Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Tobaiwa Tigere
17 November 2009
opinion
"TO separate the Zimbabwean people from Zanu-PF, we have to make their economy scream and I hope you, senators, have the stomach for what we are about to do."
These were the words of the then US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Chester Crocker during debate on the sanctions law, the so-called Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act, in the United States Senate back in 2000.
It is also instructive to note that two of the co-sponsors of the Bill were the then senators of Delaware and New York, Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton respectively.
I say instructive because we have seen a renewed effort to force regime change in Zimbabwe, in the form of the United States Agency for International Development-funded newsletter from the Prime Minister's Office; the deployment of Usaid officials to the Prime Minister's Office and the recent subtle suggestions of fresh elections even before the new constitution has been drafted.
I know that media purists would want to dismiss this article as yet another example of the public media's peddling of "hate speech", but let me hasten to add that anyone who aspires to hold high office must stand up to meticulous scrutiny and measure up. Unfortunately, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai falls woefully short.
Zimbabweans must not be misled into believing that whoever wrestles power from President Mugabe is a democrat. Today we have two formations or factions of the MDC precisely because PM Tsvangirai overruled his own party's national council's decision of October 12, 2005 that the party should contest that year's Senate elections.
Tsvangirai has not explained to Zimbabweans why he called on the South African government to cut electricity and fuel supplies to Zimbabwe yet we had a democratically elected government in place.
What was Tsvangirai doing telling our African brothers to side with European and American verdicts of Zimbabwean elections yet the continental body, the African Union, and the regional body, Sadc, had declared the 2000, 2002 and 2005 elections free and fair?
This is the myopia of a man who has total disregard for African institutions. The myopic arrogance has continued up to this day with the Prime Minister giving ultimatums to Sadc, telling them that MDC-T will disregard their verdicts if they are not in MDC-T's favour and go straight to the AU. He then goes on to give the AU itself an ultimatum, with the threat of going to the United Nations if the AU sees no differently from Sadc.
Tsvangirai and MDC-T have sought to come to power on the back of the suffering of Zimbabweans. They support any measures taken by the West to entrench the status quo because they stand to benefit politically. A recovering economy is not in the interests of MDC-T if it has not assumed total power and as such, they will sabotage it at every turn. Only when there is chaos in Zimbabwe does MDC-T prosper.
Zimbabweans must be extremely wary of the cloud that does not bear water. What national leader seeks the suffering of his own people for his own selfish gain? In any other country Tsvangirai would be unable to walk the streets freely given some of his treasonous actions and pronouncements over the years.
The Americans and Europeans stated unequivocally that they would not recognise a government headed by President Mugabe. MDC-T confirmed this by stating that they are in the inclusive Government to grab power from Zanu-PF. Zanu-PF must stop playing house and declare solemnly that there will be no sustainable progress in Zimbabwe as long as economic sanctions remain in place.
As clearly stated in the opening paragraph above, the sanctions were imposed to "separate the Zimbabwean people from Zanu-PF".
Zanu-PF would have to be comatose to dream of having far-reaching reforms with the sanctions in place. The Americans must know this and not underestimate the resolve of Zimbabweans. Their media can fabricate as many stories as they want about the alleged popularity of their anointed one, Tsvangirai, but the truth is that any opposition leader who fails to win a decisive majority where an incumbent President presides over eight-digit inflation and over 70 percent unemployment must seriously consider career change.
Tsvangirai stands no chance against President Mugabe even in an environment of a million percent inflation; that is why he refuses to call for the lifting of sanctions. It is his only way of trying to remain politically relevant and to continue dreaming of being smuggled to State House.
Progressive Zimbabweans are watching.
Tick, tock, tick, tock . . .
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Thats good english my brother but dont forget that none of your bros and sisters will feed on your english.Can't you see,hauna miziso here,haunzwe tsitsi here,tatambura isu,ivo vanodya vachiguta.we are tired of these people.everything else can be true about the intentions of the west but still change is needed.look at what happened in japan ,after 50years in power they finally we removed from power by popular vote,so watch out the same will happen in zimbo.
What we need is fresh blood the existing politician are contaminated by the past and the stick and carrot, we are doomed to strife and poverty whilst these two parties gamble with our lives, this is turning into a ridiculas situation decsions back and forth, truly the words of Ian Douglas Smith Are Showing their Truth (a black man will never be allowed to rule Zimbabwe) long after the man has gone the ristance to autonomus black rule continues they continue to divde us and make us suffer. the artcal is the truth and should be acknowledged altough some of us are blinded by greed we have to admit it
wakarara here iwe what is zanu pf giving you asi minda svinura mhani, if PM can manage to stop the flow of electricity and fuel into Zimbo cn't u cee hez the right person. unoda vatore bhazuka here that time is gone, u aliving in the past wake up and be a true Zimbo Taneta nevanhu vange iwewe, where will u be in the new Zimbo won't you be kunyara.