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MDC turns 12
Movement
for Democratic Change (MDC)
September 12, 2011
The pursuit of happiness, victory and freedom is the character of
all democratic struggles.
The people of
Zimbabwe's struggle against Zanu PF tyranny and dictatorship
are no exception. Tomorrow, Saturday 10 September 2011, the people's
great party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) celebrates
its 12 years of existence.
The main national
event shall be at Gwanzura Stadium in Harare. Starting today, Friday,
all roads and pathways lead to Gwanzura for an auspicious occasion,
full of fun, music, dance and fine political speeches from the leadership
of the party and the civic partners.
There is something
unique about the MDC's 12th birthday. A casual literature
survey and recorded wisdom shows that the number 12 signifies authority,
strength, conviction, absoluteness and finality.
The resilience
of Zimbabweans, against all odds, and the popular relegation of
Zanu PF to a moribund outfit in less than a decade are both legendary
and earth-shaking, especially given Zanu PF's ruthlessness
and hate for the poor.
The beatings,
pestering and embarrassment of millions of an unarmed people and
the entire civic society clearly stand out as a statement and testament
to the conviction of today's indefatigable actors in a national
project for real change.
In particular,
the humiliation, vilification and persecution of President Tsvangirai,
MDC leaders and legislators, party members and activists are instructive
and worth noting. That they kept the flicker of the struggle burning
until final victory
on 29 March 2008 is a world-class record. Hope and courage dismantled
the Zanu PF edifice and paid off in the end.
Throughout Christianity,
the number 12 is powerfully significant. There were 12 patriarchs
from Seth to Noah and his family, from Shem to Jacob. Let us remember
that the 12 spies sent, including Joshua and Caleb, to gather intelligence
on the new land the Israelites; the 12 sons of Ishmael; the 12 sons
of Esau and the 12 sons of Jacob: not forgetting the 12 tribes of
Israel; the 12 gates and foundations of the Holy city; the 12 foundations
of the heavenly Jerusalem; the 12 fruits of the spirit; and, of
course, the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ.
Twelve is a
perfect number of signifying perfection of government: the governmental
perfection. It is precisely for this reason that 2012 is attached
with the transformation of the world as per the Mayan Calendar.
In Judaism,
there are 12 letters of Hebrew alphabet. A girl in Judaism, becomes
mature at the age of 12.There were 12 tribes of Israel and remember
the 12 oxen of Solomon's temple.
In Islam, 12
Imams succeeded Prophet Muhammad. Even the star signs are divided
in 12 sun signs and, as per Semitic beliefs there are 12 days of
duel between chaos and cosmos.
Our biology
and the day and night basic logic evince the self-evident
presence of human heart chakras, which are 12 in number.
(Twelve) noon
marks the start of the descent of the sun. (Twelve) midnight is
the ascent marking a rapid turn of atmospheric and behavioural events,
among both humans and animals. It is a multiple in all: the emergence
of 12, rules the sun which controls our days; and the stars which
govern our nights. The passage through the 12 signs of the Zodiac
completes the great circle of the heavens of 360 (12 by 30) degrees
or divisions. Twelve (12) further defines a calendar year.
Back home to
the MDC. The 12th anniversary at Gwanzura marks the perfection,
purification and chlorination of systems and processes for an effective
delivery in a society, for a fresh, new beginning and the ultimate
attainment of real change in people's lives.
At 12 we have
built a solid party of excellence. Although we often get excoriated
and chided for various omissions and commissions, we are students
in national service. We are learning; we have our own frailties.
But we remain alert to our national cause; we remain vigilant and
assiduous in our legitimate and genuine endeavours. We are patriots;
we are revolutionaries; and we are nationalists ready and determined
to complete a national liberation agenda - hopelessly betrayed,
abandoned and checked out through a calculated Zanu PF culture of
greed, avarice and cruelty.
We draw comfort
and inspiration from the knowledge that excellence is a magnet to
conspiracies, slander and vilification. The MDC keeps its eyes on
the ball, and on the goal. We shall not take our eyes off the ball
on account of sideshows and shadow boxing. We have the mandate to
lead; a mission to fulfil; race to run; and victory to embrace.
We are ready for it all the way through to a new Zimbabwe. We are
covered in elephant skin, no amount of stinging from the political
tsetse flies and irritating mosquitoes shall break us.
At 12, we make
the clarion call to all Zimbabweans above 18 years to take charge
of our collective destiny by doing something during our life-time.
The nation perishes when good citizens do nothing; when the bad
ones are in charge of the national affairs.
Politics matters. One of the penalties for refusing to participate
in politics is that you end up being governed by the scum of the
earth, ruthless con-artists and perpetually gluttonous soup-lovers.
Saturday, 10 September 2011 is a significant turning point for Zimbabwe
and its insatiable quest for democracy as we refine our approach
to the penultimate, glorious but painful journey for comprehensive,
national recovery and redemption. We celebrate 12 years at work
and in the trenches.
It all started
with an epoch-making gathering at which over 40 civic organizations,
trade unions, students, women, the disabled, the unemployed, professionals,
academics, business people, residents associations, human rights
watchdogs, war veterans, peasants and informal traders - laid
a foundation stone for the formation of a political alternative
to Zanu PF in early 1999. It is vital to note that 40 percent of
those at the meeting were women.
Since then,
the MDC has evolved into a dominant national and international force.
It is impossible to discuss Zimbabwe from any corner of the globe
without making reference to the MDC. In a single dozen years, we
have become:
- a united
and indomitable platform of all peace-loving people pursuing a
shared calling for sanity, equal opportunities, common objectives
and national principles. Our collective desire to advance the
national interest overrides our personal preferences.
- a strong,
democratic, people-driven, mass party ready to deliver through
tolerance, national dialogue and unity.
- an indispensable
force that stands for a government and policy regimen that puts
people first and that advances their interest as the sole sources
of sovereignty and legitimacy. The MDC stands for the supremacy
of the nation and its people, and rejects systems that prioritise
the defence of leadership interests at the expense of the people.
- a fearless
fighter for democracy and accountability across all national institutions
and processes.
- a dependable
national ally and source of inspiration, resolutely advancing
the participation of all citizens and civil society in nation-building
through participatory democracy, parliament and executive. Freedom
of expression and, after expression, is the lifeblood of the society
we seek to build.
- The MDC's
key goal is to govern differently and democratically. We are ready
for the mission. Peace overcomes any weapon; we are under heavenly
protection. We accept that we went through a dozen years of joy
and sorrow, pains and gains, ups and downs, the denied victories,
deprived wins and stolen successes.
We were cheated
in 2000 and in 2002 but recovered; we were robbed in 2005 but survived;
and we were divided in October 2005. We renewed ourselves and after
the 2006 Congress we delivered a sucker punch to Zanu PF in March
2008.We are bigger, better, stronger and wiser.
The story is
incomplete without the due mention and acknowledgement of the courage,
tenacity and resilience of the people of Zimbabwe which has been
a major ingredient in the building of the foundation and walls of
the people's Party of Excellence. MDC is a team winning together.
This Saturday's 12 symbolises a turning point.
God bless Zimbabwe.
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