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National Vision document buys time for government
Pius Wakatama
November 19, 2006

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/viewinfo.cfm?linkid=21&id=5290&siteid=1

AFTER years of fighting for their rights against the formidable odds of a partisan army, police, government militias and press, Zimbabweans were tired indeed. Then, came the good news. The Church in the form of the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, Catholic Bishops Conference and Zimbabwe Council of Churches, was going to step in and put things right!

There was the visit to State House by the representatives of the Church. Some of us hopefully thought that finally, the President was going to have the riot act read to him by God’s representatives on earth. Nothing of the sort happened. The men of the cloth came out smacking their lips, smiling broadly and singing the praises of the government and the President as a "man who really listens to his people".

When asked about the details of the meeting with the President the bishops and pastors were secretive and refused to divulge much, thus kindling and fuelling people’s suspicions that a sell–out was in the offing.

This was further confirmed when the church leaders called for a national day of prayer ignoring the traditional one, organised by the Intercessors led by Rev Chimbambo. The day of prayer was held and was graced by the First Family, government ministers and the usual Zanu PF entourage. It was a State affair in full regalia, with all the accoutrements of pomp and majesty. Our hearts sank.

After the publication of the National Vision Document it became known that the President had suggested to the church leaders at the State House meeting that they initiate discussions among all Zimbabwean stakeholders to help solve the problems bedevilling the country. So, in truth, the whole exercise was a government and not a church initiative as the public had been led to believe.

Some of us, who have long concluded that this government is not only unwilling but incapable of getting us out of the mess they got us into, became perturbed. "What is the government’s motive?" we asked.

In Shona we say: "Mwoyo chena wei kuti tsvimborume ibvise mwana wemvana dzihwa?" In other words there is reason to be suspicious when, suddenly, a bachelor takes an interest in the welfare of an unmarried mother’s baby. The answer is not far to see. The country is in deep crisis and the people are restless. They are tired of suffering and being fed a diet of lies. They need change so much so that anything can happen. Zanu PF is in a corner and is desperately looking for a way out.

Under the present circumstances Zanu PF would not win a single seat in a free and fair election. In desperation they are furtively and disjointedly trying to push presidential elections to 2010. President Robert Mugabe is rumoured to have told top Zanu PF leaders that a decision to hold election in 2008 would depend on how Reserve Bank Governor, Gideon Gono, was able to stabilise the economy. Of course, he is totally mistaken to even think that the economy can be stabilised without major political and economic policy changes. In fact, one shouldn’t even be talking about policy changes because our now divided and confused government has no coherent policy to talk about. What is really needed is a change of government.

With pressure growing daily from civil society, political parties, church groups and the international community, it became apparent to the President that the balloon was liable to burst. Being the master Machiavellian tactician that he is, he decided to let some of the steam out of the balloon and also buy time for his much vaunted "economic turnaround programme" to take effect.

This he did by asking the three church bodies to initiate national discussions through the National Vision exercise. And, our gullible but well-meaning bishops and pastors swallowed the bait, hook, line and sinker.

What is happening now is that Zimbabweans are letting off steam in a Zanu PF controlled environment thus lessening the pressure on the government. By getting church groups, civil society and political parties debating the National Vision document and even throwing verbal stones at each other, Mugabe has successfully diverted the people’s attention from the real issues. Bravo, Gushungo!

Mugabe never had any intention to act on whatever document the church leaders came up with. He wants to buy time by getting the whole country dialoguing about issues whose solution everybody knows. This is why the National Vision Document is called a "discussion document." He never promised to abide by its recomendations.

What can people discuss about their suffering when the cause of it is well known? These clerics, however sincere they may be, are being used to hoodwink the public and the international community that the leopard is changing its spots. In their document the clerics say: "Zimbabwe would benefit from a restoration of mutually beneficial relations with the West without sacrificing its sovereignity, its national purpose, its interests and the principles that inform its sense of justice."

What sense of justice? If there was an iota of justice in Zimbabwe there would be no need for the National Vision document because the evils enumerated therein would not exist. If the church leaders had any wisdom in them, they would have accepted the President’s call for dialogue but set essential conditions.

They should have insisted on a return to the rule of law, the repeal of oppressive laws like POSA and AIPPA, the depoliticisation of the military and the police and the disbanding of the notorious Border Gezi militias. If the President had agreed to this then we could say that we are embarking on real dialogue.

With AIPPA and POSA in place it is impossible to hold any meaningful discussions nationally since civil society and political parties are essentially hobbled. How can they go to the people to inform them about the issues of the Vision Document when meetings without police permission are proscribed?

While the church leaders were drafting their vision document and in it piously proclaiming that their task is to manifest God’s presence and activity in all spheres of life, ZCTU leaders were being brutally tortured and arrested for daring to stage a peaceful protest march. What is astonishing is that most of civil society including the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance raised a hue and cry about this blatant abuse of human rights. The EFZ, the ZCC and the ZCBC were conspicuous by their very loud silence. How could men and women, who claim to be representing God, be silent in the face of such sinful behaviour?

Where did their prophetic voices go when the President endorsed the barbaric behaviour of the police? Were they mesmerized into speechlessness by the tea and cake as well as the grandeur of State House?

The National Vision Document captures well the situation prevailing in the country today. However, it does not bring anything new. Therefore to call it a discussion document does not make sense. Why should people waste their time discussing the causes of their suffering when these are well known?

He, who has ears to hear, let him hear.

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