DEAR EDITOR—I think we should all agree that Zimbabwean people have taken too much whipping from politicians. I am encouraged to read some comments on your website that criticize both Zanu PF and the Movement for Democratic Change.
As an MDC supporter, I am particularly interested in comments which relate to the MDC. I think we can all agree that there has been enough bad publicity about Zanu PF and to be fair I think the MDC needs some criticism if it is the government-in-waiting.
I am a member, or should I say I was a member of the MDC (Tsvangirai) Branch based in Grays. I started by attending the Southend-on-Sea branch, but because I lived in Basildon, I saw it fit to attend the Grays Branch as it was closer to my house and also my friend who lives in Grays was attending that branch.
Many people who are familiar with the Grays Branch will know that the branch was started by Mr. John Nyamande and a few other people, in protest against ‘something’ that had happened in Southend. That is not the point of my worry. I am worried that ever since Mr. Nyamande was elected MP in the last harmonised election, my branch has not met and as a member I have never had anything communicated to me. I find out about party activities through the press and every time I am as shocked as everybody else about the tide of events.
There are many decisions that have been taken by the MDC that, I am sure, many supporters would have not liked. I know that I might just be a drop in the ocean to the National Executive, but that is exactly the problem.
We often hear about these things and we are always meant to just accept any decision made and change our position each time.
I am one of those people who travelled back home on March 29 to vote and had my ticket ready to go and vote on June 27 until Tsvangirai withdrew from the election without making a formal notification to party structures. This sort of behaviour has become commonplace in the MDC top leadership and is alienating grassroots supporters who are expecting a speedy resolution to the Zimbabwean crisis.
Tsvangirai has to realize that the MDC is not his personal business; it is the people’s business and should be treated as such.
His recent decision to not sign an approved Memorandum of Understanding was very unfortunate and regressive, especially as MDC members had taken part in its drafting in Pretoria. To then say Jean Ping had asked him to do so is even more disconcerting.
Ping was one of President Bongo's closest and longest-serving ministers and is considered one of the most powerful figures in Gabon. Mr Bongo as we all know has been in power longer than President Mugabe and his credentials are not exactly impeccable.
Ping was also formerly married to Pascaline Bongo Ondimba, President Bongo's daughter who is on the board of directors of several companies including the oil company, Total Gabon.
In the government named in 2007, Ping, previously a Minister of State, was promoted to the rank of Deputy Prime Minister while remaining in charge of foreign affairs.
So this is not exactly a man to take cues from when it comes to democracy. Tsvangirai seems to be attracted to these shady characters: Odinga of Kenya and Dhlakama of Mozambique.
Jeffrey
Disappointed MDC supporter
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bla bla bls • nigelsusnsystems@hotmail.com Subject: Useless Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:08:19 • Pliz be advised that Tsvangirayi is the leader of the MDC, therefore he is required to make important decision for the party, even George Bush wiled veto power over congress or just like any other CEO in business organisation, so go and read or research on leadership/management skills if yu already have management qualifications then yu need change profession. Mu CIO wemunhu
cathsr • cnyahunzvi@yahoo.com Subject: tsvangirayi unilateralism Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:50:52 • you are very right in your observations about the man tsvangirayi and the same applies to his entire so-called kitchen cabinet.their characters and selfish ambitions are slowly coming to the fore.they are in this project, which should be serious people business, for the love of money and personall aggrandisement.they don't care a hoot about the people at all.their continuous position shifting, flip-flopping clearly shows that they do not have a position for themselves but say one thing which their paymasters reject and they have to quickly change stance after having stated a contrary posistion for fear the streams of dollars and pounds coming into their pockets may suddenly dry up.the rest of the mdc membership is being taken for a roller coaster ride by these clowns.they have now mortgaged the whole nation to the whims of britain and america who have since 2001 via ZIDERA, slapped sanctions on this country.the sanctions are supposedly targeted at mugabe and company!targeted sanctions my foot!if these sanctions are targeted why have all forms of financial aid, loans etec to the country been plugged.do you guys mean that balance of payments for this country is for the benefit of mugabe and company alone?if so why are we suffering?they called for sanctions on this country but they (the mdc national executive) are living pretty well, what with morgiza's family out of the country!it's high time we made the entire political leadership of this country (both ZANU-PF and MDC) accountable to THE PEOPLE of Zimbabwe rather than to other interests which have little or nothing to do with the aspirations of the common man in Zim.hatichada zvokutambwa nesu!ngavagare pasi vataurirane vega pasina mutorwa anopindira from either side.if they can't do that then ngavabve pazvigaro zvacho because vatadza.
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