Benjamin Chitate
17 February 2008
column
The entry of Simba Makoni into the Presidential race has created a lot of excitement among desperate Zimbabwean intellectuals.
I can't blame them; they are desperate. Mutumwa Mawere, Trevor Ncube, Alex Magaisa based in the UK, among many intellectuals, are ululating, trying to influence Zimbabweans to vote for someone who has been tried, but has never produced any convincing results.
The crisis in Zanu PF now is about (President Robert) Mugabe's overstay in power, not about any ideological differences.
Like Mugabe, Makoni has also over-stayed his usefulness. Makoni was a minister in Mugabe's government in 1980, 28 years ago. His stay was cut short after he was appointed executive secretary for SADC. What did Makoni achieve at SADC? Did he leave a happy man?
His stay as CEO of Zimpapers did not improve the company's fortunes. He was fired after clashing with the Editor of The Sunday Mail one of the newspapers under the Zimpapers' stable. But can his praise-singers tell us what he achieved at Zimpapers?
Some have described Makoni as a wealthy businessman. What do we know about Makoni's businesses? If you are asked who is a more successful businessman in Zanu PF among Philip Chiyangwa and Makoni, Makoni comes last.
Makoni may have won a lot of admiration for "his" decision to devalue the Zimbabwean dollar.
I call it "his" decision because it wasn't his decision. Makoni is not an economist -- he was simply communicating advice given by the economists employed in the Ministry of Finance.
And what did he do? He betrayed the economists by chickening out. He failed not only the economists, but the entire nation by being spineless when it mattered most.
Makoni was there when ESAP was introduced under the late Bernard Chidzero.
I can't remember whether Makoni was at SADC that time, but, as head of a regional institution, he was supposed to advise the government against Economic Strustureal Adjustment Programme (ESAP).
Among people who advised against ESAP was none other than Morgan Tsvangirai. I am not bootlicking here. All in doubt must read "Beyond Esap", a book published by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU).
We never heard Makoni speak a word against ESAP.
I couldn't control my laughter when I read him being quoted as saying. "My security is in my people." Now, like Grace Mugabe, Makoni owns people?
Or was he misquoted? Let me try to list some of Tsvangirai's achievements.
He galvanized the ZCTU into a modern, vibrant labour organization. Most of you may be mistaken that the ZCTU was only popular for street protests. I have already referred to Tsvangirai's position on ESAP. Through his hard work, the ZCTU established what at some point became the regional resource centre for labour issues.
The first librarian to run the ZCTU library was the late Nomore Sibanda, who was later joined by another lady whose name I cannot remember. Several other librarians joined the team later. This demonstrates Tsvangirai's vision for information as a tool for decision-making.
Because of his leadership abilities, Tsvangirai was elected as chairperson for the National Constitutional Assembly, where he led a team of enthusiastic academics, trade unionists, students, workers -- defeating Mugabe in the constitutional vote of 2000.
An avid reader, Tsvangirai qualified for a post-graduate diploma in Governance at the Harvard University.
He is one of a few Zimbabwean politicians holding such a qualification.
It must be against this background that I hear civic society in Zimbabwe seems to be distancing itself from Makoni.
He must realise that Zimbabwe lacks chemical engineers with a vision, and should use that to revive Zimbabwe's chemical industry in a country ruled by one with a qualification in Governance.
Read comments. Write your own.
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Thank Benjamin for standing up in defence of Tsvangirai's record. I had actually become worried with the stance most of the intellectuals are taking. It looks like these people although educated can easily be swayed by things that just pass like a whirlwind. I should saw you are in a class of your own because very few educated people understand the importance of information and in particular the specialists in the field-Librarians. By the way am a librarian and happened to know what you are talking about as I was at Harare Polytechnic at the same time as the late… [Read Full Text]
Hello Zimbabwe. We need to leave Makoni alone. I would want to see a person who has not failed before. If he actually failed at SADC then he is a better candidate than Mugabe and Tsvangirayi. He didn't hold on to the position as Robert and Morgan are doing. Robert and Morgan have both failed Zimbabwe than the modest Simba. In 2005 or 2004 Simba Makoni was chosen as a SADC candidate for the presidency of African Development Bank. He was supported by Mugabe. How would Mugabe push Simba for the international post if he had fired him for incompetence… [Read Full Text]
Zimabwweans lets rally hehind Simba he has all the qualities of a leader look at his history. One thing that we must all know at the moment is all people in Zanupf now are disgrantled. They are only afraid to face reality. People fear the old man somuch that they can not standup to say their feelings openly. Now we have a man who has the guts to stand against this monister lets help ourselves out of this dilemma by joining hands with him Simba. People like Tswangirai are only afraid to swallow their pride but come elections they… [Read Full Text]
what's your definition of fear. most people say they "MPs and Cabinet ministers" fear Mugabe i don't think so. They are benefiting so much by the fact that Mugabe is still in power. Everyone knows that Harare has become a capitol of cash crime. People are buying big cars cash, do you think they give a dime for change in Zimbabwe? A change that will see them being who they really are-(criminals). Simba is an intellectual of-course, but i have second thoughts on supporting someone backed by a bunch of crooks who are trying to use politics as their ground… [Read Full Text]
what's your definition of fear. most people say they "MPs and Cabinet ministers" fear Mugabe i don't think so. They are benefiting so much by the fact that Mugabe is still in power. Everyone knows that Harare has become a capitol of cash crime. People are buying big cars cash, do you think they give a dime for change in Zimbabwe? A change that will see them being who they really are-(criminals). Simba is an intellectual of-course, but i have second thoughts on supporting someone backed by a bunch of crooks who are trying to use politics as their ground… [Read Full Text]
Benj, you are constipated. you go to the loo and nothing comes out. you feel very bad for Morgiza's shortcomings, to the extent of attacking his opposition. you can't rise by taking other men down. We haven't heard Morgan's policies that are in touch with the electorate. I won't slate his strategy but this must be his fourth shot at power, and its proved elusive. If Makoni fails in his bid, YOU should applaud him for his balls. back then SADCC was not as cohesive as it is now so for you to equate SADCC to SADC is misleading.
Try… [Read Full Text]
These criticisms on Dr Simba Makoni are weak!!Like every other leader Simba Makoni had to leave SADC one day.There is a rumour that he was fired,he was not fired!!He served three terms,give the man a break.No one can rule forever.In the early 80's Dr Makoni was always critical of the government and corruption.That is the reason he was pushed to SADC to get him out of the way.At Zimpapers he clashed with one of Mugabe's relatives who was the editor of the Sunday Mail because it was too pro-government.During his time at Zimpapers The Herald was critical of the government!!When… [Read Full Text]
See all comments (12).
Makoni is an agent of the state! Like Operation Murambasvina, his role is to fracture support for MDC and give the elections an air of contestability and legitimacy. What people need to understand is that the upcoming ekection is anything but. It is a carefully chereographed charade with a preordained outcome - the continued stranglehold of Zanu PF on the country. A regime that allows the complete and utter collapse of the identity of Zimbabweans in return for power will stoop at nothing and so it is in this light that Makoni should be seen. Having worn down MDC, Mugabe… [Read Full Text]