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Tsvangirai appointed spokesperson for GPA principals: Is it a Zanu-PF trap
Clifford Chitupa Mashiri
December 07, 2012

Reports that Morgan Tsvangirai President of the main formation of the Movement of Democratic Change has been appointed by principals (leaders) of Zimbabwe-s so-called Global Political Agreement (GPA) to be their spokesperson (The Daily News 05/12/12) looks like a Zanu-PF trap, in my view.

Of course, some people may disagree, but that is fine with me, as that is their democratic right.

First, let-s look at who appointed him and what could be the motive as well as the possible implications.
Right from the outset, the whole thing is a ruse can be inferred from "who" those principals were in the absence of Welshman Ncube who leads his own MDC formation in the coalition government.

Given that Zanu-PF-s Mugabe has done his best to retain Arthur Mutambara despite High Court rulings over Mutambara-s claim to the leadership of Ncube-s MDC faction, through among other things, George Charamba-s irritating statements and Mugabe-s own defiance of SADC positions and so on, it goes without saying that the whole thing (appointment of Tsvangirai as spokesman) is no cause for celebration.

Of, late it has become increasingly clear why Mugabe wants to retain Arthur Mutambara as a 'principal- although he is accused of not leading a political party (nor MPs?) and his only claim being his signature on the GPA. And Mutambara has not worsted time showing his pro-Mugabe stance.

Mugabe has everything to benefit from the ongoing feud between Ncube and Mutambara and to pretend there is nothing he (Mugabe) can do about it claiming that his hands are tied by the GPA. What a load of rubbish.

You don-t need to robotics professor to know that Mugabe is a Machiavellian schemer who knows how to buy time in power by setting up his opponents in a virtual boxing ring.

Although, we have pre-empted on the motive of appointing Tsvangirai as a spokesman for Mugabe and Mutambara, we can still expand by observing that with a referendum and elections in the pipeline, Mugabe-s strategists may not all be fools after all.

His advisers know how to make the opposition work for him by setting up Tsvangirai against Welshman Ncube and Mutambara against Ncube and possibly Tsvangirai against Mutambara as well.

Although, Welshman Ncube has ruled out the possibility of a merger of his MDC and Tsvangirai-s, even just for elections only, such a prospect would have caused Mugabe sleepless nights.

If that were to happen, Mugabe-s Zanu-PF would 'wet its pants- (a phrase once used by Jonathan Moyo, when he was opposed to Mugabe).

Probably more scary for the 89-year old presidential candidate is the prospect of a Grand Opposition Coalition of Zimbabwe led by Morgan Tsvangirai - bringing in Zapu, MDC Ncube, Makoni-s MKD, Sikhala-s MDC 99, Zanu Ndonga, Mozorewa-s UANC and Egypt Ndinemunhenzva-s one-man party.

If all those parties were to declare that enough is enough, we want to back Tsvangirai as the only presidential candidate and get change in Zimbabwe, Zanu-PF 's Robert Mugabe would arguably throw a tantrum.

Since Tsvangairai says he might appoint some Zanu-PF ministers in his future government, why would he not also appoint Welshman Ncube, Simba Makoni, Dumiso Dabengwa, Jacob Sikhala , Egypt Dzinemunhenzva and so on for political unity?

If that were to happen, and there is no reason why it cannot, Mugabe would be finished politically well before the country goes to the polls because of the psychological pressure on Zanu-PF supporters.

But, in my view, that is exactly why Mugabe is paradoxically gagging Tsvangirai by shrewdly appointing him his spokesman because the only principals left in the GNU are himself and Morgan Tsvangirai, after elbowing out Welshman Ncube.

Another possible motive for appointing Tsvangirai his spokesman, Mugabe is playing his final political cards on the most sensitive part of his tyrannical rule - the rewriting of the constitution, a role Mugabe is desperately trying to seize from COPAC, again using Tsvangirai or while he is not paying attention. Sadly, that looks like another Mugabe victory, at least for now.

The implications of Tsvangirai-s acceptance of that spokesperson role go beyond the GNU. The public will see him as just like another George Charamba or Jonathan Moyo.

Unfortunately, the unsuspecting Tsvangirai believes that the move is meant to reduce "partisan interpretation of our decisions." Obviously, it remains partisan as long as a politician did the spin for the notorious GPA, given that so many outstanding issues have been shoved under the carpet.

Another big headache for Tsvangirai ahead of the referendum and elections is how he will communicate his party-s position on the violence being perpetrated by suspected Zanu-PF supporters and/or state security agents - thanks to the spokesperson role.

In my view, Tsvangirai may have fallen for a huge con-trick by agreeing to be "co-opted" by Mugabe to do his and Arthur Mutambara-s dirty work for them, after which they will dump him.

Tsvangirai should appreciate that he will have a dilemma by being "Mugabe-s" spokesperson ahead of another potentially stolen election in 2013, in which he and his party will be the victims given that the country is sleepwalking into elections which exclude about 3 million voters in the Diaspora and no credible media reforms.

Will he as the principals- spokesperson declare the 2013 elections free and fair, if they are marred by violence, given that bodies of MDC-T supporters are already being picked up - months before polls?

I am convinced that Zanu-PF is setting up a trap for Tsvangirai by "appointing" him GPA principals spokesperson. Muzazoti hatina kukuyambirai (Don-t say we did not forewarn you).

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