adminThis is why the regional bloc could only urge the Government, which lapsed with the automatic dissolution of the Seventh Parliament over the weekend, to approach the
Constitutional Court to seek an extension to the July 31 date proclaimed by President Mugabe in his capacity as Head of State and Government.
As things stand, until the court rules otherwise on Thursday, July 31 is the only date in town, and the need to timeously hold elections cannot be over-emphasised, given that we currently do not have the other two critical pillars of the State, the Legislature and the Executive, in the wake of the dissolution of Parliament over the weekend.
So for outsiders like Ms Lindiwe Zulu, South African president Jacob Zuma’s international relations advisor, to continue harping about postponing our elections by a month is the height of provocation.
We have said it before and we say it again, Zimbabwe is not a province of South Africa, the delusions of South African citizens or even the SA leadership do not hold sway north of the Limpopo.
Secondly, Lindiwe Zulu may be part of President Zuma’s staff, but to us here she is a South African citizen, nothing more nothing less.
While Ms Zulu assuaged her oversized ego over the years by arrogating herself the role of facilitator, Sadc spokesperson and Godmother of our political processes to the extent of not only challenging Sadc pronouncements but even the Constitutional Court ruling that harmonised elections be held by July 31 this year, she forgot that she had no locus standi before Sadc.
For the avoidance of doubt, Sadc appointed Mr Zuma — in his personal capacity — facilitator to the Global Political Agreement that brought forth the inclusive Government.
It was not South Africa or any of its citizens who were appointed facilitators, and now that facilitation ended with the end of the inclusive Government and collapse of the GPA over the weekend.
It is, however, not lost to us why the likes of Ms Zulu were shooting their mouths off over the weekend. They were doing it for the benefit of US president Barack Obama, who was in South Africa trying to cleanse his tattered image as the prodigal son who invaded his own home.
We would also like to remind Obama, whose hands drip with the blood of innocents the world over, that the oval office ends on the kerb of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Zimbabwe is not the 51st US state. If he wants to gain the respect of the developing world that he desperately hankers for, he should acquaint himself with issues first before playing Mr Know-it-all.
It was, however, quite telling that while Sadc counselled a two-week poll extension, Lindiwe Zulu and MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai read from the same page about a month-long extension. This, coupled with Mr Zuma’s decision to attach only the MDC-T document to the report he presented to the extra-ordinary Summit of heads of state and government in Maputo last month, raises serious questions about the facilitator.
Thankfully, the GPA is no more and with it needless intrusion from outsiders with vested interests.
We are now on the homestretch to elections and the need to deliver a resounding victory to obviate another coalition government with its attendant problems of loose cannons like Lindiwe Zulu cannot be over-emphasised.
We take this opportunity to remind Ms Lindiwe Zulu of the French adage that goes, “les chiens aboient, la caravane passé (the dogs may bark, but the caravan keeps on passing)’’.
Yes, you may bark Madam Zulu, but the train has left the station. Meanwhile, please tether your terrier, President Zuma.
Online Reporter