Our collective hatred for one another would burn Zanu PF

Our collective hatred for one another would burn Zanu PF

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By Chris Gande

PROFESSOR Arthur Mutambara's entry into the political scene has undoubtedly ignited a ferocious flame of debate that has consumed Zimbabweans and those outside that troubled country watching with interest the unfolding of a tragic story; that of a rapidly deteriorating economy presided over by an 82-year-old man with the "bones of a 28-year-old".

Never mind that this may sound like a Shakespearean tragedy told by an idiot. I am talking about Zimbabwe, a country whose tragic slide into a failed state has baffled economic deduction and now requires something more advanced like robotics or mechatronics to fix its ailing fiscus.

Lest I be misconstrued as a supporter of Arthur Mutambara, I will hasten to absolve myself through the disclaimer of my professional journalistic background as enscounced by the guidelines of the charter of the Voice of America which demands that I discharge my duty as a journalist in an objective and non-partisan way.

Mutambara, is a famed student rights activist in his hey days at the University of Zimbabwe where he led ferocious demonstrations that left indellible scars on the monstrous Mugabe regime which is now eyeing him with a hungry red eye as he tries to resuscitate the ghost of one part of what was once Mugabe's nightmare, the one that nearly saw him lose his grip on power.

That was nearly 20 yeras ago.

Today Mutambara, who is commonly known in student activism circles as AGO, his initials, comes into the political arena at a time when student activism is probably accelerating at an unprecedented speed that threatens to hit the Mugabe regime where it hurts the most - the falacy of the communist vision of the provision for the underprivilleged students in society.

I have challenged some journalist friends of mine in Zimbabwe to observe whether State House also goes dark when there is an electricity power outage. Of course it would be folly for me to put my colleagues into the task of checking whether Zim One, Mugabe's customised armoured Mercedes Benz S600 LV AMG (Pullman size), which guzzles enough fuel for the full tanks of two kombis in every kilometre that it moves, has been grounded due to lack of fuel.

Or to check whether the first family had a breakfast of mbambaira and black unsweetened tea due to the high cost and or shortage of sugar, milk, bacon, eggs, and sausage.

Education in Zimbabwe, a country that had one of the highest literacy rates on the African continent, is now probably the most expensive in the continent, if not the whole wide world. Students are now required to pay $35 million up from $3,5million per semester. Most of the student's parents have been reduced to objects of mere existence. Their salaries are nowhere near the astronomous $35 million.

Students, who are exactly the same age as that of the honourable professor of robotics was when he led the "revolutionary" University of Zimbabwe Student Council, are today a malignant lot seething with fury at being denied almost all basic rights, including that one of acquiring knowlege and then using it to develop their own country and ensuring that the economy does not limp but surges forward with vigor for the inhabitants to enjoy their God-given right to live and not survive.

But now they will not afford to go to university or college and may end up having degrees in violence (and higher national diplomas in pschological torture and certificates in the art and science of maiming).

Now allow me to indulge in that nocturnal tradition of my spiritual being - that of being a Sangoma. Now when I flick my flywhisk, I see that the coming of Mutambara and the upheavals at the colleges and universities are not a cincidence. But what my spirit cannot reveal is how the students, who are themselves as divided as the two factions of the once formidable party that sent a chill down Zanu PF's spine, will be brought aboard a revolutionary bus. A bus that will carry only those passengers that desire to see a nation that prospers and rewards those individuals who sweat and not only those who pilfer or plunder public coffers pillaging a bleeding economy.

Yes, when I flip my flywhisk once more, I see Morgan Tsvangirai, a stronger force with students on his side. Him courting the students as a potent ally, symbolising the suffering of the majority, boycotting all elections and going into the streets. I see him mobilizing the people and giving them hope, courage and not just talking about removing Mugabe but at least trying to do so.

University and college students in their teens or early 20s have a longer future to think about than their geriatric national government leaders who appear to have forgotten that there is a new generation of "born-frees" who are beggging to live decent lives rather than the painful specter of anguish and abject poverty they find themselves in. And a whole lot of people, part of the nearly ten million disgruntled people whose lives have been reduced to untold suffering. Millions of my people, as Mugabe would say.

Just like Mutambara curved a niche in the political history of the country through student activism, we are seeing a new crop of leaders following his footsteps, names like Garikai Kajauro, Colleen Chibango, Mfundo Mlilo and Wellington Mahohoma.

Already the student leaders have met Morgan Tsvangirai and Welshman Ncube. It is my assumption that soon they will meet their mentor, Mutambara. What they will decide and agree on I am not privy. But that they have something in common with the former student leader who crept into the political scene like the proverbial thief is not in doubt.

Even those who are in both Zanu PF and the other fracture of the MDC; from almost all spheres of life, policemen, doctors, teachers, kombi drivers, including the men-in-dark shades had something to talk about.

Even those who could be rightfully classified as the elite but because of the poor salaries and diminished buying power of the ever-falling dollar, those who can afford to access the web, had something to talk about on webchats.

Some even said that it is because of him that the earth "trembled" in the early hours of Februrary 23. It's not me who is saying that.

"Who is Professor Mutambara?" "What is robotics or mechatronics?"

Even those with religious despositions asked: "Has the hour cometh yet?" "Is Arthur the son of man?"

"No! a big fat NO!"Tsvangirai is the man!" Those on the other side roared their voices hoarse. "Give Tsvangirai another chance."

Some people who have been the best of friends, both in political circles and in the street are now sworn enemies exuding such immense hatred for each other that sometimes I think if they could combine their hatred for each other and channel it towards the demise of Zanu PF the ruling party could have been gathering dust in the dustbins of history by now.

No such energy has ever been manipulated by members of the divided opposition as they gun for each other's throats. Not even during Operation Murambatsvina.

Zimbabweans have exhibited bizarre resilence in the face of a cauldron of bubbling economic upheavals, the result of an economy in a hellish tailspin that has completely reduced them to a pathetic laughing stock of the African sub-region and indeed the whole world.

The last thing that Zimbabwe can afford at this most trying and decisive moment is a divided opposition. So I will take this contribution to be an open letter to Morgan Tsvangirai and Professor Arthur Mutambara. I know Mutambara will read this article because only last week he told me that he reads this website. As for Tsvangirai, I am not sure whether he reads New Zimbabwe.com as I have not spoken to him in almost four months now but I hope and pray that he gets to read this.

You two gentleman, the nation is looking foward to your unity. Bow to one another and look ahead at the horizon for a fresh beginning for this country afflicted by a malaise of misrule. The nation is on its knees, begging you to please unite. Sacrifice your pride for the sake of posterity and shake hands!

Chris Gande is a journalist working for the Voice Of America. He is also a novelist and you can view details of his book Section Eight based on Zimbabwe's land reforms, CLICK HERE. You can contact him on e-mail: gandex@yahoo.co.uk
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