leadership.

The "alliance" could start by exploring how this "stay away" could be used as a precursor to a more DIRECT collision with Mugabe and his interests.
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mathuthu@newzimbabwe.com