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Makoni and Mutambara represent the way forward in Zimbabwe politics
Lloyd Msipa, The Zimbabwe Guardian (Formerly Talk Zimbabwe)
February 14, 2008

http://www.talkzimbabwe.com/news/130/ARTICLE/1614/2008-02-14.html

Following what might seem to be a failure by those seeking to form the next government to maturely iron out their differences, it seems Zimbabweans are left with very little choice but to seek a third way. This third way must avoid the pitfalls of those that made up the first and second ways. To carry out the mission of the third way we need a third force.

The force must be an amalgamation of new political thinking composed of progressive Zimbabweans in the Diaspora, forward looking pressure groups, civil society and reformed politicians from across the political divide, hence the relevance of the Makoni and Mutambara initiative.

This third way must reject the personalization of political parties and must demand that all politics be premised on national interest, rather than the politics of plunder and domination. The third way must seek the institutionalization of political parties in the true sense of the word. This way, political parties may compete on the political field, hence allowing the party with the best developmental policies to prevail.

The third way must stand for zero tolerance on matters of corruption, no matter who the perpetrator is. There should be no sacred cows and all judicial processes should be premised on true justice, fairness and equity.

In the words of Mahatma Ghandi, "the roots of violence and underdevelopment are a result of wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, Knowledge without character, commerce without morality, science without humanity, worship without sacrifice and politics without principles"

For us to speak of a third way there must have been a first and second way. In order to succeed in the third way we must seek to understand the shortcomings of the first and second ways.

In order to understand these shortcomings we must look at them in the context of Mahatma Ghandi-s principles.

First Way actors
The first way in our history is represented by the Vanguard parties. The first way elite are largely a product of the elite colonial education. Education that was largely designed to create servants that would carry out the will of the colonisers. Many believe in the superiority of the colonisers and will generally demonstrate a clear dislike against even their best brains.

However, this group is synonymous with their love for anything European. Many in this class are indeed white man in a black man-s skin. For most of these first way politicians, politics is about power and the fact that they hold it. Power allows them to maintain an intricate client-patron system composed of similar interests across the whole country.

They publicly declare their right to rule arbitrarily as a god given right having brought independence to Zimbabwe. The public wealth of the country eventually ends up in private hands. The first way is an incestuous class of economic and political interests whose priority is their well being and not nation-building.

The first way in Zimbabwe does things with impunity. It perpetuates corruption and when others question them, it circles to protect their own. The first way is selfish elite whose intent is to stay in power for the gains that power brings. Aggrandizement, economic and political domination of others seems to be the norm.

The first way talk is of the glorious years of yester year and how things would have been different if they had not made the sacrifices made. Some talk of their detention by the colonial regimes. We need to respect and acknowledge their contributions, but not worship them. The first way elite cannot understand the agitation for change, many think all is well as long as they are in power. The first way resists change for fear of loss of power, hence the refusal of a new constitution and other forms of relief.

Second Way actors
Those of the second way, the current MDC opposition are themselves envious of why they themselves are not in power. They fight for change. In Shona- "Chinja Maitiro, Maitiro Chinja". In Ndebele - "Guqula Izenzo, Izenzo Guqula". They believe they fight to bring fundamental change, but all they want is a different set of actors-themselves.

They refuse work with other progressives in bringing about a new dispensation. Simply put, second way elites are opposed to those in power because they are out of power. We have witnessed this too often that second way elites condemn corruption and aver to fight to the death. Their rhetoric appeal to the people is witnessed by the large numbers at their rallies. Once in power, second way elites always evolve into first way elites. The MMD next door in Zambia came to power by a landslide majority following the promises made by the Chiluba movement. Today Zambia is prosecuting the same leaders for corruption.

The politics we play should address issues of education, security, health, prosperity, jobs, and national well being etc . . . for our people and must be based on ideas for taking Zimbabwe forward. Politicians should be elected based on solutions they present to deal with issues that affect the people. Zimbabweans should reject individuals bent on acquiring power to serve their self-interest; such individuals talk languages with words like: "The Makoni initiative is new wine in old bottles-. This should get our warning bells going coming from a presidential aspirant.

Third Way politics and the third force
The third way must be based on reason and not passion, a structured approach to national challenges. Third way advocates should reject power for power-s sake. Instead politicians and political parties should be asked to demonstrate what they will do once in government. The third way should ask politicians to back their promises with evidence that whatever they are proposing they will deliver. Promises that "we will lead from the front" where broken. It does not take a much to figure out what the trend will be should the second way elite make it to government.

The third way celebrates diversity and rejects tribalism, nepotism and cronyism. It is based on exploiting the strength that comes with the diversity of our people and natural resources for the benefit of all Zimbabweans.

The task ahead
The task ahead is onerous but not insurmountable, we can do it. It is simple, the Makoni and Mutambara initiative represents a third force which if guided by a third way of thinking and focuses on making Zimbabwe a strong country, a key player on the international stage, a country of justice over passion we will prevail.

Third way advocates are called upon to fan out in all directions, register for elections and check the electoral role, participate in the political process from grassroots to national level. Our objective must be to elect as many third way players as possible come 29th March 2008.

*Lloyd Msipa is a lawyer resident in the United Kingdom. He can be contacted at lmsipalaw@googlemail.com

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