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Rise up Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU)
March 15, 2011

Zimbabwe is slowly transforming from a weaker and desperate dictatorship that lost elections in 2008 to a stronger and vicious tyranny that might hold the nation at ransom for a distant future. The revolutionary commitment and Unity of purpose that used to bind the pro democracy movement together has since vanished after the entrance of the MDC in the inclusive government. There is however an escalation of human rights violations and coercion of citizens as ZANU PF persecutes all perceived enemies ahead of a possible plebiscite.

Zimbabweans are demanding service delivery and democratic space from the hybrid government but all they are fed with is either the well calculated spin against sanctions from ZANU PF or the whimpering and bickering from MDC over unfulfilled GPA obligations. The spin from ZANU PF seems to be getting world attention especially across the African continent and the "revolutionary" party is getting sympathizers who now view it as a victim of western imperialism. The whimpering from the MDC over unfulfilled GPA obligations is now getting less attention both locally and abroad. The citizens never expected Mugabe to be a faithful partner in the GPA and do not expect much from him. The world over is now focusing on a fresh election post GPA. The question that remains is why the MDC is remaining in this government?

The MDC is controlling most Ministries that have to deal with service delivery, Ministries of Health, Education and Finance but ZANU PF controls the economy through Ministries of Agriculture, Tourism and Mines. As the MDC is battling with service delivery ZANU PF is looting national resources and channelling them towards setting up and reviving the institutions of Violence in the country.

The president of the MDC has consistently vowed to fight for reforms from within but we are yet to witness any of those reforms but more political manipulation of all state machinery by the ZANU PF party. The dethronement of the Speaker of Parliament by Supreme Court, the parochial partisan prosecution of activists by AG's office, the unlawful detention of activists by the police and disruption of all pro-democracy meetings by the army are some of the latest examples of how ZANU PF is systematically closing the tiny democratic space that still existed pre Inclusive government. The MDC leader of late said they want a clean divorce from the government. I wonder how the devil in ZANU PF can ever be part of any holy arrangement including smart divorce.

The nation is losing patience with the inclusive government. The students for example have been demanding government support through the reintroduction of the Loan and grant scheme. The demand was taken aboard by the Finance Minister but thwarted by the ZANU PF led Ministry of Higher Education. Civil servants still demand a review of their pathetic salaries in the wake of more diamond sales. The diamond revenue however seem to be vanishing before finding its way to national treasury. For the first time since independence, thousands of students failed to write 'O" and 'A' level exams in 2010 after failing to pay required exam fees.

It might take me days and many pages to narrate the socio, economic and political woes that Zimbabweans are going through under the inclusive government but that will not solve our worsening crisis. What is demanded from us today is a concrete way forward that can depose the regime of Mugabe and usher in a new democratic and people centered political dispensation that can drive the development of our nation. The current government can never lead a process of reforming our state institutions.

The students of Zimbabwe from the onset never believed that the inclusive regime was a panacea to our national crisis. We still believe it was a mistake and a mistake that the nation cannot afford to live with. We call upon the nation to unite and rise up against this farce that has only achieved to give breathing space to Mugabe and afforded him an opportunity to strengthen the institutions that violates our rights with impunity.

To the MDC we advise you to divorce yourself from this government of many names either in a smart or a dirty way and come back to the people. The people shall not spare you of their wrath as we launch a protracted struggle against tyranny and an anti-people government. The nation demands an immediate dissolution of that government you are part of to pave way for a genuine revolution that shall leave power in the hands of the working people. The roadmap that Zuma is proposing shall see the same fate as Thabo Mbeki's initiatives that were stalled by the cunning Mugabe regime.

To Mugabe we advise you to take your time and follow the proceedings in North Africa. That wave is surely coming to your door step and shall definitely sweep you away. Stop behaving like a union leader and stop the nonsensical campaign against non-existent sanctions. What value do you think those forced signatures shall bring to this nation? The nation demands an immediate resignation of your bunch of thieves from government lest you face the full wrath of the citizens whose resources you have consistently plundered. Never confuse our patience with docility.

We shall not whimper whilst the nation burns!

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