DEAR EDITOR—I have been watching the developments in Zimbabwe quietly hoping that all these men, who seem to think that they can resolve the situation in Zimbabwe by reckless bickering, will come up with a solution to the problems facing our country today. I am getting frustrated by the day by this ‘hormonal’ bickering going on; especially the cry-baby tactics within the opposition movement.
Rather than just getting on with the programme and doing the best from within, they seem to wait for Zanu PF party to make an announcement and then they make a statement.
I have always been a supporter of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change in Zimbabwe, for my own reasons, but their latest childishness leaves a lot to be desired.
After graduation from the University of Zimbabwe in 2002, I enjoyed the party and worked with the likes of Tendai Biti, Grace Kwinjeh and many others, but left the country in 2005 to pursue other avenues.
The original MDC with Professor Welshman Ncube, Gibson Sibanda, Morgan Tsvangirai and many of the founding members was a stronger entity, with more solid structures and more committed individuals than we have now, individuals who seem only interested in positions they hold in the party.
There used to be very fruitful, honest and responsible debate in the party. Self criticism was not shunned at, and there was accountability and proper strategy in the movement.
Now we have a bunch of power hungry individuals who see it fit to ‘get fat’ in South Africa and Botswana, while the rest of their supporters are dying in Zimbabwe.
I hear very often some of them speak on radio stations based in the United Kingdom and they all seem to repeat rehearsed and memorised speeches, rather than real policy.
Yesterday we heard Tendai Biti, whom I had respect for when I was working with him in the party back in Zimbabwe and know personally, urging southern African leaders to pressure President Robert Mugabe to hold a run-off poll next week after authorities in Harare announced plans for a 90-day delay.
As far as I understand Tendai was not in the country when he made this statement. He’s spent a greater part of the last two months ‘in exile’. Is he still aware of what exactly is transpiring on the ground? Does he have a clue what the MDC, Zanu PF and common supporters are going through in Zimbabwe? Is the MDC-T ready given all the losses suffered from the post-election violence? Why don’t they take advantage of the 90 days to get the supporters to be more confident and help solidify their support?
These ‘leaders in exile’ should realise that they remain ‘empty vessels’ if they remain outside the country.
People need leadership and MDC thugs alike need direction. Zanu PF thugs need direction and it doesn’t help if the leaders abandon them.
In now very characteristic fashion, Tendai Biti said the heads of state of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) should call an emergency summit and tell President Mugabe and his Zanu PF party that the hold-up to the election would not be tolerated.
He said: "We insist the election will be held on May 23. We hope that SADC will stand up in front of the summit, will speak in the face of the dictator. That summit must deal with the illegality of the run-off."
Tendai Biti speaks like an authority. He is an authority within the MDC-T party, but certainly not in Sadc. Sadc is a much bigger entity which will not take instructions from the likes of Biti.
The last extraordinary summit produced nothing except ‘holiday trips’.
The MDC-T should realise that President Levy Mwanawasa is not the best person to intervene in Zimbabwe. Neither is President Ian Khama of Botswana.
I think Biti’s arrogance makes it difficult to move forward and every time he opens his mouth, he attracts reprisals from Zanu PF and we go back to square one.
The MDC-T should learn to be diplomatic and learn to control their hormones for the sake of all of us. This ridiculous behaviour makes the opposition looks disorganised and renders it unable to present a formidable challenge to Zanu PF.
We need serious thinkers and serious servants of the people; not power hungry individuals masquerading as saints.
Nyarai describes herself as an “MDC member based in Glasgow, Scotland who would rather go back to the original MDC”.
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Decay, Mexico • na Subject: SHIP OF FOOLS? Fri, 16 May 2008 07:58:36 • You have nailed it in one.
I too am amazed because we see some exceedingly deep and meaningful articles written by MDC members with such vision that they should in fact be leading their own party.
Some MDC contributors to this site must be so disillusioned by what is going on in their midst. It is so sad.
On the other hand, you could easily defect you know, because actually, you still have two other leaders to choose from.
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