DEAR EDITOR—“ZANU PF will only negotiate with the MDC-T party if Morgan Tsvangirai is not going to be part of the negotiation and part of the Government of National Unity.”
I bet many of you had to read this statement twice to find out exactly what I was proposing. Sounds ridiculous right? Firstly Morgan Tsvangirai is the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change and he got 47.9 per cent of the presidential vote and was elected by the MDC-T party to contest presidential elections. He is, by law, also the automatic candidate for a runoff.
Flip the script. The demands of the MDC-T to negotiate for a GNU without President Mugabe, —who was chosen by the Zanu PF party to be its presidential candidate; and who, by law, is the automatic candidate for an election run-off—sound ridiculous. How can a leader of a party not be party to a negotiation?
Some of these populist and myopic demands for the MDC-T are some of the reasons why they can never sit at the same table with Zanu PF and come up with a workable solution for the benefit our country.
I couldn’t care less who the President is; all I want for a government that is accountable to the people, that is not corrupt and that respects the dignity of its citizens and offers prosperity is installed.
Those who are so power hungry as to think that they only can lead are the ones who are putting us into this mess.
Zimbabwe needs mature debate and those who make unnecessary demands which they know will never be met only exacerbate that situation. Tsvangirai should learn to be diplomatic in his approach and manner; so that the country can move forward. Splitting the Sadc region will not help him get into power; discrediting South African President Mbeki will only serve to delay and undermine the work that he is tasked to do in the country.
President Mbeki is an influential position in the Sadc and will not be snubbed by Sadc leaders. The MDC is only playing itself by ‘firing’ President Mbeki. He leads the most advanced country in the region—economically and militarily. Mwanawasa will not have the same level of influence in the Sadc region; neither will Khama.
So why ally with lesser influential people? These people will not deliver anything for the MDC-T.
Tsvangirai needs to realise that he is still in opposition, despite all his claims of an electoral victory and Sadc, AU, UN will only give full audience to a government—not an opposition group. He and the MDC-T will remain in the gallery or on the sidelines of these organisations. If the rhetoric doesn’t change, Morgan will also remain on the sidelines of negotiations in Zimbabwe—a situation which will not help him achieve power.
How can you negotiate with someone you call a dictator? How can you negotiate with a ‘militarised regime’? How can you negotiate with a ‘geriatric’?
These words are not helpful and only infuriate those you are calling names. Morgan can say that he has been called names before; but those in power call the shots. This is the sad truth and is true everywhere—in Africa, America, Europe, Asia, Latin America and Australasia.
Any transfer of power requires the incumbent to concede; but when you intimidate those you want to concede and threaten them with lawsuits; you only make it difficult for the transition to occur.
Tsvangirai can win an election at the run-off; but the truth is that to win power he has to be more diplomatic in his approach. True, this is less populist, but is what is needed nevertheless. Events of the last few weeks have proven that the MDC-T is still incapable of handling a power transition. They need serious political advisors before the next run-off; otherwise their win, if they win, will be meaningless on the ground and will not change things.
Peter Chimutsa
peterchimutsa@yahoo.com
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READER OPINIONS
n/a • n/a Subject: RUSTEE YOU ARE RUST Wed, 14 May 2008 16:58:05 • RUSTEE U SEEM TO BE JUST MAKING ARGUMENTS WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE CONSTITUTION..WHAT YOU ARE SAYING THAT IF YOU DONT HAVE THE PARLIAMENT YOU CANT MAKE ANY DECISIONS...TRUE, BUT IF THAT HAPPENS THE PRESIDENT HAS THE RIGHT TO DISSOLVE THE PARLIAMENT AND CALL FOR FRESH ELECTIONS...WHOSE ADVANTAGE WILL THAT BE..IF A SCENARIO LIKE THAT HAPPENS IN ZIMBABWE..AND YOU SAYING TSVANGIRAI WON THE PRESIDENCY IS JUST IGNORANCE AND BEING SHALLOW...YOU DONT WIN THE PRESIDENCE UNLESS U GET 51% OF THE VOTE...
FRANCIS CIRIBOTO • francisciriboto603@yahoo.com Subject: humble and sober Wed, 14 May 2008 12:34:34 • Dear Editor
Making insults to the sitting president will do us no good at all, all zimbabweans neeed is to be humble and sober, educate each other on what the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act means, encourage each other on reading the litrerature by Global Research website, only then will we understand whose interests we wish to serve. Aluta Kunta Kinte.
rustee • n/a Subject: ddzora Mon, 12 May 2008 20:39:29 • My friend what I am trying to say is this the MDC are in control they have the parliment and they have won the presidency whether by 47% or whatever now I want you to understand something else no matter who is president if you do not control parliment you do not have any power to make any desicions .... ZANU ARE IN OPPOSITION THEY ARE NOT THE RULING PARTY PLEASE DDZORA PLEASE MY FRIEND START USING YOUR BRAIN AND NOT YOUR ZANU HEART..........MORGAN IS THE PREZ.........MDC ARE THE CHAMPIONS NO MATTER HOW HARD ZANU MILITIA TRY AND BEAT OUR PEOPLE UP
ddzora • ddzora@yahoo.com Subject: ruling party Mon, 12 May 2008 16:43:29 • In an presidential democracy the president forms government and even if he has two MPs they will be the ruling party. MDC have majority in parliament without the Presidency they still are an Opposition party. Get your facts right mate !!!!!!!
Arthur Gwagwa • arthurgwagwa@yahoo.com Subject: Comment Mon, 12 May 2008 13:35:19 • Peter, your views are very sound and consistent. I trust that the person who has comented above would learn that Zimbabwe is not about MDC and ZANU PF because its not a footbal match. We are all in one team. We all have roles to play. The dire situation in our country needs people who are humble who acknowledge that its not about them and their egos but about people and their needs. If we continue fighting to the detriment of people, I wonder whose interests we are serving.
rustee • n/a Subject: response Mon, 12 May 2008 09:32:55 • Mr Chimutsa I want to remind you before you forget ...THE MDC ARE THE RULING PARTY ZANU ARE IN OPPOSITION THIS IS A FACT....Mugabe is in no position to demand anything he needs to step down and accept defeat after all he is the one who said he will not take part in a run off as he likes a one round knock out.......p.s MR EDITOR WHY TO YOU CHOOSE NOT TO PRINT 90% OF MY RESPONSES TO ALL THE PRO ZANU COMMENTS ON YOUR WEBSITE YOU MUST ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT WE THE MDC ARE IN THE DRIVING SEAT ...LEARN TO LIVE WITH IT
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