'The people have spoken'

DEAR EDITOR―It’s often said that when you repeat a lie many times people start believing it. The MDC always claims that, “The people spoke overwhelmingly on March 29.” Many of us who are naïve are beginning to fall trap to this MDC-T rhetoric.

Correct me if I’m wrong, 47.9 percent to me is not ‘overwhelming’. Even if we wanted to go by the unofficial MDC-T figure of 50.3 per cent which was refuted by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, the people still did not ‘speak overwhelmingly’.

And what does people like Luke Tamborinyoka of the MDC-T mean by saying,”The people have spoken overwhelmingly?” Is 47.3 per cent ‘overwhelming’? Also what does he mean by saying, “The people are ready to vote for change.” Is that readiness only for MDC supporters. This is the problem with the MDC-T—using universal statements to make specific points and losing themselves in the process.

Are these people just plain ignorant or do not accept the fact that not one candidate had a clear majority at the March 29 presidential elections?

Another oft repeated mantra is that, “The people voted for change.” People always vote for change. Voting patterns are based on election manifestos. I am yet to see a party that campaigns on a previous manifesto.

So when the MDC-T says that’ “Change has come,” they sound ridiculous. Change is an on-going process and is universal. How can two days be the same? Every entity changes by default and that includes Zanu PF. You might not agree with the change, but it occurs nevertheless.

It is these universal and confusing statements that make the MDC-T look like a party without a clear and coherent strategy; and a party full of populist statements that do not translate into real tangible benefits.

What change did the Zimbabwean people vote for, according to the MDC? They do not seem to know when you ask them. I would have thought that logic tells you that everyone who voted, including for the MDC-T and Zanu PF was voting for some sort of change.

I thought all Zimbabweans, including supporters of the ruling party were in agreement that change was needed and that was clear in their various manifestos.

Some ridiculous sections of the media are also referring to Zanu PF as the opposition. It is this ‘blindingly optimistic’ thinking that makes these media sections look ridiculous, when things later turn out differently. There are petitions currently at the High Court ― both the MDC-T and Zanu PF are disputing parliamentary results. Until that process is completed, you cannot talk of an opposition.  

Such irresponsible talk heightens tension in the country and causes more divisions between the two contesting parties and is not helpful if a future government is to include both parties.

MDC-T officials should start conducting themselves responsibly and diplomatically to ensure that Zimbabwe goes to the next stage of its struggle peacefully.

It also needs strategic thinkers, not these populist ‘empty vessels’ that make the most sound, meaningless sound.

Prince Kahari
princekahari@yahoo.com