DEAR EDITOR―It is very interesting to understand the psyche behind the MDC sprucing up its image. While I wholly acknowledge the party does indeed need to improve its image, it is critical for the rest of us to understand what it implies. Are they improving their image for the sake of Zimbabweans or is it for the international media?
My worry is that a party which was borne out of good intentions in 1999 but after a few bruising years, they may still talk the same talk but walk a different walk.
It might be that they may have forgotten why they started fighting and are getting caught up in the same politics we wished they would lead us from. Maybe salvation could come in the form of a renewal of the leadership at the top that seems to have run out of ideas after a long heart wrenching epic that seems to always yield the same result and same outcry.
I feel the MDC rightly points at Zimbabwe having the same leadership for 28 years makes the need for change vital for re-energising the country, but they may also be falling foul of this claim themselves.
It’s already coming close to a decade with the main opposition under the stewardship of the same President and if he were to win the run-off, he would have been MDC leader for about 15 years by end of his first term in office and two terms would easily mean 20 years of his reign.
I question the leadership of the MDC simply because they had the momentum in the lead up and immediately after the elections, but they chose to pass this up and go globe-trotting neglecting the voters.
The spotlight may have dazed them much in the same way as a rabbit caught in the glare of car headlights.
If this time had been spent convincing those who did not vote for them to do so and get an overwhelming verdict, we would likely see this crisis ending but, unfortunately, that wasn't so.
I hope these errors are rectified because it would be disheartening and quite possibly the political demise of a few prominent members of the opposition if they come out crying wolf in a month’s time.
All this time should be spent canvassing more Zimbabweans to vote for them, not simply in the courtship of foreign media who will not cast the ballot.
It is high time this crisis was resolved one way or another, that is whoever wins does it convincingly so that us Zimbabweans have a say over our destiny not a situation were some scribes who might never have been anywhere in Zimbabwe pass their opinion as the legitimate voice of Zimbabweans.
We need to use our free will whether as ‘MDCites or ZANUites’ to make ourselves heard not fall for hypocritical standards were leaders who have ruled for up to 35years are reported in affable terms for being allies while others are dictators if they are not allies for example Togo's President Gnassingbe Eyadema (see: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2646825.stm)
I also read an interesting commentary in Pravda, an Eastern European publication complaining that Kosovans fighting for independence are called freedom fighters, while South Ossetia freedom fighters in conflict with western backed Georgia are termed separatists by the western media―even though they are all fighting for the same cause as the former.
The term separatist implies being irrational in their quest for freedom. To me this is a classic case of divide and rule.
I would want to clarify that I am not advocating isolation, but would want a limit drawn as to how far foreign opinion or agenda should influence our leadership. I would not like to see the wishes of Zimbabweans sacrificed to appease foreign citizens.
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