Tsvangirai: Time to wash the nets?

Tichaona Zindoga Senior Political Writer
It is time to wash the nets for Captain Morgan Tsvangirai. It is to be hoped that the above figure will not conjure up further images of the washing of dirty linen, which Tsvangirai is not unassociated with.
In fact, at the moment there is a lot of dirty MDC-T linen being washed in public, with the underlying — or rather, overwhelming — theme being that it is time for Tsvangirai to go.

Elton Mangoma is the latest senior party official to boldly tell his leader that the time is up.
The temptation is to dwell on the sordid details of current MDC-T politics.

That can wait.
What is important is how the man could weigh his options in light of the tumultuous waters he is navigating, very badly it might be added.

The single bit of advice is the one that has already been proffered: it is time to wash up the nets, which means the day is done for the captain.

In soccer, he could be hanging up his boots.
But the advice here is not motivated by the same inspiration that Mangoma and his power-hungry friends may have.
Nor is it out of love for MDC-T as a party, whose brand of politics is Western-sponsored as it has been over the years, and shall continue in the foreseeable future; with or without Tsvangirai.

The MDC, with or without the “T” at the end, remains a poisoned and poisonous brand couched in the politics of treachery and deceit.
It precipitated the suffering of Zimbabweans as MDC-T handlers squeezed the economy of the country to make it scream.
It did scream. Scream to high heavens.

MDC-T profited from it. It is what they had hoped for.
The economic malaise, which Nelson Chamisa helpfully told us would pave the way for Tsvangirai to make his way to State House while stepping over dead bodies, reaped power for MDC-T as it entered Government.

The plan was “to take power from within”.
July 31, 2013, failed them. And now the house is burning.
The West is taking the initiative and hatching new leadership combinations, leaving Tsvangirai marooned. Nay, moribund.
MDC will likely continue without him.

It was never his own project, despite the MDC being surnamed of him.
Tsvangirai should admit to his honest self that he is past his sell-by date in the MDC scheme of things.
One can see that he senses this reality but is indecisive — as usual.

Take his “State of the nation” performance, for example.
This writer was humbly there. Tsvangirai was not looking good. This can be explained in two parts.
In the six months post-July 31, Tsvangirai has an extra wrinkle on the face, and the skin tone and hair are greyer. This can be observed for those of us not favoured with daily intercourses (no pun intended) with him.

He was looking restless in the initial stages where he was delivering the prepared speech and tried to boost this via misplaced gesticulations and grins that are cringe-worthy at best.

Equally unfortunate was his attempt at lightening the atmosphere with a quip on the captive crowd of party activists that had been stuffed into the venue.

But he called them “unruly”. Perhaps he lacked a better word. Never mind that even the smallest of dictionaries could offer him the right word he was flailing for.

On the other hand, it is this same “unruly” crowd that rescued his day.
Tsvangirai began to relax, show some rare moments of self-mastery when he fielded questions and comments and solidarity messages from the crowd.

It calmed his nerves.
He had the impression that he had the people on his side, especially when he said he would not step down from MDC leadership as demanded by some quarters. He needed that. He needs that at a time that his Western pivot is giving.

There were Western diplomats, as usual, at the venue but their demeanour did not suggest renewed inspiration and re-born faith in the man.

They did not take down notes as vigorously and as religiously as they used to do. They did not smile. They did not congratulate themselves for their preferences.

He is no longer the clever pet who can pull off a party trick for the condescending amusement of guests.
His “proposals on the way forward” were not earth-shattering. In and of themselves, they were nothing new.

They could be said to be daft too, especially when one considers that he thinks he can force through another inclusive Government, or an election this year and that he will prevail in that dreamt of poll.

That an election is due and hopes that he will outsmart Zanu-PF in negotiations for another inclusive Government.
It is all too improbable.

Equipped with a mind that cooks up strange recipes, he better look at other options. One would be to leave this troubled ship where he does not have the favour of the majestic Western compass.

That way he will have his US$3 million, every cent of it, as we read that he has been promised.
It is one quick way to have such a cool figure, especially if you happen to be a product past its sell-by date.
It is also one way to become a Nelson Mandela of the MDC.

That too, has been put forward. It must have been Elias Mudzuri who said that.
Tsvangirai loves Nelson Mandela. In real life he can never be like him. The mock role should pacify him.
It may come with some “Elders” or “Imminent Persons” opportunities, too.

The other option that Tsvangirai has to pursue is to break from the Western project of the MDC and form his own home-grown party.
Tsvangirai has some considerable numbers.

He enjoys significant grassroots support that many, even those that are eyeing his post, can never muster.
He can potentially wipe away this poisoned MDC.

Tsvangirai will win a lot of goodwill from Zimbabweans that are, especially opposed to politics of puppetry and treachery.
In the case that he forms his own outfit, he may not be endowed with infinite resources but he may yet become a credible politician.
Tsvangirai was once a Zanu-PF man, an official, too.

He need not necessarily “go back home” to Zanu-PF. Zanu-PF needs a vibrant opposition to keep its restrained arrogance in check.
Opposition is good. Opposition is helpful when it is grounded on nationally-beneficial politics.

Tsvangirai has the gravitas. He has a couple of people, at least on the surface of it, around him that will have some numbers.
He may also use his experience to realise that Western countries are no real friends.

They are only after their own interests and would not care less what happens to Tsvangirai.
This piece began by suggesting Tsvangirai should wash his nets. The imagery comes from the Bible, actually.

Luke 5 verses 1-4 says: “He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fisherman had gotten out of them, and were washing their nets. And (Jesus) got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And He sat down and began teaching the multitudes from the boat. And when He had finished speaking, (Jesus) said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch’.”

If Tsvangirai leaves the MDC boat today and washes his nets, he may be readying for a bigger catch.
If only he can be puppet no longer.