A good dancer knows when to leave the stage

Source: A good dancer knows when to leave the stage – DailyNews Live

STAFF WRITER      10 January 2018

HARARE – Morgan Tsvangirai has given the first clearest hint that he is on
his way out after leading his MDC party since its formation in 1999.

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangira

In his New Year message released on Monday, the former trade unionist said
he cannot continue to hold onto the party’s reins and is about to pave way
to a fresh pair of hands.

“Beyond what we have achieved together, we ought to leave a lasting legacy
where the baton can be changed peacefully, in a tranquil and cordial
atmosphere of unity and togetherness. At a personal level, I am using this
New Year not only to reflect on the onerous journey that we have travelled
together but also to peer with renewed hope into a bright future,” he
said.

“I am looking at the imminent prospects of us as the older generation
leaving the levers of leadership to allow the younger generation to take
forward this huge task that we started together so many years ago with our
full blessing and support”.

At some point, Tsvangirai had no intention to giving up his position. For
a long time now, he has battled internal party dynamics amid mounting
pressures on him to step aside to enable someone with fresh ideas to drive
the change agenda forward.

From 1999 when the MDC was formed, it has gone through tumultuous periods
that resulted in its fragmentation in 2005 and 2014.

Currently, the party is trying to avert another split because of
disagreements between Thokozani Khupe and Tsvangirai over the MDC
Alliance.

While the party has had its ups and downs, by and large Tsvangirai has
done extremely well by standing up to Zanu PF’s excesses and keeping alive
hopes for a democratic Zimbabwe.

Unfortunately, his health is not looking good. He has been out of action
for a couple of months now, putting his party at a huge disadvantage ahead
of crucial polls this year.

By stepping down, Tsvangirai would have done the right thing and hopefully
the MDC would be able to manage the transition so that it emerges
stronger.

It is disheartening, however, to note that there are certain voices in the
MDC that are calling on him to stay put when it is crystal clear that
Tsvangirai no longer has the energy nor drive to run the 2018 race due to
his failing health.

A party that claims to be anchored on democratic tenets would know better
that a good dancer knows when to leave the stage. The MDC must avoid
falling into former president Robert Mugabe’s tragedy of holding onto
power to the point of destroying his legacy.