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Responses to Dale Doré
Assorted Kubatana subscribers
April 15, 2009

We published a bit of Dale Doré-s response to Eddie Cross-s recent commentary in our newsletter, and invited our subscribers to join the conversation and debate, and share their thoughts on what the MDC should do.

Here is some of their feedback:

I feel that the unification of the political parties that is happening within the GNU (as a result of the GPA) is not a bad sign, but rather a good sign. The reasons are this:

* ZANU (PF) and the MDC are political parties in Zimbabwe. They are local political parties moving a patriotic agenda. Therefore, their difference is pedagogic and ideological. But on the ground, they are the same! No wonder, they are jelling together so well. Of course, there are some growing up pains that we are feeling as the two sides realise that they are two sides of the same coin. Indeed, 'we are a people together'!

What is happening within the MDC camp is similar to what happened to the (PF) ZAPU camp. I am not being ironic, I am being realistic! What the MDC is realising is that, they share a lot in common with ZANU (PF). That the two political dispensations are more similar than different. This was inevitable, that is the product of familiarity. We say in Shona, 'tambai mese mujairane!' This is exactly what is happening. When these two sides (ZANU [PF], and the MDC formations) decided to move the Zimbabwean agenda TOGETHER, that is when they realised that as far as national issues are concerned, they share the same aspirations and are driven by the same goals. That is good for the nation, but bad news to any distractor! Remember, 'kunaka kwechimwe kushata kwechimwe!' So, we may be celebrating our unity, but those with the 'divide and conquer' attitude are disgruntled. That should not stop us from working together. WE ARE A PEOPLE TOGETHER, not apart!

* In the Americas, where 'democracy is rife', people from different political ideologies come together and work together for the good of the nation. Why should we shun the same thing? This is the right thing. Should I mention here that divided we stand, united we fall? Yes, I reckon I need to remind those who are moving the motion that MDC should pull out of the GNU that they are getting it wrong. That their thinking is contorted and heavily skewed towards ignorance and stupidity. They are lacking reason and foresight. Zimbabwe is for Zimbabweans! Working together is not wrong! Uniting the people for a patriotic and common cause is not wrong! We are a people together!

All it means is that, the GPA is cast in stone! We are tired of talks - and we do not want to backtrack and redo the talks. We will not achieve anything, we cant reinvent the wheel! Who wants to spend more money on talks? Don't they realise that we have other more pertinent issues to spend our hard earned income (GNP) on? Don't they know that we are lagging behind in terms of our national developmental calendar? Who would want to drag the nation back to the dark ages now that we have ALL realised that Zimbabwe is our inheritance? Why should anyone want the MDC to pull out of the GNU when there are signs of progress written all over the wall?

I say to this to these peddlers of venom, eat the humble pie. The GNU is here and is here to stay! We cant go back now as a people. We will cut out the rough edges of the GNU stone, but we will not go back. We will make sure that the GNU stone is smooth, as smooth as a river pebble. We will make sure stands out heads high as a symbol of home-brewed African democracy. We will make sure that it works and that all people of different political ideologies benefit and uphold the GNU high. Everyone should be proud of the achievements that we have made as a people. No other nation managed a kiros moment the way we did with the signing of the GNU (and of course the Unity Accord back then).

To conclude, I simply say, AHEAD WITH THE GNU! We are a people together! Whoever is saying that the MDC is being sucked by ZANU (PF) is a dreamer! Now, should we listen to dreamers? No, absolutely not. We must say, 'he is a dreamer, pass!' To those who are saying that ZANU (PF) is manipulating the GNU, I say, what NONSENSE! This is not the reality. Isn't this a game of give and take? A game where you win some and lose some? Both sides have compromised, and that is a sign of progress, not regression.

Some of the issues that are discussed by these leaders before they issue a public statement are never disclosed to the public. Therefore, we should not slam Honourable MP Chamisa when he cedes part of his portfolio to Honourable MP Goche (I am referring to the latest development in ministerial portfolios). That does not in any way make his status of less importance. We are not privy to the underlying reasons behind this.

Besides, people in the street are actually saying that 'ZANU yamedzwa ne MDC!!!!' So what is there to say? Lets just work together for posterity! Nyaya yekuti chamedza chimwe chii haitibatsire. Zvekuti hove yakamedza Jonah here kana kuti Jonah akamedza hove, ndozvineyi? Zvinotibatsirei izvozvo?

Thank you for allowing to air my views. I could not hold back my emotions when I read in your newsletter that some people are saying that the MDC should pull out of the GNU! That is preposterous, to say the least.

-- JC, Harare

I disagree with those who are suggesting that the MDC pull out of the inclusive government and my reasons are:

1. Pulling out will benefit just a few persons politically, socially and economically. We have some persons who were benefiting from the mayhem under Zanu (Pf) and these people would like the inclusive government to fail at any cost.

2. Of major importance to all reasonable people should be the future, particularly the creation of a new constitution and the elections. Those who are keen to learn should learn through experience. A constitution making process without the MDC and other players will amount to nothing. Everyone is aware of the elections we did without the involvement of the MDC and other stakeholders, we all know the consequences. Its possible that the inclusive government is an imperfect alliance, but the truth is, with Zanu (PF) no reasonable person will expect it to be. By suggesting a pullout, these people are saying we should go back to a total Zanu PF rule? For how long, and how do they plan to end that rule?.

3. The inclusive government gives us the chance to be involved in determining the future of this country. If you decide to stand by, Zanu PF will rule without even blinking but it is the majority of the people who will suffer, not the few self centred people who would like the inclusive government to fail.

-- Farai Madaya, Harare

I can't agree with Dale Doré's suggestions.

Where did asserting that they won last year's elections get the MDC in the first place? They were simply forced by SADC and the AU into negotiating with the losing party. Why should re-asserting their victory take them anywhere different now?

To whom should they "call" for fresh elections? Who is going to impose these elections on ZANU(PF) and how? ZANU(PF) will resist any such "call". Why should the AU and SADC demand fresh, supervised elections when they didn't do so last year? It ain't gonna happen.

The MDC does have power. What they must do is use the power that they have gained from the GPA - and, more importantly, the power that they have in Parliament - to effect the changes that they can. Basic questions that should be asked of them are:
1. Why has Parliament been allowed to adjourn for six weeks?
2. Why have no draft amendments to legislation like AIPPA and POSA yet been brought to Parliament?
3. Why has Parliament's business been dominated by pointless debates on the President's speech, etc?
4. Why are the MDC not speaking out against obvious breaches of the GPA?
5. Why are MDC MPs not holding constituency meetings to communicate with their constituents?

The MDC is participating in the transitional government in order to make the significant changes to the legal and political environment, including the development of a new constitution, that are necessary to allow free and fair elections to take place. This should, in my view, be the MDC's primary focus. The rest will follow. We the citizens - together with civil society, though I don't think most of these organizations do anywhere near enough to engage citizens - should positively encourage our MPs to get on with doing what we elected them to do. Getting them out of the transitional government would be simply pointless.

-- Roger Stringer, Harare

I am a proud Zimbabwean who has stood firm through the country's worst economic downfalls. First and foremost I would like to commend the MDC for their bravery and resilient work. Most of the MDC cadres have been subjected to torture, humiliation, threats and deaths of their loved ones to try and deter them from the struggle for justice. The MDC MUST sit the ZANU PF parliamentarians and ministers and outline WHAT must be done. They MUST clarify all the issues and MUST Clearly lay down the rules. I know that most of MDC ministers and parliamentarians are new to this, however that must not stop them from clearly defining how they want the government run. When they sit the ZANU PF down, they must have the SADC, AU and the international community to be witnesses so that they will not be taken out of context. Most people should know that we want a way forward and not backwards. We have no relatives in the Diaspora to sponsor our children and carry us on during this difficult time. Rome was not built in one day. So let these guys hold on to the reigns and learn how to run their offices instead of quitting. It will show lack of spine and commitment if they back down now. We all know that MDC won, and did that change anything? Instead, people were subjected to persecution and torture. The ones that stood ground and did not runaway from this country now live in semi-squalid conditions. Will backing down change anything? I guess not. Let us now stand firm and back these amateur legislatures, nurture them until they have a grip on things instead of jumping the gun and putting fullstop where comas and hyphens should be. Has Barack Obama delivered what he promised his countrymen? No he is still working towards that goal. Give these guys a chance to prove themselves instead of crying foul as soon one see that what they expected has not come into implementation. This is what causes confusion, lets work together for the betterment of the Nation.

-- TM

Don't get sucked into Zanu PF - they'll drown you without you knowing it!

-- PW

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