For Zimbabwe, elections not an option any more

For Zimbabwe, elections not an option any more

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By Lance Guma

ZIMBABWEANS are slowly awakening to the fact that a twenty-five year flirtation with the ballot box does not necessarily guarantee democracy.

The last remaining dictators on the continent have resorted to election rigging and have cast military coups to the back burner of consideration. If ever there is to be dispute about the conduct of Zimbabwean elections it is only be because thieves and a close network of beneficiaries have enough circumstantial evidence to support convenient claims for legitimacy. The MDC for a six year old party has done considerably well to shake up the foundations of Zanu PF’s power. The manner in which it has haunted Robert Mugabe in the last six years is testimony to those efforts. Sadly that is all they have managed to do.

The party seems eager to over- employ strategies which worked in the past in every crisis it faces ahead. It is obvious to many the parliamentary democracy they subscribe to is holding them prisoner. The decision to continue participating in parliament with a miserly forty-one seats has turned off many Zimbabweans who recognise the rubber stamping role of that institution. The reason why the June stay away flopped is simple. The party asked people to make a big sacrifice when it cannot itself make simple sacrifices like completely boycotting parliament for fear of losing ‘their seats’ or is it parliamentary pensions and benefits as some have quipped? It is a weird scenario for the likes of Jenni Williams from WOZA and Lovemeore Madhuku of the NCA to get arrested more than members of the MDC itself.

"The MDC seems eager to over-employ strategies which worked in the past in every crisis it faces ahead. The parliamentary democracy they subscribe to is holding them prisoner"

LANCE GUMA

When Zimbabweans hear how cautious party leaders are for fear of getting arrested they begin to wonder why the ordinary supporter should be expected to take the risk alone? It does not help for the MDC to complain about Zimbabweans being cowards or 'mbwende' as Tsvangirai put it, when people clearly see that the only cowards are those leading them. People want to hear inspirational stories like, ‘MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has been arrested for defying POSA, AIPPA or some such repressive law’. Nelson Chamisa the Youth Chairman is among a few individuals with the courage to defy Mugabe's authority. You can not ask your supporters to be defiant when you yourself are working within the system. The MDC should cleanse itself from this ‘parliamentary disease’ and reflect on where the real power lies in the country.

The down side is everyone now knows what needs to be done in order to remove Mugabe but no one wants to say it first. Even the MDC knows exactly what needs to be done. Many hope the party will have the sense to convert their party machinery into an underground resistance network and mobilise people instead of fruiltless diplomatic shuffling and press statements on every little crisis. The party has the machinery to make things happen but disappoints many by running a political factory that only produces candidates for rigged elections. Is there hope in channeling resources towards fighting more elections with Mugabe? The regime is jamming Shortwave signals from SW Radio Africa, destroying the homes of the urban poor, attacking small scale businesess, buying jets and other tools for repression. The message is clear, Zanu PF is fighting to the last drop of blood.

People need something that will lift their hopes. They have been bludgeoned beyond redemption and will never be motivated by idle talk or statements from the safety of Harvest House, the opposition headquarters. Trade Unionist, Raymond Majongwe says the MDC of yester-year when Tsvangirai told Mugabe at a rally 'to go peacefully or be removed violently' was the MDC that could bring about change. The current group cannot even fathom the thought of spending the night in police cells.

The Chitungwiza MDC Mayor was said to be on the run one weekend after reports indicated police wanted to arrest him for urging Chitungwiza residents to defy operation 'Murambatsvina'. Now if leaders who are urging defiance then run away themselves, what do you expect people to do? This week when WOZA women were arrested without their leader Jenni Williams, she went to the police station later to hand herself over in solidarity. Lovemore Madhuku from the NCA has shown the same commitment. Will the MDC leadership show the same courage before expecting people to break a leg for them.

The weak have one weapon: the errors of those who think they are strong!
Lance Guma is a Zimbabwean journalist and opinions expressed here are his and not of his employers SW Radio
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