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Why civil disobedience will save Zimbabwe
Dr Paul Mutuzu, Nehanda Radio
October 17, 2008

http://www.nehandaradio.com/zimbabwe/opinionwriters/mutuzu/civildisobedience171008.html

"The citizen can bring our political and governmental institutions back to life, make them responsive and accountable, and keep them honest. No one else can", asserted John Gardner. I might as well add, if you think civil disobedience does not work, try a dictatorship.

Throughout human history, civil disobedience, has played a critical role in transforming societies and there are several cases all over the world which prove its successes. Some of the most renowned cases include Dr Martin Luther King -led Civil Rights Movement in USA, Viktor Yushchenko-led Orange Revolution in Ukraine, Mahatma Gandhi in India, Egyptian Revolution of 1919 against British occupation, etc.

To gain a perspective, civil disobedience is not necessarily what most people think. It is not an armed insurrection but it is, at least in my view, a serious undertaking by organized citizens to push for the restoration of political sanity using a strategy of nonviolence and forceful courage.

It was the same Martin Luther King who warned that "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." For that reason Rosa Parks spoke out refusing to give up a seat meant for the whites because blacks were required by law to sit at the back of the bus.

Zimbabwe has already shown a lack of seriousness in dealing with the world's worst economic crisis ever. We have all seen how the politicians there are continuously jostling for their own positions and power privileges while the country is plunging deeper into socio-economic fissures.

They are trying to drag the country in the same direction using the same tactics that have not worked for the past 28 years of Mugabe's rule. Was it not Albert Einstein who defined insanity as doing the same thing expecting a different result? One thing is certain though, that the people can change the course of the country and the continent altogether by putting such purposelessness to an abrupt end.

Government of National Unity (GNU) announced in Zimbabwe recently has suddenly become a real joke especially when it comes to critical issues like restoring macroeconomic stability. Not to mention Mugabe's bizarre demands for key and real ministries like Home Affairs, Defence, Finance and Foreign Affairs to fit perfectly well in his grand scheme to have a castrated MDC.

The awful structure of the proposed government seeks to perpetuate fiscal irresponsibility and an unwillingness to cut spending. How is a bankrupt government going to afford sustaining 31 ministries (and 31 ministers), 31 deputies, 2 Vice Presidents, 2 deputy Prime Ministers, a Prime Minister and a President, 66 Senators (never mind what they do) and 150 Members of Parliament (120 elected, 30 appointed by Mugabe, except House Speaker).

What a recipe for corruption! Where is the money going to come from enough to sustain such a bloated bureaucracy with characteristic lavishness in a society swamped with poverty, hunger and disease. Potential donors need to help the people of Zimbabwe by not bankrolling such madness.

The sick and the starving can be provided for by a simple step into reality. Several hospitals and schools can be reconstructed and reopened by just trimming that swollen government in h alf. Where is the disapproval by the people? Where is the outrage?

It seems Zimbabwe never learns, considering that this is the same matrix of disaster that contributed to Zimbabwe-s catastrophic economic circumstances as the nation has come to live them today. It is now written on the wall that the nation is dealing with the same politicians seeking to sustain a life-style characterized by wanton profligacy that also contributed to the nation-s bankruptcy.

The sad thing is that Zimbabwe is going to be stuck with that swollen government bent on looting the nation-s fiscus for another half decade (as stipulated in the GNU deal). In the US, the Republican mismanagement has stretched over a period of 8 years unabated while in Zimbabwe, the Zanu PF-s nerve-wrecking fiasco has gone on for 28 years.

For the US, the Bush Administration has not only produced the greatest foreign policy debacle in history but has also plunged the country into the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.

While the full impact of US-s economic meltdown is still unknown, many economic pundits are assertively describing its magnitude as far surpassing the Great Depression. Professor Paul Krugman of the New York Times describes the US as 'a banana republic with nukes- (September 29, 2008).

Zimbabwe-s Mugabe-led kleptocracy has resulted in a totally plundered civilization. Two months ago, I wrote an interesting juxtapositional economic piece entitled "The Economies that Bush and Mugabe destroyed and why they did it"

When Fredrick Chiluba, the former President of Zambia, tried to remove a clause from Zambia-s constitution in order to sneak in a third term for himsel fin 2002, public protests thwarted the move. Zambia-s parliamentarians could not stand in the way as public dissention intensified.

It is true that non- governmental organizations have always stayed ahead of governments, be it on issues to do with HIV and Aids, gender equality, environmental issues, fighting global poverty or feeding the hungry.

The political systems in Africa have not been able to address the urgent problems bedeviling the continent. The people of Zimbabwe and Africa, being fearful and altogether pusillanimous, surrendered to their governments consequently bearing all the brunt associated with dictatorships.

In Zimbabwe, the civil society was systematically emasculated by 'men of the sword' through torture, intimidation and outright elimination, oftentimes in the form of cold-blooded murder. The people remained silent even though Francis Bacon reminded us that "silence is the virtue of fools".

Zimbabwe-s degeneration into such a sorry sight should see the civil society taking the bulk of the blame having succumbed to the whims of the dictatorship. The public should never have surrendered and given up the struggle for a better Zimbabwe.

What we have seen is that people are patient to stand in queues in their thousands every single day (because there is a shortage of everything) but they cannot convince each other to get out of the line and start demonstrating.

George Bernard Shaw contended that "Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve" We , the people, deserve the government we have in Zimbabwe and in the US. We are the people who let the situation deteriorate to current dire situations.

Can you imagine that there are still people out there who still support Mugabe inasmuch as there are people who still sincerely support George Bush? Gallup Poll of August 2008 put Mugabe's approval rating at 17% while Bush has the lowest in history at 27%. It is true that the percentage of their beneficiaries is not that high!

At the same time Mugabe wants the world to believe that Zimbabweans are suffering because he is fighting for them. C. S Lewis warned that "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."

Ten years ago (1998), spontaneous nationwide food riots that occurred in Zimbabwe from January 19-22 were so strong that the government got a rude awakening. Regrettably there was no follow-through and as a result nothing was achieved.

There was no oppostion at the time (MDC only came into existence towards the end of 1999). It was the last time the civil society ever staged a successful civil disobedience campaign.

It is interesting to note that the natiowide riots were triggered by rising inflation which at that time was only 23%. The source of rising inflation rested squarely on economic mismanagement by the government. Zimbabwe Government's Central Statistical Office, just released, on Thursday, October 9 2008, the official inflation figures as 231 000 000% (231 million percent) up from the June figure of 11 200 000% (11.2 million percent).

Historically, and accuaretely so, the government's figures have always been suppressed and many times much lower than the actual figures leading most economic experts such as Professor Steve Hanke of the US-based Cato Institute estimating the real inflation figures at 531 000 000 000% (531 billion) as of October 2008.

It makes sense given the rate of currency depreciation that has seen the central bank's futile attempts of repeatedly slashing zeroes. It was less than 2 months ago that saw Zimbabwe slashing 10 zeroes from its currency. The world was mesmirized. Sadly the people are struggling on as if the situation is normal.

For Zimbabwe, the biggest problem with continuing with that path of endless negotiations is that Zanu PF will arm-twist MDC until the latter surrenders, only to settle for useless Ministries. MDC must continue to resist any pressures to settle for mediocrity. There is no reason for it to show signs of being persuadable.

The cause for that is still unknown though there are two possible explanations. Either MDC is too eager to join the gravy train at the expense of the masses that are behind that party or is genuinely being out-manouvered. If the latter is the reason then MDC must pull out and join hands with the civil society for a call to civil disobedience. If the reason is the former then the people need to confront both Zanu PF and MDC. However I think that the MDC to this present day largely remains relevant and 'on top of the game. '

Even though MDC finds itself in a tight spot and has suddenly become a closely guarded organisation, there is a danger in alienating the people, the very base that gave MDC its current mandate. In 2002, more than 300 MDC activists and supporters were murdered and more than 150 again murdered in 2008. It will be a sad day when MDC chooses to disregard taking input from the very constituencies that created and died for it.

The liberation struggle in Zimbabwe was fought by the masses. Today those very masses that include the majority of war veterans have descented into pauperism while their leaders live in extreme luxury. Where is the rationale of propping up a regime that has left them distitute?

As a proponent of the government of national unity from the beginning, I have never held any illusions that the process was going to be a piece of cake. The biggest hurdle to overco me is the battle for the key ministries. A deal that will make Zanu PF in charge of Home Affairs, Defence, Foreign Affairs and Finance is a horrible deal. Zanu PF lacks the urgency and the moral responsibility to normalize life for ordinary Zimbabweans.

Realistically, if MDC pushes hard enough without budging, its demands will be met especially to have Ministries of Finance and Home Affairs. Forget Defence, Mugabe will never cede that Ministry, as they say 'simba rehove riri mumvura, (the power of the fish is in the water). In the meantime, ZCTU should continue to mobilise for national civil disobedience alongside other civic groups to bring about change.

MDC will get the people's approval if it pulls out on the basis that Zanu PF refused to share key ministries. In any case why should any ministry be 100% 'owned' by a specific party. It would be proper for the minister and his/her deputy to come from different parties interchangeably. Why should Defence Ministry belong to Zanu PF 100%? MDC must insist that they share the positions as that will make a smart 'infiltration' strategy by MDC or Zanu PF, though the latter needs more infiltration.

The problems facing even the developed world stem from the fact that the people have abdicated their role to dissent and have allowed themselves to be manipulated by the ruling elite. During the build-up to the Iraq war, the Bush administration pandered to popular fears connecting the dictator of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, to the 9-11 atrocities. According to the Washington Post Poll of September 5, 2003, 70% of Americans believed that "Iraqi leader was personally involved in the attacks carried out by al-Qaeda."

A fortnight ago, the former US Vice-President Al Gore made a passionate plea to all young people who care about environmental issues to rise up against the polluting coal companies. He did not mince his words clamoring, "If you-re a young person looking at the future of this planet and looking at what is being done right now, and not done, I believe we have reached the stage where it is time for civil disobedience to prevent the construction of new coal plants that do not have carbon capture and sequestration,"

The media went on a frenzy attacking the messenger (Al Gore) and not the message. I am also familiar with those kinds of attacks given the incessant threats and hate mail I receive from Zanu PF apologists and other 'hate groups'. Likewise the voices of solidarity from men and women who share the same cause far outweigh the few idiotic threats but that is not to say criticism is unwarranted.

The young adults, who form the bulk of the population have a lot to lose from this crisis. We are talking about a whole generation robbed of a future altogether.

It was Edward R Murrow who stated that "We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it." H L Mencken added "The notion that a radical is one who hates his country is naïve and usually idiotic. He is, more likely, one who likes his country more than the rest of us, and is thus more disturbed than the rest of us when he sees it debauched"

In the US even though the crisis is largely a product of George Bush's creation, the democrats and the republicans within two weeks managed to cast aside their bitter differences by coming together to pass an emegency rescue package for the good of the nation. Sadly the crisis is a rude-awakening for the rest of our American counterparts who blindly believed in their politicians to such an extent that they felt they were immune to such kinds of crisis meant for Africa.

Former President Jimmy Carter lashed out at the Bush administration stating "it's because of the atrocious economic policies of the Bush administration" because "Eight years ago, the United States had a budget surplus, low inflation and a stable, strong economy" He also noted pointed out that "The economic situation is an entrenched problem. It is going to take years to correct what has been done economically...," Reuters, October 10, 2008.

The US crisis is affecting the entire globe with reports showing a worlwide economic crisis. Friday October 10, 2008 has already been dubbed "The Black Friday in Europe" due to the historic tumble of the stockmarket while Japan exeperienced its worst stock mar ket crash in 21 years.

It is going to be a long, arduous and exhausting journey to the restoration of the American economy and pride as we had come to know it. The news we are getting on a daily basis about the US is as depressing as that coming out of Zimbabwe. The problem is that the crisis did not start overnight.

There were people in authority who knew exactly what was brewing in the horizons. I really feel sorry for the ordinary Americans who are exponentially losing their jobs, homes, savings, education, medical insurance, etc while the politicians and other architects of the Wall Street implosion continue to thrive.

Likewise Zimbabwe's crisis affects Zanu PF and MDC supporters alike excerpt Mugabe and his few henchmen who have caused this man-made crisis and continue to be the biggest beneficiaries of the crisis. How can the country have 90% of its population living below the poverty datum line? By interpolation, less than 1% make up the evil ruling elite.

Jesse Jackson once said "In politics, an organized minority is a political majority. " In the US the Republican establishment does not represent the majority just like Zanu PF. Al Gore did not become president even though he overwhelmingly received more votes (popular votes) than George Bush.

The contest was for Florida's electoral votes that saw George Bush getting the Presidency backed by the Supreme Court. The US uses an outdated electoral college system that divides the country into red states and blue states where the former represent predominantly the Southern states that were once bleeding with slavery.

The origins of electoral votes dates back to slavery era where pro-slavery whites living in the Southern States were outnumbered by anti-slavery whites in the North. Such a discrepancy in population distribution meant that the South would inevitably suffer election losses in a popular vote hence the emergence of the archaic electoral system.

Southern states went a step further and declared that slaves were to be counted as about 1/2 of a person (0.6 to be exact) even though they were not allowed to vote. It takes the civil society to challenge such a relic of a voting system.

Let us all remember, in conclusion, that 'intelligent discontent is the mainspring of civilization. Progress is born of agitation. It is agitation or stagnation as accurately summarized by Eugene V Debs. Zimbabwe and Africa's growing challenges of economic crisis and political illegitimacy call for civil disobedience by both civil society and opposition political parties to demand progress, rule of law and respect for human rights (among other things).

Without these forces for good, governments are never transparent and accountable. Civil disobedience is complimentary to the democratic process and helps to stop corrupt and authoritarian politicians from plundering our civil liberties and destroying our communities while we watch from the sidelines

*Dr Paul Mutuzu is the CEO of the National Vision Institute: An independent economic and political strategy think tank focusing on Zimbabwe and the Southern Africa Region.

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