AUSTRALIA - For a nation that has been mercilessly subjected to untold man-made crisis for nearly a decade now, the past few days united multitudes of helpless Zimbabweans across the political and geographical divide in holding their breath amid a mix of pessimism, optimism and ambivalence.

 

The ominous face-to-face talks primarily between the two traditional antagonists, Morgan Tsvangirai and Robert Mugabe, gave birth to a different kind of hope not experienced in our beloved country for many years.

 

Indeed, the nation was willing and ready to give these talks a chance if that was the only way out of the quagmire, even though we remained cognisant of the fact that a frog with lipstick remains a frog.

 

While unconfirmed reports that say Mutambara has signed or is about to sign a deal with ZANU PF do not come as a total surprise, this leaves Zimbabweans wondering whether a solution to the perennial political and economic crisis will be found any time soon.

 

Those who are familiar with the workings and machinations of ZANU PF should advise Arthur and his team to start buying long forks in preparation for dinner with the devil if indeed they have connived to abandon the people in exchange for a few pieces of silver in the form of junior cabinet posts or simply senate appointments.

 

It won’t be surprising to see one of them becoming “Minister of Talks”, given that we have had a Minister of Social Amenities who had no clue as to what his mandate entailed until he suddenly found something to do after March 29 (sorry homeboy).

 

In the army and police, such a set-up is called the commissioners’ pool, where incompetent, suspicious or undesirable officers are dumped so they can continue to draw a salary while they are doing literally nothing, with every step put under the microscope.

 

I would like to make an impassioned plea to the nation to continue offering unwavering support to the real MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai during these difficult times and beyond, until real change is achieved.

 

While we support any meaningful and genuine effort aimed at bringing sanity back to our potentially great nation, we are not in any position to accept piecemeal deals ostensibly meant to perpetuate the status quo and extend a blanket amnesty to unrepentant career murderers, torturers, arsonists and rapists. There has to be a divide between politics and criminality.

 

Zimbabwe needs genuine and not cosmetic change. Tsvangirai must not be used for political window-dressing in order to gain the desperately needed legitimacy and economic revival. Anything short of real power to the real MDC in any deal must be rejected outright.

 

As a very patient and peace-loving people, we have already endured ten long years of suffering under ZANU PF misgovernance and repression; we can wait longer if needed rather than carelessly sacrifice the will of the courageous and change-aspiring voters as expressed unequivocally on March 29.

 

One would have imagined that ZANU PF was going to take advantage of the golden chance presented by the talks to reform their institution and align it to the politics of the 21st century. It appears reform is not on their agenda at all.

They want to hold on to power until they are all dead. I feel sorry for Mbeki, this crisis has dented both his reputation and legacy.

 

Arthur needs to be reminded that Zimbabwean politics is not a bed of roses, it is far from student activism, it is a lot more complex than any robotics taught anywhere in this world. When we hear Gushungo calling you “a young astute professor”, we all can see where this is leading to.

 

We all look forward to the day when Arthur’s rebel group and unreformed ZANU PF will repair the shattered economy without involving the real MDC.

 

A political grouping led by an astute rocket scientist ably assisted by a polished law professor cannot struggle to find an identity for itself after three long years. Leave MDC alone and move on if that is what you have chosen. Tsvangirai and his leadership shall always be with the people.

 

Moses Chamboko writes from Australia
chambokom@gmail.com

 

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