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The Missing Link in transition of Power After 29 March Elections

By WALTER TENDAI SHOKO

Published: Tuesday 09 September 2008

Zim Daily News
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UK — The 29 March elections came and the people project triumphed over the corrupt and dictatorship of Zanu PF under Mugabe rule.

 


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The people of Zimbabwe went to the polling stations in their thousands to finally put the lid on Mugabe’s 28year rule.

 

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The people of Zimbabwe did their part but did MDC do their part? The events preceding the elections had shown openly that Zanu PF will not survive beyond the March 29 elections.

 

MDC as a party knew the outcome will be in their favour. But instead of preparing for power had over before the elections they were busy day dreaming having Ministerial positions.

 

At the same time they were busy making irresponsible statements threatening everyone who was linked to the Mugabe regime with arrest and trials of retribution to the extent that they were making a lot of people with key positions scared and agitated.

 

The leaders of all the armed forces became so scared and also started to hit back and releasing statements to the effect that they were never going to salute any other president other than Mugabe.

 

I mentioned earlier on that the people of Zimbabwe did their part but the big question is , Did MDC and Tsvangirayi as a party Leader do their part? The answer is a big no.

 

Let me take you back to 1980 when Mugabe finally took over after the 4 of March 1980 elections. Oblivious to everyone before the elections Mugabe was wheeling and dealing with the people who mattered most in the Smith regime and who held the ultimate key to transfer of power. These people were the uniformed forces and the Central Intelligence Organisation.

 

Mr Tyn Gregory wrote in The Journal of Southern African Studies, On the day of polling in the elections that was going to bring his ZANU PF party in a landslide victory on 4 March 1980 Mugabe left then Rhodesia for Mozambique, earlier commander of the Rhodesian armed forces, Lt-Gen. Peter Walls head of the country’s Central Intelligence agency and Ken Flower had all secretly flown to Maputo.

 

The subsequent meetings culminated in Mugabe upon coming into power keeping Peter Walls and Ken Flower as the head of the army and CIO respectively. But if you can look at the history of Ken Flower, in March 1975 he had personally ordered the assassination of Hebert Chitepo the then leader of ZANU.

 

Peter walls had ordered countless bombings of innocent Zimbabwe civilians at Chimoi, Nyadzonya, Luso, Angola and Zambia.

 

The question can then be asked was Mugabe sleeping with the enemy? A big NO, it was a tactical and an executive decision which guaranteed the smooth take over Mugabe needed to rule Zimbabwe.

 

Given the same situation what did MDC and Tsvangirayi do? They failed at the last huddle, when they should have engaged talks with the people who mattered most to ensure the smooth take over they needed. MDC was consumed by joy and the dreams of holding the cabinet post that came with their victory.

 

Before the election they should have engaged into talks with the armed forces chief namely Chihuri, Perence Shiri, Chiwenga ,Bonyongwe and Zimondi. Everyone knows that Mugabe was defeated on March 29 but for Morgan to rule Zimbabwe a hand over process was supposed to have been made and the people who had the ULTIMATE key to that were sidelined and promised with retribution by MDC.

 

As a result of the failure by MDC to cut deals with the key holders, the Uniformed forces and the CIO that transfer of power never happened although Tsvangirayi had won the elections with the necessary 50% plus the armed forces refused to hand over power.

 

MDC have developed an attitude that they can go it alone to the extent that they are even ignoring the civil society. They claim that they have come this far alone and they can pull through. The truth of the matter is they should learn to accommodate everyone that matters most at this eleventh hour.

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The big question which is hovering over MDC, CAN THEY MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS WHEN IT MATTERS MOST? Can Tsvangirayi make that executive decision when it really matters? The current situation Zimbabweans find themselves in is all through MDCS naivety and lack of proper decision making qualities.

 

We could have been talking of something else had MDC made the proper tactful decision and made use of that missing link in the hand over process. Up to now they continue to make contradicting and embarrassing press statements.

 

In concluding I will like to remind everyone of what Mandela Said about the current situation Zimbabwe finds itself in. Without mentioning names he described it as, the tragic failure of leadership. FOOD FOR THOUGHT!!!!!!!

 

Got a story, opinion or want your letter published, please e-mail Editor at editor@zimdaily.com

 

 

 

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