Zim opposition in disarray

Muchadura Dube
VARIOUS political pundits have predicted that by the end of year, the MDC-T formations would have further disintegrated. The recently held MDC-T congress at the City Sports Centre in Harare resulted in the potential fracture of this already controversial and haunted movement.

Add its fragmented posture to being led by an equally mentally perforated leader in the mould of controversy-ridden Mr Morgan Tsvangirai whose insatiable desire for power is astounding. It will conjure laughter if one adds the intoxicating drama in the other MDC-T Renewal camp fronted by the edgy and garrulous Mr Tendai Biti whose project looks set to crumble before it even enjoys the light of the day.

Mr Biti is one politician who still needs to learn the basics in politics, an art which is full of intrigue and perplexes even the best of minds, of which he falls far short of that calibre. His actions this far exposes him as a novice in this game which in many instances defies logic. The political game is complex as it too often is and at times deflates the egos of the pompous after being subdued by their opponents.

Then enter into the fray, the overzealous but politically timorous Dr Simba Makoni, whose blunders are worth the archives. There is also the pot-pourri of organisations which work under the guise of the democratic dispensation yet theirs is a callous act of subverting constitutionally elected governments. Zimbabwe at one point had the highest number of these pro-Western non-governmental organisations, most of them with a vindictive agenda of overthrowing a constitutionally elected Government.

The collective of the above is to constitute the opposition forces whose desire is to rule the nation.

The events unfolding in these opposition forces point to a house in flames. The fire is intense to the extent of threatening the complete destruction of the respective forces. The MDC-T had an elective congress whose build-up created chaos and animosity amongst the leadership and the rank and file of the party. The MDCT-T is on a knife edge.

The ousting of Mr Nelson Chamisa, the former organising secretary who is now an ordinary card-carrying member has unnerved him and his hordes of supporters who are grieved to the core.

Mr Chamisa’s legion of followers point to the embattled party leader, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai whom they blame for favouring Mr Douglas Mwonzora, the scandal-ridden lawyer-turned politician.

The election of the clueless Mr Mwonzora adds another comic chapter to the ugly developments unveiling in the MDC-T camp.

Mr Mwonzora’s legal life and political life story is ridden with bad brush which the MDC-T will live to regret. Mr Mwonzora’s propensity for attention will certainly trigger pandemonium in the MDC-T camp.

Mr Tsvangirai has of late tried to allay fears of a possible exit of the duo of Mr Chamisa and Mr Tapiwa Mashakada who fell by the wayside in the acrimonious elections.

If Mr Chamisa had won the elections, Mr Tsvangirai could have had sleepless nights given the high academic credentials which he now possesses, compared to Mr Tsvangirai who remains a literacy midget in a country with an impressive portfolio of universities.

Mr Tsvangirai is said to have masterminded the downfall of Mr Chamisa by single handedly championing his nomination defeat in the only province where Mr Mwonzora won, his province of origin, Manicaland.

In Manicaland, Mr Tsvangirai allegedly propelled Mr Mwonzora to victory by the usage of unorthodox means.

Mr Mwonzora has always been his favourite horse for the secretary general post as those who know well will testify that he will always jump on anything that emanates from Mr Tsvangirai.

Indeed the unilateralism which Mr Tsvangirai had begged for prior to congress is now a reality, an unfortunate scenario which will lead to even more tension being the order of the day in that party.

Those who had earlier on criticised Mr Tsvangirai for being a dictator have been granted their day, for the centralisation of power which he pushed for and subsequently attained is now a reality.

The stagnant nature of Dr Simba Makoni’s project which he received sponsorship for from Western capitals continues to suffer a stillbirth. It is a catastrophe of alarming proportions.

One analyst laughed quipping how Dr Makoni misses the ZANU PF Politburo sessions, his former party’s supreme body.

This scenario presents the revolutionary ruling Zanu-PF party with an opportunity to serve the masses with hardly any credible opposition. The people’s party should deliver on its overwhelming mandate it was given by the populace in the July 31, 2013 elections.

The party can be its own enemy if it pursues peripheral skirmishes which are valueless, whose only harvest is despondency to an expectant populace. With the elective congress beckoning, Zanu-PF should prepare for resolute and bold deliberations meant to fortify the Zim-Asset agenda.

Of course, opposition is healthy for it invigorates those in the echelons of power, but it is incumbent upon those who were privileged to be the chosen by the people to offer an alternative voice to undertake the task with dignity. It is unfortunate that Zimbabwe’s official opposition party, the MDC-T, believes in acrimony and endless boycotts which do not ameliorate the plight confronting the people.

Zimbabwe is our only home and serving it faithfully is the responsibility of all of its citizens.