2 11 0 Tsvangirai can save the MDC from impending demise by Tanonoka Joseph Whande Posted by admin on Monday, September 23, 2013 in Featured, The Heart of the Matter | 0 Comments Tanonoka Joseph Whande Monday 23 September 2013 There is a raging debate over Morgan Tsvangirai’s future; it is about whether or not he should step down from the presidency of the party. Among others, Roy Bennett, Tsvangirai’s MDC Treasurer General, called for Tsvangirai to step down and so did some organizations and individuals. In general, people point to the fact that the party has to move on and that Tsvangirai has been given a chance three times over but failed to overcome whatever electoral or political obstacles placed in front of him. Others say that while Tsvangirai had the courage to fight injustice, he lacks the foresight and ability to give proper leadership. They say Tsvangirai is short on the depth and resolve needed lead and to make decisions on behalf of both the party and the nation. Tsvangirai himself has not helped his own cause through his personal lefe and legendary flip-flopping. His u-turns continue to be an embarrassment to the party. As Zimbabwe progresses, as it will continue to do after all the monsters are dead, buried and forgotten, we discover and accept new leaders who we wish can look at our history and learn never to repeat the mistakes and idiocy of those before them. Without any doubt, the most compelling and effective political leader against Mugabe’s rule has to be Morgan Tsvangirai. Tsvangirai managed to capitalise on the people’s discontent and on ZANU-PF’s failures. But when leaders lose elections three times in a row and still think they are an asset to whatever political party they belong to, it is a national disaster. There is dangerous delusion when a leader ignores his own party’s constitution and advice from the same people he purports to lead. There is treacherous hallucination when a leader puts himself above the people who elected him to high office. There is danger when, like Mugabe has shown us, a leader fails to recognize, acknowledge and act on signals from the electorate. There will always be blood on the floor when those chosen to lead start behaving as if they own the parties or governments they lead. Whenever people start arguing whether or not a leader should stay or go, it is time for that leader to go. Mugabe has shown the folly of such behavior. It is counterproductive; it is dictatorship. Leaders should be proud of their effort and voluntarily step aside when the time comes up. Such is particularly important after leading one’s political party to an electoral defeat. Tsvangirai has led his party to three consecutive defeats without changing tact. The MDC has seen itself deteriorating over the years. The party has survived, not on the wisdom of its leadership but on the stupidity, cruelty and anti-social behavior of ZANU-PF. MDC supporters have given Tsvangirai space and leeway but he has simply failed to raise the profile of his party. He failed to offer the level of leadership required for such an undertaking. There is no question about Tsvangirai’s courage. There is no doubt about his sacrifice. And, surely, there is never any hesitation to award Mr Tsvangirai the honour of courage and patriotism that he deserves. Unfortunately, we, as humans, have limits which we should be well advised to recognize. Tsvangirai should never allow a debate on whether he should stay or step aside. He should step aside on his own accord. He cannot risk turning the most viable political party into a personal vehicle to sustain personal ambitions. He should acknowledge that people have given him enough support which he has failed to capitalize on. The MDC should not be turned into a personal entity, much as ZANU-PF has become Mugabe’s handkerchief. The nation comes before any political party and a political party comes before any leader and every leader comes after, not before the people. Mr Tsvangirai should not look at the MDC as a vehicle to sustain his legacy but he should think of Zimbabwe. The existence of the MDC is for national interest. We cannot bring change if we, ourselves, are unable to change. Change brings renewal and renewal comes with more energy but energy comes with a desire to make changes. Unless the MDC people recognize the power of change, which they themselves seek to bring, they will not change anything. I look at Mugabe’s sad history because I fear that Tsvangirai is copying the unfortunate habits and might end up soiling the effort by Zimbabweans to rid themselves of intolerant leadership. Much as people have shown their revulsion of Mugabe, in Tsvangirai, they do not want a younger intolerant version of Mugabe. The heart of the matter is that there is no longer any justification for Mr Tsvangirai to stay on as leader. The only justification would be for personal reasons for wanting to stay in the limelight, just as those cabinet ministers of his who have grown too accustomed to corrupt luxury to want to put the interests of the party first. The MDC has declared that it will “confront” its National Treasurer, Roy Bennett, for calling on Tsvangirai to step down. Even Obert Gutu, one we would have expected to keep a level head, turns himself into a buffoon insisting that Tsvangirai should stay on as leader without consulting the people. He said those calling for Tsvangirai to step down cannot be trusted, saying that they are power hungry. So sad to see a lawyer become so desperate. So sad. “We will expose them for what they really are,” said Gutu. He might as well start with himself. There is absolutely nothing in Tsvangirai’s leadership qualities that excites the people before, during and after the unity government. Tsvangirai survives on nothing but the hatred and dislike people have of Robert Mugabe. Tsvangirai must step aside on his own accord and spare his political party the unenviable task of having to debate his leadership. Like Obert Gutu said, enough is enough. Roy Bennett said it is time for the MDC to delve into deep introspection. They should sit down and talk about where they came from, where they are and where they are headed. It is disgusting for MDC to marry its existence to Tsvangirai just as much as ZANU-PF people have allowed to happen with Mugabe. Apart from Bennett, there are other organizations that feel Tsvangirai should step down for the sake of the party. It is real. It is true. It is necessary. Tsvangirai should release the party to afford himself time to travel to Botswana to play golf with his friends and family and leave Zimbabweans to mount a real challenge to liberate themselves from Mugabe’s yoke of oppression. I admire a man who recognizes and accepts failure because he has a better chance of improving himself than a moron who thinks his pee is Fanta to thirsty followers. Mr Tsvangirai, preserve your contribution by vacating the leadership of your party. We know how and why you failed and will always admire your effort…but step aside, please so Zimbabweans can free themselves. It is sad to hear Tsvangirai’s spokesperson accusing ZANU-PF of plotting his ouster from the leadership of the MDC – much as Mugabe said about Tsvangirai, Ndabaningi Sithole and Joshua Nkomo. It is always difficult for us to face truths that we do not like but facing reality is the only way we can conquer what ails us. Yes, the MDC needs a lot of self introspection. It is a necessary exercise if an organization has to regroup and advance with renewed vigor and purpose. Tempering with the constitution is not the answer; listening to the people is. By listening to the people and stepping aside, only Tsvangirai can save the MDC from collapse. I am Tanonoka Joseph Whande and that, my fellow Zimbabweans, is the way it is today, Monday, September 23rd, 2013.
Posted on: Mon, 23 Sep 2013 17:12:57 +0000
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