Zim opposition not worth its salt

Tafara Shumba Correspondent
Last Thursday, there was a Mass Public Opinion Institute (MPOI) public debate on xenophobia in Harare.

The panel included Jacob Mafume, spokesperson of the MDC faction calling itself MDC Renewal Team, Obert Gutu, the spokesperson of the MDC-T, opposition activist-cum-political analyst, Dr Pedzisayi Ruhanya.

All of them absolved South Africa of the recent xenophobic attacks in which some of our brothers and sisters lost their lives. They instead apportioned blame on Zimbabwe and other African states for what they called “a decomposition and corruption of their political economies”.

One statement by Dr Ruhanya during the course of the discussion stood out, though. Dr Ruhanya said the ruling Zanu-PF was behaving haughtily because it knew that the supporters of the opposition parties were averse to taking risks. He went on to say that Zanu-PF took risks during the colonial era to fight the colonial regime and it paid dividends.

Dr Ruhanya’s statement is a thinly veiled incitement to public disorder. The doctor is a learned political scientist who must be in the know of democratic principles.

He must be reminded that in a democracy, regimes are changed at the ballot. Democracy dictates that, and unless his doctorate is dubious, we expect the learned doctor of politics to know that.

Dr Ruhanya seems to be certain that the horses (MDCs) that he has been backing all these years will never win an election race in Zimbabwe, thus he now wants regime change to come through riotous means. This dovetails well with the game plan of the MDC-T of scaling up political crisis as a way of pushing Zanu PF government out of power.

One wonders how this is going to be executed. Zimbabweans are peace-loving people who cannot be hoodwinked into engaging in public disorder.

We consistently hold democratic elections in Zimbabwe whose results are ever endorsed by the region and other progressive nations of the globe. It is only the eternal loser, the MDC and its sponsors in the West, that cry foul every time the revolutionary party romps to victory.

Dr Ruhanya must learn to be patient, for patience is a virtue. The year 2018 is just by the corner. If he really thinks the MDCs can win an election in Zimbabwe, he must convince his horse to join the 2018 race. He must realise that the MDCs stand no chance unless they are in the game. The good doctor must not expect the opposition to ascend to power when they boycott the democratic process that facilitates that ascendancy.

The MDCs must pluck a leaf from the recently inaugurated Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari’s case. In 1983, President Buhari, a Major General then, overthrew President Shehu Shagari in a coup. General Ibrahim Babangida, however, deposed Buhari the same way in 1985.

Whatever goes around comes around. Buhari was stabbed by the same knife that he used to stab Shagari. This lesson must cross the mind of Dr Ruhanya.

While he incites the opposition to revolt against the ruling party, he must know that the same fate will come around on whoever will be installed through those undemocratic means.

The 1985 coup was a steep learning curve for Buhari who then appreciated the democratic principle of changing leadership at the ballot. President Buhari now calls himself a “converted democrat”. Indeed he is.

He became a very patient opposition leader. He unsuccessfully ran for the office of the President in 2003, 2007 and 2011. Patience paid dividends as he won the 2015 presidential elections.

This is the reason why there is a smooth transition of power in Nigeria. The opposition in Zimbabwe must take a leaf from him.

That man got into power without the assistance of the West. He never called for the illegal imposition of sanctions on Nigeria. He was a respected opposition leader who eventually turned into a national leader.

The number of heads of state who blessed his inauguration tells a story of a man who is internationally recognised.

There is also Abdoulaye Wade, a former Senegalese President.

He formed his party in 1974 and ran for presidency unsuccessfully four times beginning in 1978. He only made it in the 2000 presidential elections after 22 years of futile bidding.

Tsvangirai only formed his party in 1999 and ran for presidency three years later. After his futile maiden attempt, he called for sanctions and employed every other evil means to get into power. After failing on three consecutive attempts, he has resorted to boycotting the elections. Strangely, he still wants to get into power and only God knows how. Perhaps Dr Ruhanya knows.

Comparing what happened during the colonial era and the contemporary political landscape in Zimbabwe is misplaced. There was a justifiable cause to risk one’s life during the colonial epoch. People had endured unbearable hardships, degrading slavery, most foul and cruel tyranny under British bondage.

There was nobody who convened public debates in the comfort of hotels for the doctors of that time to incite young people to rise and fight oppression.

The motivation to take the risk was intrinsic. Everybody could see, hear and experience the British oppression. Hence, the young and old voluntarily rose up against the British oppression.

That gallant decision paid dividend as it ushered in a Government that puts people’s interests first. It is the people-centred approach of President Robert Mugabe’s Government that enabled the likes of Dr Ruhanya to obtain such levels of education.

He is a proud owner of a doctorate degree courtesy of Zanu PF education policies. He is now the proverbial fool who bites the hand that feeds him.

There is absolutely no cause for people to risk their lives.

People cannot take risk; engaging in rebellious activities that will not bring grist to the national mill.

The opposition has no vision at all. Opposition leaders are in politics for self-aggrandisement.

I will always refer to their conduct in the inclusive government.

They saved no purpose except to line their pockets.

People in their right frame of mind cannot take risks for Tsvangirai and his MDC-T. They cannot even take the opposition seriously. This is the reason why the MDCs’ erstwhile supporters are crossing the floor to Zanu PF en-masse.

The opposition camp itself is in disarray. Propositions of reunification are dying in infancy. Divisions have left the party in its smallest granule. The party leaders are snatching subordinates’ wives. Most of them have chickened out of the elections.

Why should people take risks for shambolic parties like these Dr Ruhanya?