Zimbabweans must rise above party divisions

Zimbabweans must rise above party divisions

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By Jethro Mpofu

POVERTY walks across Zimbabwe on two legs.

Suffering Zimbabweans go
shopping with cash in baskets, and return with groceries in their pockets.

Healthcare institutions are in an unhealthy state of collapse, just like the educational facilities.

The political landscape is punctuated with disorder and heartless governmental violence and hooliganism towards popular dissent and protest.

There is confusion and chaos in the national political stadium as Robert Mugabe exhibits fierce intentions and stratagems for an unwanted life presidency.

Opposition political groups have been reduced to divided spectators of the rat race, as leaders of faction this and faction that within Zanu PF trade accusations, conspiracies and plots.

The whole background of Gukurahundi, mishandled land repossession, headless adventures of the DRC way, the war against the poor through Murambatsvina and the manipulation of elections by Zanu PF have all sentenced our counry to the label of a “stinking skunk of the world”, which is not only unfortunate, but also unnecessary and sad.

Honestly speaking, there is no need to throw bones, cast lots, or conduct research. It is Robert Mugabe, and his blind backers and handlers who are ‘the cloud that does not bear rain’.

When Mugabe and many others in Zipra and Zanla, led by Zapu and Zanu respectively, fired shots against colonialism, they became the heroes of our parents’ generation. When, in the late seventies, they soldiered on with the armed struggle up to the political independence of the country, they became our heroes and leaders also. We celebrated and honoured them. They even became icons and idols for our children, the born-frees.

But it is truly amazing to imagine that Mugabe and his few but powerful backers and handlers believe they can now lead our grand children. The creator of the universe and the ancestors of the land of Zimbabwe, no matter how much contempt for Zimbabwe they have, would not sentence four generations of Zimbabweans to one hero.

Contemporary wisdom says that, naturally, poverty and suffering squeeze the best out of a person. I seek to insist in this article that the poverty that ordinary Zimbabweans are suffering, the political violence that they are enduring, the economic decay that they are experiencing, and the political lunacy that they are witnessing, should inspire Zimbabweans to great creativity and activity. The eyes of the whole globe are glued to our country, and it can as well be an opportunity for us to prove to all nations that a creative and committed people can navigate their country out of decay. The question is, How?

Some cadres and stalwarts within Zanu PF have, at last, seen what huge numbers of Zimbabweans have seen over many years: that Mugabe must go. The recent Zanu PF national congress ended without a single resolution; then there was the report of a planned ‘Stop Mugabe’ campaign by Zanu PF MPs; and the obvious cracks among the factions and personalities jostling to replace the strongman and his backers. These are telling indications that Zanu PF is now a giant collapsing under its own weight, consumed by its own internal contradictions and confusions. Evidence abounds that some long term loyalists and apologists have strategically withdrawn their loyalty.

My observation is that this fraction of Zimbabweans in the leadership echelons of Zanu PF, and also in the rank and file, have not only seen the light, but are willing to pursue it by concretely resisting and opposing further Mugabeism.

Such people are an asset in the struggle for the economically and politically recovered Zimbabwe we want. It is indeed the beginning of political wisdom that some cadres in Zanu PF are willing to show that they believe that there is a Zanu PF and, most importantly, a Zimbabwe, beyond Mugabe.

When Archbishop Pius Ncube disclosed that he was praying for Mugabe’s death, the rest of us believed the bishop was a bit too extreme in his impatience with the man and his regime. But, even more extreme is Mugabe himself, who has openly tied his mortality to his stay in the Presidential office. It is therefore a revelation of much needed patriotism, rather than mindless partyism, that there is, at last, obvious internal opposition to Mugabe within Zanu PF. My humble understanding of patriotism is that it is the unconditional love of one’s country, which is not negotiable, and cannot be compromised by party loyalty, or worship of a party leader at the expense of the economic and political health of the country.

Now that it is clear that blind loyalty to Mugabe, and sheepish following of the Mugabe way, within Zanu PF is over, the challenge of strategic thinking and action confronts the opposition and civic society in Zimbabwe. It would be a serious error of omission if the opposition in Zimbabwe resigns itself to the stupor of being mere spectators of the succession drama in Zanu PF.

An entirely Zanu PF managed process of political change in Zimbabwe, especially one that is anointed and blessed by Mugabe himself, will be unfortunate and sad, as it will transport Zimbabwe backward.

My observation is that the time has come in Zimbabwe for a broad and wide political front to be engineered. This is the time for our imagination and thoughts of a better Zimbabwe to take front seat in all political arrangements in the country.

In earnest, this is the time when Zimbabweans of all walks must rise above narrow party and personality divisions. There is absolutely nothing wrong, but everything right and proper, with having like minded Zimbabweans from Zanu PF ranks, from MDC, UPM, UPP, and other organisations meeting and coming together in one solid political bulwark that will usher in a new political, economic and constitutional era in Zimbabwe.

As political events unfold, it must be clear to personalities like Morgan Tsvangirai, Prof Jonathan Moyo, Prof Arthur Mutambara and others in the opposition that a broad political front that includes a progressive section from Zanu PF and the greater civic society is the way to go.

It must be clear to all opposition politicians that wasting a lot of time and energy coining phrases to insult each other, cooking conspiracies against each other, and manufacturing various accusations against each other, is as negative and unwanted as to join Zanu PF at this point.

In this grand project of uniting all progressive opposition forces in the country, including the forward thinking minds in Zanu PF, it is the ordinary and heroic people of Zimbabwe who must be the inspiration and the pilots.

The people of Zimbabwe have exhibited heroic patience and heroic endurance in the face of poverty, violence and other vagaries of a troubled country. Our politicians must humble themselves in honour of the people of Zimbabwe who deserve relief and rescue from the current government.

It is indeed the time for all politicians in Zimbabwe, be it in the ruling party or in the opposition, to put Zimbabwe before narrow party and personality loyalties that pull the democratic and constitutional wagons backward.

Jethro Mpofu is a former university student leader and political activist. He writes from Bulawayo

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