Have been off the blogger platform  for a long time, maybe time to come back and hit the key board, that is all i know. 

Malawi’s saluting Generals

Malawi is still very much experimenting with democracy just like us, after 28 years of repression by Hastings Kamuzu Banda. In those 28 years the people of Malawi were not allowed even to watch television. They were allowed only to sing praises to Hastings Banda. Malawi had its own youth militia the Young Pioneers who wrecked havoc on opponents of Kamuzu Banda, just like we have our own Green Bombers and Chipangano who roam the streets haunting opponents of ZANU PF. Malawi radio like our own ZBC was full of jingles praising the Ngwazi. Malawian’s were told they had the tallest building in Blantyre and that their life was the best in the world even as many wallowed in poverty. When television finally came they were shocked by what they saw, not only had the world moved on, but they realised they have been trapped in a cocoon, they realised Malawi neither had the tallest building nor the best of life. Malawi under Banda is a replica of Zimbabwe today, where the only leader we have known is praised as God given, and we are told he has done the best for us, even as we struggle with daily existence. In this regard the inauguration of Joyce Banda on 7 April marks a huge turning point for the strengthening of Malawi’s democracy. Joyce Banda is the fourth leader of Malawi, more so the first woman President. Many of us watched in awe, as Malawi after a few days of uncertainty, transited from President Wa Mutharika to Banda. Many were concerned  that the ruling party of former President Mutharika and the military would not allow a rebel Vice President, who had been dismissed from the ruling party and went on to form her own party to be allowed anywhere near state house. This lack of confidence in democracy and peaceful transition is an outcome of our own traumatised existence as Zimbabweans. Lo and behold it happened and to our utter amazement as Zimbabweans the Generals and senior security officers of Malawi saluted this woman, Mrs President. This salute was not in recognition of her party, nor even her as an individual, but recognition of the importance of the people of Malawi and the office that she holds. Despite the challenges and differences that Malawians faced in 2011, the riots and increasingly overbearing rulership of Wa Mutharika, Malawians can be proud that the Generals came to their senses when it mattered most, that their own preservation, that of their children and fellow country men and women is only guaranteed by allowing the constitution to be followed to the letter. The saluting Generals of Malawi exhibited the highest form of patriotism by showing that the rule of law is the only guarantor of a nation’s success. The events in Malawi have a huge literal and symbolic lesson for us. For we have Generals who, like in the Kamuzu Banda era, are sworn to protect and defend one man and one party and who see the generality of citizens as  enemies. Some Generals in our midst are not ashamed to come out in the media declaring their political allegiances and they get promoted for that. These generals openly flaunt their preparedness to use violence on their own people in their misguided thinking that this is a demonstration of patriotism.  The Saluting Generals of Malawi, will go down in history as having participated in guaranteeing a better future for their country, more so guaranteeing peace, while our own will infamously go down in history for suppressing the peoples will. The Generals in our midst took over from Rhodesia’s Generals not only the offices and ranks but ideology as well. Inasmuch as they claim to different from the General Peter Walls of this world, they are unfortunately the same. One thing is however certain, as Smith’s Generals are now history despite all their horrendous violence against the people of Zimbabwe, the current crop will equally be swept aside by history should they decide to continue saluting individuals and not the people. There is hope in the power of the future to shape events, even as some Generals believe they can change the course of history. The Saluting Generals of Malawi, deserve a salute from the people of Malawi and Africa.

Can President Mugabe and ZANU PF afford to lose Zuma’s support?-Rashweat Mukundu

Is ZANU PF and President Mugabe behaving like the little bird Nza, who so far forgot himself after a heavy meal that he challenged his chi to a fight?. This Igbo proverb, is best suited to describe the behaviour of ZANU PF and President Robert Mugabe in their latest threats to hold elections with or without a new constitution and ignore South Africa, in this narrow minded pursuit of power.

As we heard this week, the South African government has unequivocally said no to elections in the absence, not only of a new constitution but a full implementation of the Global Political Agreement. As usual, senior ZANU PF officials lined up to attack South Africa, declaring Zimbabwe a sovereign state and reminding us how the President has power to cause an election. First, Zimbabwe is indeed a sovereign state in as far as the conduct of her affairs does not threaten other nations and disturb peace regionally and internationally. As things stand Zimbabwe’s political mess is a regional security threat hence the involvement of SADC resulting in the formation of government of national unity. Add the alluvial diamonds, an 88 year leader with no succession plan, and  a politicised security sector then South African has every reason to make the statements she did this week.  The statement by South Africa is good of ZANU PF, MDC parties, SADC and more importantly the citizens of this country. The South Africans are right because under President Mugabe, Zimbabwe has failed to manage its affairs decently, plunging the country into political chaos and the President was only rescued by SADC. ZANU PF and President Mugabe owe their survival to SADC and not to ‘sovereignty’, the citizens of this country rejected them. Arguments of self determinism are well and good, if that determinism is by the people of Zimbabwe in a free and fair election. As of today the people of Zimbabwe are not free to choose their leaders, nor are contesting political entities able to exercise power should they win, because ZANU PF and the security sector stands in the way. ZANU PF cannot therefore claim sovereignty as if President Mugabe is the Sovereign. Zimbabwe is neither a monarchy nor a one party state. No leader can claim the right to push the country in a direction of their choice for self serving and narrow political interests. In this regard the South African government is right to demand, even beyond and above the SADC mediation process, that there be a free and fair election in Zimbabwe. South African has suffered the most as millions of Zimbabweans jump the border into that country. South African stands to suffer even more, should ZANU PF and the security sector be allowed to railroad a sham election and beat to pulp the majority of citizens to pursue their political agenda.  So Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane is right that the South African government expects an election only after a new constitution and full implementation of the GPA. Why is ZANU PF and President Mugabe desperate for an election in 2012 we ask?. Zimbabweans from all walks of life are against elections at this moment because it is not the right moment. We don’t have a new constitution as yet, the voters roll remains in shambles and millions remain unregistered despite the falsehoods from the Registrar General’s office. Zimbabwe is broke, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is broke. Millions of Zimbabweans face hunger this year and there is no money to pay for food. And MPs from both ZANU PF and MDC, the business sector have all spoken against elections.. So in whose interests is this election talk we should ask? Can the political interests of a few people in one party, supported by a few security men be allowed to hold the whole nation at ransom? Is Zimbabwe a personal farm we should ask?. The truth of the matter is that only South African stands between Zimbabwe and the marauding international community that would tear this country apart at the slightest excuse. At this moment ZANU PF and President Mugabe cannot afford to ignore South Africa. If they do, this is a case of history repeating itself. Ian Smith ignored John Vorster’s advice to talk. He paid the price. The Igbo say, “The world is like a Mask dancing. If you want to see it well, you do not stand in one place”. We say to ZANU PF you can no longer hide behind sovereignty to abuse others. And the world has shifted, please find out where it stands now before it is too late, and more importantly stand with the people of Zimbabwe.

President Robert hanging on at 88: An insult to ZANU PF – Rashweat Mukundu

President Robert Mugabe clocked 88 years this week, a major personal achievement only if it were not tied to the fate of this country. As is common, ZANU PF leaders, state owned corporations and Ministries fell over each other in congratulating President Mugabe, wishing him many more and others bending back forwards to be seen as the leading cheerleader. Some say he is the son of god, others say he is cremora, others say he our Moses leading us out of Egypt, others say he has instead taken us deep into Egypt and the expletives are unending. If you believe the ZBC, Herald and The Sunday Mail, President Mugabe now occupies a pedestal in the history of this country far higher than Joshua Nkomo, Herbert Chitepo, Mbuya Nehanda or Sekuru Kaguvi, he is the all in all our of past, present and future and without him Zimbabwe will simply  vanish into nothingness.

However deep inside all these forlorn praise singing is a sad reality, the failure by ZANU PF leaders to see or accept how President Mugabe has persistently insulted the persons of his lieutenants more so the creed of democratic practice upon which ZANU PF is supposedly founded and run. Here is an 88 year old man, who has been in power for 30 years. And who in his later political life has completely failed his people and his party, bringing suffering, causing nearly a quarter of the population to flee, reducing life mortality and rendering a once prosperous nation, a basket case. While it is the general political culture in Zimbabwe for politicians to sing praise for one of their own, we have seen that with MDC-T supporters, the difference with ZANU PF is that President Mugabe has for a number of years stated in public his lack of respect nor regard for his juniors in the party. On many occasions President Mugabe has been asked about his retirement plans, and almost all the time he has stuck to his script, that there are no good enough leaders in his party and that ZANU PF will collapse if he departs the political scene. The argument has gotten bizarre as the years went by. In recent interviews with the state media, Mugabe now says he could not groom a successor because that could have torn the party asunder and hence his decision to hang on. We all thought ZANU PF has a constitution that allows and clearly states how leaders are elected into office and there is no clause as far as i can remember that allows Mugabe to groom and install a successor.  

Any sensible person would ask till when, more so for an 88 year old man whom his government colleagues say struggles to stay awake in key government meetings. Is it not an insult to the top leadership of ZANU PF that one of their own think they are not  leadership material, that they have no capacity to lead the party and the country, that they are essentially sub-species to the President. What does this thinking by the President say about the future of ZANU PF, that it will be buried with the President?.  What does this say about the leadership qualities and courage that many in the top leadership of ZANU PF displayed at the war front, when Mugabe was holed up in Maputo during the liberation struggle? Here is a man who is so out of touch with political reality that he thinks that his opponents are afraid of him. He has already forgotten that he lost the March 2008 Presidential vote and had to bludgeon hapless citizens into submission. Here is a man who is not concerned about the future, because he is 88, that he threatens  not to cooperate with the South African head of state  mandated to find a solution to the man made crisis in Zimbabwe all because he wants to remain in power till his end. How far can ZANU PF allow this kind of insults? Instead on celebrating and publishing meaningless messages about the visionary leadership of President Mugabe, ZANU PF top brass must spend time reflecting about their political careers and future. They need to ask themselves how they have managed their personal and professional lives to be so beholden to one individual. Maybe President Mugabe knows something that we dont, that indeed his juniors are a useless bunch, who cannot be trusted. He obviously knows all the skeletons in their cardboards, how they acquired their wealth, how they are holding to more than one farm each, how they cannot survive a day longer without his patronage, how many of them cannot run a tuck-shop and depend on corruption for survival. It might as well be true that President Mugabe sees no future for ZANU PF after his departure and what a sorry indictment and judgment on the leadership of ZANU PF by one of their own and not us.  Zimbabwe is desperate for leadership and the people of Zimbabwe will judge harshly ZANU PF for its inept approach to national issues as long as their pockets are lined. President Mugabe is 88 and congratulations to him for attaining this long life. However he is not the man to be making decisions about the affairs of this country. He belongs to his private home and his family. As for his juniors, shame on you, dare we repeat Margaret Dongo’s description of you?  

The President’s birthday and the fate of a people- Rashweat Mukundu

21 February is a significant day in Zimbabwe’s calendar whether one likes it or not. For those in ZANU PF and President Robert Mugabe’s family it’s a day of celebrating what has become one of the world’s long standing Presidency and political leadership. For others it’s a day of sulking and reminiscing over the 30 year old rule of President Mugabe and scratching of heads on why he has stayed this long, politically. President Mugabe’s birthday is a reminder of how far things have remained the same and still how far they have changed. He remains rooted where he is, yet Zimbabwe is certainly no longer the same in many fronts. We are a battered people, who have no currency of their own, who sell anything and everything in the streets, who flood neighbouring countries in our millions. Our confidence and gusto is gone, we live by the day and hope for a better future that seems a far distance away. Our wealth is tucked away in trucks under our nose, our brothers with guns and power are happy to receive trinkets as they sell the family silver for a Range Rover and a Compressor, driven in potholed streets littered with filth, raw sewage, beggars, pick pockets and prostitutes.

Yet one thing is for sure, 21 February will come and there will be an interview with the President and we will sit down and listen and many more stories and analysis of his interview will be done and life goes on. It was therefore not different this week as we awaited the President’s interview with the ZBC, elaborately choreographed to detail by the Ministry of Information and Publicity, meaning Mr George Charamba.  I am sure the questions are checked and rechecked and the interviewer possibly sat down his wife at home for one rehearsal after another, including the expected nodding and smiling and of course the day comes with a new suit, tie and shoes. It must surely be one hell of a job to interview the President, not because the journalist savour the moment to ask tough or meaningful questions, but the fear of being accused of having messed up or at the spur of a moment asked something outside the script, a genuine question. The script does not change much, the same questions about the President’s views on politics, the economy, indigenisation, his family especially Amai Mugabe and the kids, his health and advice to the youth. The President is not pressured but given a wide berth to rumble ad nauseas.   It so happened that like many millions Zimbabweans i stayed up to watch the interview. One confusing thing about the President is that he is certainly no monster in his appearance. He is not Idi Amin nor does he look threatening like Jonas Savimbi, he is, for lack of a better, word a polished Englishman demonstrated by his mannerisms and how he picks his words carefully.   There is however something melancholic and sad about the man, you don’t get angry with him, you ask why?. Why has such as intelligent man decided to end his political life under such confused circumstances, loathed by many. And yes loathed because we heard it from ZANU PF leaders themselves in their moments of frankness as exposed by wiki leaks. Behind all the facade of praise singing, ZANU PF leaders don’t necessarily like the President and he said it himself in an interview with The Sunday Mail. The President is an old man, and as he answers questions, one can see his mind drifting to some distant place, he stammers and comes back to life. The President is at his best when talking about fighting imperialists, he actually shifts and sits straight. My wife asked the next morning, is all that the President said about other African leaders true?.     I posed for a moment and said yes, explaining that the President unfortunately does not do as he says. President Mugabe talk of fighting imperialism is devoid of substance as he daily weakens the capacity of his people to stand on their own.  The farms have remained in the hands of a few, the indigenisation is all confused and benefitting a few, the diamonds monies are going into the hands of a few. In the end the ordinary Zimbabwean survives on donations from the USA and EU.   The President continues to be selfish, insisting on elections that are likely to be disputed. While he talks of his love for the people, he only loves himself. As we prepare for another season of being beaten up, asked to chant slogans, others disappearing and never to be seen and another GNU, we also look forward to 21 February 2013. The President remains in his place, his people wander like orphans in the streets and in the world. He will still say, my people they love me and I love them.

Rashweat Mukundu is a Zimbabwean journalist.