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A crisis of leadership
By
Zwide
Langa
VARIOUS parties
have expressed the dearth of patriotic leadership within the Zanu PF
ranks in pretty much the same way as some did of the “Rhodesia
Front” in the 60s and 70s.
The problem then, and today, was the lack of analysis of what the opposition leadership were offering in terms of patriotic leadership. Hence we ended up with a more brutal black dictatorship replacing a white dictatorship.
What has the opposition and civic groups offered in terms of what they stand for that is relevant and practical to the average Zimbabwean? Even more important, what principles, practiced as well as preached, has the opposition and civic groups offered?
We all know that Zimbabweans are divided along ethnic and racial lines. What has the opposition and civic groups offered in terms of a united Zimbabwe where all the groups have a stake in the future?
Please note that
people do not eat or pay school fees with democracy or a
new constitution. The focus is how democracy of a new constitution is
going to deliver an environment for individuals to make a living and
access food.
It should be noted
that democracy is relative, at best and a constitution
without stakeholder commitment is nothing but a piece of paper that
can be
changed easily as a la African continent. Also remember that Zanu PF
claims to be a democratic party, and so does Morgan Tsvangirai (who
requested a vote and then disregarded and lied when it did not go his
way). Who is more democratic than the other?
If we choose to
overlook such glaring disregard for core principles in the opposition
ranks then we have to ask ourselves what we are opposing or fighting
for. In relation to this, Vice President Joseph Msika, a Shona
leader in Matabeleland allegedly chastised the MDC for being “imgodoyi”,
which translates to a dog that just follows anyone who is not their
owner
without even knowing where it is going (some may come up with a better
translation).
At the core of the
Zimbabweans’ apathy is the lack of clear and principled
leadership in the opposition that is continuing with a lot of rattle
and hum
but no clear direction and vision. Zimbabwe cannot afford the “typical”
post-colonial myopia exemplified in Kenya et al that tends to replace
one
directionless and visionless group of corrupt dictators with another.
When Zimbabweans ask themselves the most basic of questions that should form the bedrock of a long-term unity of purpose in the struggle the opposition and civic groups are left wanting. For example:
What would motivate
me as a white Zimbabwean to fight Mugabe when I am not sure if the opposition
is any better in terms of racialism? (Note: the lack
of political action from the opposition and civic groups following the
assault of Trudy Stevenson could be argued was racially motivated.
Additionally, the lack of strong condemnation of racialist/hate speeches
from the Zanu PF regime have not been universally condemned by the
opposition).
What would motivate
me as a Karanga Zimbabwean to fight Mugabe when I am not sure if the
opposition is any better in terms of equitable treatment of
Masvingo? (Note: Masvingo is the most populous and geographicall y central
province with the greatest national monument-Great Zimbabwe, but has
never
been acknowledged or appropriately represented on the national scene.
To
make matters worse, as Karangas, during the “civil war”
we lost the most
number of fighters in the Zanla forces under unclear circumstances).
What would motivate
me as a Ndebele Zimbabwean to fight Mugabe when I am not sure if the
opposition is any better in terms of equitable treatment of
Matabeleland and the Midlands? (Note: Matabeleland and Midlands have
not
only been sidelined, but acts of genocide have also been carried out
against
their populations when they have never voted for Zanu PF. Also, as Ndebeles,during
the “civil war” we were critical in the victory only to
find that we were fighting to install a regime worse than the “Rhodesia
Front”).
What would motivate
me as a Zezuru Zimbabwean to fight Mugabe when I am not sure if the
opposition is any better in terms of equitable treatment of
Zezurus after what my ethnic folk have done to the other groups and
the
country over the past 26 years? (Note: that some people have already
resorted to heap blame on Zezurus, as a group, for our current quagmire).
What would motivate
me as a Coloured Zimbabwean to fight Mugabe when I am not sure if the
opposition is any better in terms of equitable treatment of
Coloured? (Note: that Coloureds have been “transparent”
when it came to
minority rights due to the apartheid legacy that dictated their status
as
being the buffer between the “Africans” and the “Europeans”).
What would motivate
me as an Asian Zimbabwean to fight Mugabe when I am not sure if the
opposition is any better in terms of equitable treatment of
Asians? (Note: that the Asian businesses that have been the bedrock
of
SME-Small & Medium Size Enterprises, have been attacked without
respect to property with no protection or condemnation from any quarter).
What would motivate
me as a Manyika Zimbabwean to fight Mugabe when I am not sure if the
opposition is any better in terms of equitable treatment of
Manicaland? (Note: Manicaland is one of the provinces that have been
sidelined in terms of social and cultural development and representation
in
national government).
What would motivate
me as a Ndau Zimbabwean to fight Mugabe when I am not sure if the opposition
is any better in terms of equitable treatment of
Gazaland? (Note: Gazaland is one of the provinces that has consistently
voted for Zanu Ndonga and never Zanu PF but has never been accorded
the respect to exercise its right to some form of self-determination.
It has been
sidelined in terms of social and cultural development and representation
in
national government).
What would motivate
me as a gay Zimbabwean to fight Mugabe when I am not sure if the opposition
is any better in terms of equitable treatment of homosexuals? (Note:
none of the opposition has sexual orientation equity
policy).
What would motivate
me as a Zimbabwean businessman to fight Mugabe when I am sure the opposition
is making similar, if not worse, sounds as the
opposition generally do not believe in free market economics and hence
are
questionable on property rights. (Note: Morgan Tsvangirai MDC still
refer to
each other as “comrade” so and so a la communists but still
expect support
from Zimbabweans living in the free market capitalist diaspora to support
them. This is rather interesting as Morgan appears a champagne communist
who was broadcast on British television drinking champagne at his palatial
home after losing the last elections while Arthur Mutambara was a capitalist
businessman who was brought in on an ethnic card).
When one hears the
cries for support from the likes of the opposition and
civic groups from Zimbabweans at home and in the diaspora, one should
question these people’s capacities and capabilities of understanding
the
situation in Zimbabwe and whether they are worthy of our support.
Zimbabweans, we
need to all join the march to our liberation but we need to
make sure that we are all marching to the same drum that is for liberation
for ALL not liberation for some as done in 1980. That opposition light
at
the end of the tunnel may not be the exit but a high speed train about
to
decimate us like the rest of Africa.
Many Zimbabweans
blame the so-called armchair analysts (of which I may be accused of
being one). My intention is to contribute to a wider discussion that
we can all, as Zimbabweans, develop towards what is true liberation
for EVERY Zimbabwean. There are answers to galvanising our people
towards and united liberation front, but these answers require unshakeable
principle that WE ALL have to subscribe and commit to.
We have to walk thetalk unlike those “democrats” who do not accept a democratic vote when it goes against them, or liberals who do not accept those whose lifestyles they abhor, or “non-tribalists” who accept a role based on their ethnicity or “workers leaders” who are in the pockets of a political party. I hope that we can now start openly discussing all the taboos in Zimbabwe such as race, ethnicity, gender, justice, sexual orientation and representation.
THE TIME HAS COME!
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