Tag: Robert Mugabe

Nelson Chamisa (left) and Tendai Biti, seen here with US Congressmen genuinely believe they have the keys to billions of dollars from the West Reason Wafawarova on Monday It is an accepted fact in political intellectualism that political engagement is an important facet of the relationship between authorities and citizens. These are states that do not carry out elections, states that are authoritarian and led by an established and accepted leadership hierarchy or order. So an aspiring MP will first establish relations with those that already have power in the establishment; be they political leaders of opposition political parties or the governing authorities. In global politics poor dependent countries like us and the rest of African countries are the clients, and we know very well how we kowtow to powerful countries in anticipation of donations and political or military protection. So the frequenters now own food aid, not the state, the frequenters now own health facilities, not the state, the frequenters now own taxes, not the state. The United States wants Zimbabwe isolated and sanctioned so that allotment of resources is dependent on powerful and rich countries, when they will be given with stringent strings attached. ZIDERA is an act of law designed to politicise food, health, livelihoods and lives of innocent citizens of Zimbabwe. This is not how governance works. This is not how democracy works. This is not what liberation wars are fought to achieve.

SO here we are again, stalled by inconclusive politics. Where democracy is supposed to be a process by which the people feel free to choose the person to lead them or to blame — it has been a major source of problems for us. The MDC Alliance filed their petition to challenge the outcome and the court will once again determine the way forward. There are several scenarios that may come out of the court processes, but chances of change are slim because Zimbabwe chinhu chavo (it's theirs). Dangerous behavioural patterns have emerged over the past two decades and they pertain to the two parties — the MDC and Zanu-PF. With the recent court challenge, a GNU is a possibility and they will once not allow decision-making powers to evade them because chinhu chavo. The other pattern is that, aware of the aging and weakening demographics of the ruling party support base, the MDC has approached every election with a loud precaution on the preamble that they can never be free and fair. Even without evidence, with the senility that prevails in that system, that preamble that elections cannot be free and fair would hold, as the system now stumbles where is it supposed to be smooth sailing. With economic growth, our authorities will have the resources to fix our roads, fund our schools and health centres and ensure access to clean water. That dream is stalled by our politics.

But despite the efforts of the government to improve its reputation, the politics of fear continues to undermine the prospects for a free and fair election. Having replaced Robert Mugabe after he was forced from power by the military in November, Mnangagwa is desperate to present himself as a “change” candidate. But many Zimbabweans don’t believe the hype. “I don’t know,” one opposition supporter told me. Having promised elections observed by international monitors — something that was not allowed under Mugabe — the president has delivered. Recent data collected by the Heal Zimbabwe Trust and We The People are troubling. Scores of human rights violations are happening every week, and the vast majority are committed by ruling party or state officials. The widespread use of subtle violence places election observers in a bind. If the international community is to effectively respond, it is essential that election observers don’t wait until after the elections to raise concerns. Others need to do the same — and fast — if elections in the new Zimbabwe are to offer citizens a genuine choice of which party they want to govern their country.

A despotic leader has received much welcomed advice on how to stand down gracefully from no lesser an authority than Robert Mugabe, it’s emerged. Mugabe urged a power-crazed leader by the name of Theresa May to resign her premiership before she could be ‘dragged through fields of wheat’ by her rivals. ‘Stepping down in a graceful and benevolent way such as I did has really added to my legacy. I hope Mrs May heeds my advice and does the same,’ said Mugabe. Theresa May is the prime minister of Great Britain; a small, struggling island nation with many tough years ahead of it. Whether she will take the advice is anyone’s guess but she is known for being a poor listener, instead preferring to shout over her opponent’s with meaningless slogans. It’s for this reason some believe that the only way Britain will be rid of her right-wing authoritarian regime is by a coup from within her party. ‘What was that about a coup?’ asked a bewildered Boris Johnson.