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Tsvangirai ought to do much more
Psychology Maziwisa
September 13, 2010

By most reckonings the unity government has become nothing more than a cosy club. While the needs of the country remain substantially unaddressed, the members of the club are busy getting rich. All sorts of noises were made about democratic change from within. Has anything changed?

The same party has a stranglehold on power, the same people are running the show, and the same public is suffering to the same degree. If it looks like a sham and sounds like a sham then it probably is a sham. And this is supposed to be the real change agenda in our country? As Rihanna said, 'Please . . . !-

Our politics deserve better and so does Zimbabwe.

Arthur Mutambara-s wish to have the unity government operate for its entire tenure until 2013 is as revealing as it is self-serving. Morgan Tsvangirai-s failure to exert real and meaningful pressure on Mugabe cannot any longer be regarded as unintentional. Of course it-s deliberate. Of course it-s calculated. Either that or it is staggering political ineptitude. Whatever it is, Zimbabwe is not benefiting from it. The future is not on its way. It has been delayed.

No notice need be taken of the superficial changes implemented by the unity government allegedly at the instigation of the MDC. In response to an article I wrote last week, a few MP-s from Tsvangirai-s MDC urged that instead of criticising their party I should ' . . . consider the positives that Zimbabwe is enjoying due to the influence of the MDC-.

In my respectful view, the most significant change by far has been in the change of tone and approach by the MDC in dealing with our political crisis. We are not a bunch of 4 year olds! What happened to the no-nonsense approach that filled our hearts with hope? There is a vast difference between negotiated compromise and self-serving compliance.

And let-s not hear any excuses about the spirit of give and take being at the heart of the politics of inclusivity. These guys have naively given too much and received too little to show for their generosity. Commercial sex workers are well known for their shallow morals but even they discharge their services in proportion to dollars paid. If you want more, you top up. That is give and take. That is the reality of negotiations. That is what the MDC ought to be doing.

In many ways, the unity government has shown the MDC in the worst possible light. Despite being dressed in the clothes of righteousness, MDC officials behave no differently from ZANU PF members.

Both Tsvangirai and Mutambara have made demands for security aides and have since ordered the unity government 'to speed up the process of vetting, training and engagement of security personnel for Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers-.

These fellows are as splashy and extravagant as they come. Tsvangirai gets around in a state funded motorcade luxuriating in his latest model Mercedes Benz. It is not as if he goes to office riding a bicycle. And he demands more? So much for caring about the common man! Why so much opulence for such a brief arrangement?

In the meantime, Nelson Chamisa is said to have beautified his Gutu rural home with the kind of ease and flamboyance demonstrated by Philip Chiyangwa. They cruise in top-of-the-range cars including the newest Nissan Pathfinders and Land Cruisers that might as well be Ferraris. All this while ordinary Zimbabweans wrestle to take a ride in the back of an open truck after a long day-s work.

And ZANU PF is supposed to live by a higher standard? What happened to leading by example? It is no wonder that Mugabe and ZANU PF treat the MDC with contempt.

However, it would be a grave political oversight to suppose that all is lost. It is not. The MDC may have gone off track and disappointed millions of Zimbabweans including this commentator but Tsvangirai is hardly a dictator. At least for now he remains Zimbabwe-s most revered and trusted candidate to take over from President Robert Mugabe. There are quite a few other strong individuals in the MDC whose presence in government is reason for hope. Tendai Biti is one example. Roy Bennett is another.

The challenge is for Tsvangirai to reinvigorate his party and he must do so without delay. His tone must change. The rules of engagement must change. Real change will involve a lot more than just replacing James Maridadi with Luke Tamborinyoka (whoever those guys are).

Real and meaningful change will be achieved by going on a country-wide tour condemning and uprooting all known bases of torture, violence and intimidation. What is Tsvangirai waiting for - an invitation?

Nor should the power that lies in numbers be underestimated. The proposal to reunify the MDC is a huge step in the right direction but then the two must go to each other. Talking from afar is no use. Long distance relationships are a disaster.

Material and tangible change will be achieved by steadfastly insisting on President Mugabe implementing what he signed to in the Global Political Agreement (GPA). By extension it means giving him an ultimatum which, if not met, must be complemented by people taking to the streets and protesting against non-compliance. It ought to be that simple.

Already Mugabe is severally in breach of the GPA and must be made to pay the penalty for non-performance. In the meantime, whatever faith was put in SADC ought to be reclaimed. It is no use putting confidence in a useless bloc run by useless blokes. It is high time we helped ourselves.

That is what will take Zimbabwe forward. Not the SADC. Not the UK. Not the United States of America. We must seize the initiative. Outside forces can only reinforce our efforts. Not the other way round. The sooner those in the MDC camp appreciate this fact the better for Zimbabwe.

Psychology Maziwisa, Union for Sustainable Democracy, leader@usd.org.zw

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