Peace, peace, peace

Perspective Stephen Mpofu
In a world increasingly riven by conflict, any hint of any plan by anyone to disturb the peace in Zimbabwe ahead of or during the harmonised elections should not only be taken seriously; actions should be put in the offing to crash any elements bent on causing mayhem in this country.Where people have spoken openly about shedding blood to achieve personal, political aggrandisement, as has been heard recently, should prompt the powers- that-be to move swiftly, using the law of the land, to safeguard the lives of innocent people and ensure that blood thirsty elements based within the country or outside Zimbabwe’s porous borders will have no room to manoeuvre in their planned mission to disrupt the elections, cause losses to lives and with that damage the image of the country.

It would seem from numerous utterances that have rent the air in recent days that the forthcoming elections may not really be an opportunity for some people to cast votes, but rather one that the enemy abroad and its local surrogates want to use to effect a regime change stalled by the existence of an inclusive government that included some people backed by foreign powers desperate for a new political order in Zimbabwe.

An organisation that wants to see the unitary state of Zimbabwe dismembered reportedly has plans underway to disrupt the elections by attacking voters, a method not only to highlight its low profile but also to further its agenda of creating a tribalist state, so-called Mthwakazi.

This pen warned in these same columns not too long ago that if nothing was done to account for these secessionist elements, they would view non-action against them as weakness by the State and would proceed to hatch their plans to divide the country in two for reasons best known to themselves.

Recent utterances by those linked to the Mthwakazi Liberation Front (MLF) have suggested that the tribal organisation has eight trained members who are ready and waiting outside the country to infiltrate it at the opportune time and cause disturbances that might result in people being harmed or killed at polling stations on voting day.

But exactly when and where were MLF members trained and who sponsored their training and who will arm them to execute their reported intended attacks during voting on 31 July and where are their bases?

Come to think of it, are we not faced here with former dissidents who killed and maimed people in Matabeleland and the Midlands soon after independence and have changed their notorious identity by calling themselves Mthwakazi Liberation Front operatives to try to win popularity with like-minded people in this part of the country?

Any country harbouring these dangerous elements should be regarded as an enemy of Zimbabwe and appropriate action in dealing with the enemies of the people of Zimbabwe should be considered by those charged with the protection of citizens of this country.

Considering the direction international political dynamics are taking, is it not a strong possibility that those whose regime change agenda has hit snags so far might consider the MLF as a new potential weapon with which to hack off  the mighty chunk of Zanu-PF and President Mugabe’s political flesh as they view him and his party as their political nemesis?

That they have the will, determination and capacity to fritter money to whomsoever they regard as a malleable tool to further their own agenda, certainly makes their readiness to bankroll MLF a real possibility.

It is known that they are financing people in Zimbabwe who will oppose Zanu-PF in the elections under the guise of furthering “democracy” — a value that Zimbabweans already enjoy under the existing political order, a benefit with manifold ramifications of the revolution that brought freedom and independence to this country.

Also, any Zimbabwean harbouring rebels out to cause chaos during and after the elections should consider themselves accomplices of those bent on creating disorder and disharmony both of which are detrimental to peace and social and economic development for both themselves, their families and the rest of the Zimbabwean nation.

It therefore behoves  every citizen and patriot to police the peace and stability that the country enjoys at present.  As for those fork-tongued politicians who preach peace today and bay for blood on the podium the next day, history cannot fail to judge them harshly, and the electorate should hasten that judgment in the best way they know how with their ballot papers.

This pen has repeatedly exhorted voters to be guided in their voting processes by track records of political parties contesting the elections.

It is naïve if not foolhardy for people to be mesmerised with rhetoric at rallies by people who promise them the moon when they have nothing to show for their ability to scale such lofty heights. It is not possible that such leaders will suddenly possess a magic wand in their hands to wave and create jobs and provide other things promised once they get into power.

Above all else, peace, peace, peace should not only be a signature tune for the forthcoming harmonised elections; it should be seen to be exercised now and continually as an environment conducive to social and political developmental initiatives throughout the country for the benefit and joy of every Zimbabwean.

Those who choose any alternative to peace, whatever its colour, prescribe upheavals impossible to contemplate for a long time to come.

This pen has spoken and those who have ears to hear must take heed of the contents of this article.

For instance, why should some Zimbabweans be so desperate for blood money and power as though they may not enter heaven without these two things — to the extent that they shamefully parade themselves to be used as running dogs of imperialism thirsty for hegemony anywhere in the world, at the expense of national unity, peace and sustainable development in the motherland?