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Makumbe calls on Zimbabwean democratic forces to refocus fight against regime
Violet Gonda, SW Radio Africa
July 20, 2007

http://www.swradioafrica.com/News200707/Makumbe200707.htm

All systems in Zimbabwe are collapsing. It's becoming increasingly difficult to get through on the phone, there are extensive electricity and water cuts, supermarkets are empty of basic commodities, long queues for fuel have resurfaced and businesses are near collapse. The economic meltdown has resulted in thousands of Zimbabweans fleeing the country daily.

Outspoken political analyst Dr John Makumbe said this is how Robert Mugabe has fast-tracked his own demise but he expressed disappointment in the pro-democracy movement in Zimbabwe for failing to capitalize on the crisis.

He said: "In the past the affected people used to be only sections of the population, either the very poor or the students, the progressive forces, the opposition parties, the media or the lawyers. This time it's everyone including the rich themselves, including ZANU PF members, including the army, including the police."

The analyst said the nation is on the verge of total collapse and people are literally starving as they can't find food in the shops, but there is no opposition to mobilize the masses.

Dr Makumbe said it's unfortunate that even Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono is becoming more vocal than the pro-democracy movement. He urged the opposition movement to focus and regroup, to find ways of fighting the regime.

The opposition MDC split over differences in strategies in 2005 and have been fighting each other ever since. Makumbe said: "I am disappointed in the MDC particularly, but also in civil society. Nobody is really fighting against this (repression). Nobody is even wanting to speak out against this."

He urged the groups to remain focused on the national crisis and refuse to be distracted from the agenda at hand - and stop the infighting for the sake of progress.

Much hope is also being put on the SADC region to bring the political parties in Zimbabwe to the negotiating table, but Robert Mugabe's intransigence is said to be hampering the talks. Observers say it is unacceptable that there is no information available on the actual progress of the talks between the MDC and ZANU PF, despite the massive humanitarian crisis unfolding in Zimbabwe.

But commentators like Dr Makumbe say the SADC led talks are merely a sideshow and will not yield any results, because Mugabe is not really interested.

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