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A new agenda for Zimbabwe now required
Lloyd Msipa, New Zimbabwe
August 08, 2007

http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/opinion278.16781.html

CONSENSUS over the unsuitability of Morgan Tsvangirai as the next president of Zimbabwe is fast gaining momentum to those whose values for Zimbabwe are premised on national interest.

Zimbabweans in and outside Zimbabwe are beginning to question his credentials and suitability to lead Zimbabwe. Major inconsistencies in his leadership approach to national issues have become apparent over the years and are being questioned by all and sundry. His knee-jerk approach to decision making is a reason for concern.

In point, we can readily point at the Ari Ben-Menashe saga as an example of poor judgement by the man. To satisfy those that would jump to his defence without giving any thought to what I am saying, there is the issue of the 2010 election defiance campaign.

In opposing this move by Mugabe, Tsvangirai went on an international campaign against the proposal to hold the Zimbabwean election in 2010. As a result of public pressure, Mugabe agreed to the proposal to hold the elections in 2008. This did not go down well with Tsvangirai as he had forgotten to mention in his first set of demands that he wanted a new Constitution first. This raises or confirms my doubts as to his suitability to be the leader of Zimbabwe and confirms my assertion as to his knee-jerk approach to decision making.

My second concern is what are the principles driving his party? Who is driving his party? One is reminded of the old adage 'that one who borrows heavily must one day pay the piper. Can Tsvangirai protect the legacy Zimbabwean freedom fighters so bravely fought for? I have my doubts. He owes his principals too much to be his own man.

Further, his recent spurning of a united front for next year-s election by his party should send alarm bells ringing to all right-thinking Zimbabweans. Does this man have the national interest at heart or he is pursuing his own personal agenda fuelled by those financing the project?

Zimbabwe is a country at a cross roads, hence the need to have leaders who are decisive and firm is of paramount importance. Zimbabwe is now in need of an opposition party free from personalised politics. Zimbabwe needs a new opposition political party characterised by a new approach to the Zimbabwean situation, devoid of hidden agendas.

Tsvangirai-s suitability is called into question by losses so far recorded at elections. He has had one shot at the presidential election, and his party had two cracks at parliamentary elections, one of which he ran for MP against Zanu PF-s Kenneth Manyonda, and he lost on all occasions. A football team which goes on such a losing streak would seriously think about firing the manager.

The way ahead is neither the government-s way, nor that of the MDC. The way ahead requires all politics to be premised on national interest through a new Zimbabwean agenda driven by a new crop of leaders. The way ahead must be premised on the politics of principle rather than the pursuit of power to dominate others. As we approach March 2008, it is of paramount importance that we begin to question our Zimbabweanness. Is Morgan Tsvangirai the best we can do in this new world order? I dare say we can do better.

The question each and every one of us should be asking ourselves is can we actually see Zimbabwe being delivered from its current crisis by Tsvangirai? I say no! So what then is the way forward? I believe that we have a lot of leaders in the Diaspora that need to come forward and be counted. Zimbabwe is in need of leaders that have had the exposure and opportunity to observe and study politics and economics at an international level. What difference would these leaders make one might ask?

To begin with, Zimbabwean politics is highly personalised, such that one cannot envisage a Zanu PF without Mugabe or an MDC without Tsvangirai. However, it is easy to envisage ANC right next door without Thabo Mbeki or Nelson Mandela. What this means is that Zimbabweans are obviously doing something wrong and the leaders are taking advantage of this.

Is it possible that Zimbabweans by default tend to put all leaders on a pedestal at first instance, hence setting themselves up for the treatment they are currently receiving today? Zimbabweans need to realise that power is vested in them. At election time people choose or nominate a person or persons of their own choice to look after their interests for a specified period pending the renewal of the contract.

Essentially, leaders should be servants of the people and should refuse any attempt to be idolised by their people. But because the leaders in Zimbabwe accept this, they in turn galvanise the temporary powers bestowed on them into a permanent state of affairs, hence the dictatorship.

Any attempt to remove them through the election process will be met with the kind of resistance apparent today. Hence a new Zimbabwe Agenda is called for. We need to devise a new way forward. I called it the third way in my last posting. A crop of leaders need to come forward and introduce a new dispensation and carry forward this new agenda based on justice, fairness and equity for all Zimbabweans. Zimbabwe now, more than ever, needs a new crop of leaders who can think globally and nationally whilst acting locally.

We need leaders who will espouse public accountability in all their endeavours. We need leaders who will pursue a new political thinking, composed of progressive and forward looking Zimbabweans in the diaspora and at home. As we move toward March 2008, there is an aura of complacency amongst Zimbabweans. This complacency will eventually cost us.

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