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given the uncanny similarities between MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai and Kenya opposition leader Mr Raila Odinga, analysts have said.
Mr Tsvangirai and Mr Odinga, the analysts said, were moulded in the same manner by their western allies and carry the same brief of politics of western appeasement as they always try to use violence to attain power.
Just like his MDC-T counterpart, Odinga has tried thrice to land Kenya’s top job and came short everytime twice against Mwai Kibaki and recently against president-elect Uhuru Kenyatta. Similarly Mr Tsvangirai lost to President Mugabe in 2002 and again in 2008 and analysts say Mr Tsvangirai is headed for his third, and probably final defeat in the pending elections.
Odinga used to be the Morgan Tsvangirai of Kenya. During his days as an opposition leader, he criticised everything and anything that the government did. He loved playing to the gallery of his Western sponsors before finding himself in an inclusive Government that unmasked his rhetoric in 2008.
Kenyans, just like Zimbabweans here, got to know the real Odinga when he got into Government as his track record as prime minister was fraught with allegations of corruption and incompetence, just like his Zimbabwean counterpart.
Mr Odinga challenged his election loss in court on Saturday, alleging widespread ballot rigging, ironically in a widely hailed poll.
Police had to fire teargas to disperse a rally of around 100 of his supporters some of whom also harassed ICC investigators who had visited Nairobi prompting them to say Mr Odinga probably had a role in the 2007/8 bloody clashes.
Mr Odinga appeared bent on inciting his supporters into the streets even though he has approached the courts with his grievances for recourse.
We also saw Mr Tsvangirai employ the same tactics here with attempted stayaways, mass actions and final pushes, that all came to naught, even though he had several election petitions pending in the courts.
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University of Zimbabwe lecturer Dr Charity Manyeruke yesterday the resemblance between Mr Tsvangirai and Odinga was worrisome.
“They both were in Government and have nothing to show. As for Mr Tsvangirai, he got in there, did nothing, but consumed the little resources excessively. They caused a lot of movements to and from Sadc. They want South Africa to have credit for nothing. If he (Mr Tsvangirai) was from South Africa, considering all the murders and shootings there, it means Sadc was going to be called everyday and later end up camping in South Africa,” she said.
Although International Criminal Court (ICC) is pushing for President Uhuru Kenyatta to be tried, their investigators came face to face with violence in Kibera, Mr Odinga’s stronghold where they were intimidated and attacked.
Dr Manyeruke said both Mr Tsvangirai and Mr Odinga wanted Western interference in both countries because they believed Africans were not qualified enough to deal with Africa challenges.
The West has a lot of interest with what happens in Zimbabwe and Kenya because of the vast mineral and wildlife resources and tourism infrastructures.
The two countries also experienced brutal colonialism from Britain leading to serious plundering of their natural resources.
Another political observer Mr Gabriel Chaibva said Mr Odinga, Mr Tsvangirai and their funders’ bag of tricks was empty and sooner or later the chickens would come home to roast.
He said Mr Odinga and his CORD coalition, refused to accept the election won by Mr Kenyatta, whom they thought would lose because he was indicted by the ICC in the same manner the MDC-T believes sanctions give them an edge over Zanu-PF.
The March 4 election and its aftermath was largely peaceful but Mr Odinga is challenging the results. Similarly inspite of the holding of a peaceful, and highly successful referendum here, Mr Tsvangirai is lobbying Sadc for a summit on Zimbabwe claiming deterioration in the political situation. Mr Chaibva said both Mr Odinga and Mr Tsvangirai had a game plan of getting into polls after discrediting the electoral processes and alleging rigging.
“If you look at them, they all demand recount after losing, go to court to give credence and observance of law to their actions. They know the courts will throw away their cases and after that they will then urge their supporters to be violent,” he said.
The MDC-T leader has used the same tactics before, failed to win 50 percent plus one vote in March 2008, declared itself winner, failed to prove it and the leader went into self imposed exile in Botswana. When he was convinced to participate in the polls by his handlers, he failed dismally. Mr Chaibva slammed Mr Tsvangirai for his continued call for security sector reform to please the West.
“Watch the space, very soon the Kenyans will be threatened with economic sanctions for voting Mr Kenyatta into office.
“Look at what (Mr) Tsvangirai, he always say . . . Zimbabwe should not remain isolated, must join the community of nations.
“However, Zimbabweans are wise enough and come elections you will see the results. He is going to be punished,” he said.
Online Reporter