via Biti’s team feels vindicated – NewsDay Zimbabwe July 9, 2014 by Everson Mushava
MDC Renewal Team yesterday said MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s Personal Reflections, in which he bared how his party lost to Zanu PF in last year’s elections, all but vindicates its position that the former Premier should quit.
Personal Reflections is a document released by Tsvangirai on Monday this week, detailing his political tribulations and confessions on where he went wrong before the July 2013 elections.
“The irony of Tsvangirai’s reflections is to vindicate the position of the Renewal Team,” Jacob Mafume the Renewal Team spokesperson said yesterday.
“We were right after all. However, it is evident that Tsvangirai has not reflected well enough.
“An objective reflection would have led him to one inescapable conclusion — his resignation from public office.”
Tsvangirai, in his Personal Reflections, admitted that he underestimated Zanu PF’s “rigging machinery” and stampeded the party into an election which they lost.
He said he had been deceived by the numbers at his rallies.
Tsvangirai admitted flirting with various women, claiming the behaviour was a result of emotional devastation from losing his wife in an accident in 2009 and conceded that he was outwitted by 90-year-old President Robert Mugabe.
But Mafume said Tsvangirai’s Personal Reflections were a futile attempt by the former Premier to rebrand and rehabilitate himself.
“The so-called Personal Reflections published on July 7 2014 show, beyond reasonable doubt, an individual who truly is at the deep end and must do the right thing and quit public office,” Mafume said.
“It is regrettable that Tsvangirai now makes the admission that it was wrong to participate in the 2013 election when he moved all and sundry to participate in that election — the very point made by Elton Mangoma in his January 13 2014 letter.”
He said throughout his life, Tsvangirai has had the incredible capacity for ill and wrong judgment.
“The decision to participate in the 2013 elections is only a small example of this bad judgment that is in Tsvangirai’s DNA,” Mafume said.
He said the dilemma with the MDC-T was that Tsvangirai had personalised the struggle for political change in the country.
“The question that Tsvangirai must answer is: What is his justification for continuing under circumstances where he has provided bankrupt leadership to the people of Zimbabwe?” Mafume said.
COMMENTS
Hear hear. Indeed the Honourable thing is to quit. It ain’t personal Morgan. Zimbabwe is bigger than individuals. If you were pursuing a national cause it would be very easy to pass the baton stick. Haikona ushe madzore? What good is it to admit perennial blundering and still want to continue to misleading people into the bush. Haa musadaro akomana.
Stupid people organize your party and win the elections then we know how good u are. How many political parties have we had in Zim. U mean all they don’t have brains. From father Zimbabwe to present parties what is your answer to that.
there is nothing to be vindicated about because biti and his team were sabotaging tsvangirai before they came out in the open and these are people who are not prepared to go to congress and be elected by the people there is nothing wrong about tsvangirai saying what they could have done as a party, is the renewal team saying they were not part of it
Biti or anyone else did not help Tswangirayi in his womanising. I know you worship Tswangirayi; he is your God. But he himself has acknowledged his misdemenours – who are you now to try to divert attention from your little God?
The beginning of healing is when a man admits his mistake. Confession is good for the soul. It is also good for the country. When politicians start to admit where they went wrong they gain knowledge and wisdom because they face their short comings. We are all Zimbabweans here. We know exactly what those in power have been doing. We also know what influential politicians have been doing. Let one Politician stand up and say he does not have a SMALL HOUSE. Maybe Bennett, Cross and some of the white politicians can. I do not know, because I am black. The black ones I know that they all do. Why our revered Presidents present wife was once his SMALL HOUSE. Biti and co come out straight and say you do not do that. But then again I am Doctor do little and I know that you all have dirty hands.
@Doctor I have to agree with you there. That is why the virus has taken so many of them. Those that remain need to wash their dirty hands and as NBS says confess.
@The GBU What makes me sick is that instead of talking about how they will improve the lives of the people they tell us things we know. Then they make like they didn’t do that themselves. Biti’s Banker friend was sleeping with staff members whom he hired maybe for that purpose. All of a sudden people that did not have the qualifications were working for that institution. The decent ones that would not comply were LET GO. Let them deny it. These people are the most promiscuous people you will ever know. I know you all know the meaning of the word. I use it in this context “characterized by or involving indiscriminate mingling or association, especially having sexual relations with a number of partners on a casual basis”
A matter of four of the fingers pointing back the accuser I presume Doc?
The GBU it is in their diːɛnˈeɪ.
If Biti and Co feel vindicated lets see them surpass MT and go on to capitalise on whatever gain that vindication translates to in terms of votes and win the next elections.
As for MT now that he admits “errors of judgement” question still to be answered is how are you and your lot going to rectify the problems and go on to win the next elections.
And RGM please sit down.
@Lucy I like your style. That is what Zimbabwe needs. Questions and answers. There has been a power struggle going on here. As an ordinary person I would like to know what so and so is going to do for my community as a whole and my country at large. At the moment they all have their eyes on each other, trying to see which assets the can appropriate. At the end of it all there will be some very sad Politicians. That is when the people decide to speak.
Time is vindicating Biti and partners that he has always been a ZANU PF person no wonder why whatever advise he may have given was not for the success of MDCs, now that slowly but sure true MDc is emerging things will happen positively. When Ncube left MDC was much stronger, now that Biti has left together with other Zanu PF impostors they will be at their best to bit ZANU PF now.
Yes he has only admitted to womanising; but what about to his dicatorship?
What about his tribalism? What about his unilateral decision-making that he copied from gukurahundi Mugabe?
What about his changing and personalising the party constitution to suit his big-man mentality?
What about his claims that “IAM THE MDC”?
What about his abuse of party funds with his concubines in foreign lands?
What about? what about? So many what abouts that he leaves unanswered because they are too inconvenient!!
You people u expose your stupidity so much. In your right thinking who does not have what about. What those of u who think you are very very good is to organize yourselves like Zanu and take y0our parties to the top. You are like other people who talk so much bad things about your competitor when u are proposing to a lady.
Would you please quit throwing around the tribalism issue even where it doesnt fit, its becoming a sickening trend. Even if you have genuine concerns regarding percieved tribalism, shouting about it at any inappropriate forum will trivialise your case, grow up.Can you back up your claims that he is tribalist, unilateral decision making or dictatorship doesnt make one a tribalist. Truth be told the opposition is in shambles but then again we now know better than to rely on mere mortals who are prone to sin and error, the Most High is our hope , his ways are too profound to explain but he has a plan for Zimbabwe, rather expend your energy calling on his name than calling Tsvangirai names.
Mswati Ndapfunya
1. He is a tribalist because he sees Welshman Ncube not as an opponent based on issues; policy differences and leadership style, but as a regional leader – doesnt that ring a bell as borrowed ZANU PF politics viz Joshua Nkomo and PF ZAPU in the 1980s?
2. Tell me; why has Simba Makoni never accused Welshman of being regional, tribal etc – why is it that its only Mugabe and Tswangirayi? Two side of the same coin – if you ask me;
3. He knows very well Matebeleland provinces are not Shona speaking provinces; why does he address the people in these provinces in his Shona language? Is that not an imposition on a people’s language and cultural identities? How different then is he from Robert Mugabe and his 1979 Grand Plan and his Gukurahundis who forced Ndebele villages to speak Shona and sing Shona songs through the barrel of the gun?
4. Show me one Matebeleland politician who addresses audiences, rallies in Ndebele in Harare, Marondera, Hurungwe or Mutare?
DO YOU STILL NEED MORE EVIDENCE OF HIS TRIBALISM?
THERE ARE NON-SO BLIND AS THOSE WHO REFUSE TO SEE – FACT!!
P/S ……and need I remind you; these are not perceptions but realities. Tswangirayi’s tribalism is no perception, it is a reality. It is also a fact that he copied it from Mugabe.
Mugabe long proved beyond reasonable doubt that in Zimbabwean politics, if you want to isolate a Ndebele speaking politician and deny him Shona support; all you need to do is to shout tribalism, regionalism.
Noboby will call you to account – you will just get away with it because the Shonas are in charge and the term HUMAN RIGHTS does not apply to the people of Matebeleland!!
1. Opposing Welshman Ncube does not make one a tribalist. Is Sipepa Nkomo or Thokozani Khupe tribalist, what about all other politicians from the Matebeleland region who remained with Tsvangirai after the split are they also tribalist seeing as they sit on opposite benches with Mr Ncube.
2 Since when is Simba Makoni the guardian of virtue,Simba Makoni has never called a lot of people a lot of things, his feelings are irelevant.
3.So you would rather have Tsvangirai addressing villagers in English than in an African language, you see the problem is that you view everything from a tribalistic point of view. I can put my head on the block and tell you now that addressing villagers in any part of Zimbabwe in any of the indeginous languages is more effective than addressing them in English which they dont understand.Gukurahundi was no doubt a horrific and barbaric act which still needs to be addressed but to equate Tsvangirai campaigning to Gukurahundi is being insensitive and makes trife the genuine suffering which the people of Matebeleland experienced. After all what stops the MDC’s Matebeleland leaders from organising an interpertor when the party leader addresses the people there.
4. I seem to vividly remember Jabulani Sibanda literaly setting up base in Masvingo and addresing people there during the 2013 elections but thats a story for another day. I presume you believe that its Tsvangirai who prevents Mat’land politicians from addressing rallies in other provinces.My brother not everyone is driven by a tribalist agenda, the reality on the ground an expediency dictate how people go about their affairs, I say embrace people for who they are individually not which village their grandfather was born in. When the power of love overcomes the love of power, this world will know peace and prosperity.
Mswati
Its typical of your kind to evade direct questions through responding in general terms because a more direct answer will leave you wanting.
1. You are pretending you have not understood my question. I never said he should not oppose Welshman Ncube – go a head and re-read my comment.
I said he called him a “Regionalist and a village politician” without producing any evidence to that effect. This is the language employed by Robert Mugabe against any Ndebele speaking politician since the 1980s – why is Tswangirayi, from whom we expect better copying these divisive and primitive tactics? You probably dont know this, or even understand it because you are a “BORN YESTERDAY”!
2. I am merely bringing in Simba Makoni as an example and one such politician who has long called for issues-based politics in Zimbabwe – not labelling.
Tswangirayi himself is a victim of political labelling from gukurahundi Mugabe/ZANU PF, we expect him to know better; rather than copy primitivie politics from his nemesis.
Simba Makoni is also a Shona speaking politician just like Tswangirayi and Mugabe; but it is only Tswangirayi and Mugabe among many other Shona speaking politicial leaders including Makoni, who resort to tribally-loaded language whenever they are faced with Ndebele political opponents, why?
3. I would rather have Tswangirayi addressing villagers in Ndebele; siNambya; Tonga, Venda, isXhosa, Shangaan; Sotho, seTswana, Khalanga – our regional, provincial and national languages. English is not only a national; commercial and academic language – it is also international and nothing that you can do or say will ever change that. Many Shonas have said time and again that they find no purpose in learning Ndebele because it is of no use to them – why shouldn’t we reciprocate their tribalistic gesture?
Do you know about the ZANU 1979 Grand Plan – have you ever read it? You need to go back into history to understand the current developments my friend. You need context and stop commenting or making conclusions ABOUT THE NOW in a vacuum of ignorance and youthful exhuberance;
Its is clear that you are too young – you clearly dont know or understand the history of the Shona language in Matebeleland; that is why you see nothing wrong.
The Shona language in our rural areas came via the barrel of the Gukurahundi guns – do you know that? Now to take advantage of that situation is clearly not only insensitive but very, very provocative; especially by someone who claims to want to provide a different and progressive leadership from that of Robert Mugabe.
4. Your comprehension of the English language is indeed despicable. This is the result of the now all too familiar obsession of you people with your Shona language – notwithstanding the fact that it is useless in the modern commercial and academic world we live in.
You can hardly understand the import or meaning of a simple English sentence. Now if you can not understand the meaning of a question – naturally you will always give the wrong answers. Where did I say Matebeleland politicians are being prevented from addressing rallies in Shona speaking regions?
C’mmon man – akuvuke; tsoga bathoo! I said Ndebele speaking politicians address people in the language of their region. I can asure you, the Jabulani Sibanda you are refering to camped in Masvingo and spoke to the people there in their Shona language not in Ndebele and you know it – Shonas should also do the same.
Is that too difficult to understand or too much to ask? You are leaving in a hypothetical Zimbabwe that does not exist in the practical world – a bit of a reality check will do you plenty of good!
A couple of quotes from your post above will suffice to demonstrate my earlier observations about your excessive obsession with your tribalistic outlook:
“Its typical of your kind to evade direct questions through responding in general terms because a more direct answer will leave you wanting.”
“Your comprehension of the English language is indeed despicable. This is the result of the now all too familiar obsession of you people with your Shona language – notwithstanding the fact that it is useless in the modern commercial and academic world we live in.”
For the record, I believe that Tsvangirai has no political or moral capital to lead this country. Any objective view of his track record will lead to this conclusion. I am just appalled at your ‘tribalising’every issue.
If you want some of us to cease raising the tribalism red flag – Shona tribalism should cease just as well.
Referring to Tswangirayi’s tribalism is not tribalising every issue. Just accept – Tswangirayi’s reference to Welshman Ncube as a regionalist was a gross miscalculation on his part.
As a self-claimed democrat; he should fight him on the basis of issues, not on the basis of what language he speaks, his ethnicity or where he comes from.
That is the kind of language expected of gukurahundi Mugabe; not one who claims to be a democratic and a better leader than him.
Acknowledging one’s mistakes is the mark of a morally upright character. Try it!
P/S……and what about the Kitchen Cabinet and the violence that he promotes within and without the party?
I don’t doubt that the Biti Mangoma Mafume team wants to be the second largest official opposition behind Zanu Pf in 2018….ie to the ruling MDC T ruling party.
MDC-T will never come to power – come what may. You wish – Dream on!!
They should call themselves Zimbabwe Renewal Party,,,,oops ZRP
There is nothing like being vindicated. MT admitted his mistake and these are not his own mistakes but the Party’s mistake in which he was a leader. Womanising in Zimbabwe is a culture and whether we like it or not it is because we all know everybody womanises and these women who cry are also after men that is why they are abused so it is not a tsvangirayi issue otherwise Mugabe could have lost an election if we talk about small houses. Most ministers in Mugabe’s cabinet and who won the elections have divorced their wives so it is not about MT who actually lost a wife not divorced. Biti and company where also once accused of being MT’s kitchen cabinet by Welshman Ncube so that one is just a mocking term for adviser, every leader has his own advisors. Mafume and Biti will wake up late to know that for them to rule it is not to beat Tsvangirayi but one Robert Gabriel Mugabe.
maita
You forget that Tswangirayi is an opposition leader who claims to be a better leader than those who are currently in government.
This is exactly why a lot is expected of him. Othwerwise, if he is JUST LIKE THEM – why then do we need to elect him as President against the other choices?
You are so enamoured by this man its unbelievable; its actually sickening.
A couple of quotes from your post above will suffice to demonstrate my earlier observations about your excessive obsession with your tribalistic outlook:
“Its typical of your kind to evade direct questions through responding in general terms because a more direct answer will leave you wanting.”
“Your comprehension of the English language is indeed despicable. This is the result of the now all too familiar obsession of you people with your Shona language – notwithstanding the fact that it is useless in the modern commercial and academic world we live in.”
For the record, I believe that Tsvangirai has no political or moral capital to lead this country. Any objective view of his track record will lead to this conclusion. I am just appalled at your ‘tribalising’every issue.
Referring to Tswangirayi’s tribalism is not tribalising every issue. Just accept – Tswangirayi’s reference to Welshman Ncube as a regionalist was a gross miscalculation on his part.
As a self-claimed democrat; he should fight him on the basis of issues, not on the basis of what language he speaks, his ethnicity or where he comes from.
That is the kind of language expected of gukurahundi Mugabe; not one who claims to be a democratic and a better leader than him.
Acknowledging one’s mistakes is the mark of a morally upright character. Try it!
Mswati Ndapfunya
After Mugabe’s diatribe against Prof Moyo; do you know that just recently, Mugabe’s henchman were busy accusing the Prof of tribalism, owing to some of the Editorial appointmemts he made to the Sate papers?
Now, you tell me – where is the tribalism in his appoinments? Just because he made one or two appointments of people from Matebeleland among some from Mashonaland; he is now accused of tribalism?
There are Ministers who amake all-Shona appoinments to state institutions; Boards etc etc and they have been doing this for years – but why is it that we have never heard of any accusations of tribalism?
Now you expect observant Mthwakazi people like me to keep quite just because you dont like to hear the truth? I say, forget it. I will always say it – no matter how uncomfortable it may be. Why is it that many of you love throwing around accusations of racism – do you think racism is any different from tribalism?
THINK MY FRIEND – WHO FEELS IT KNOWS IT!!
Mswati; I said:
I would rather have Tswangirayi addressing villagers in Ndebele; siNambya; Tonga, Venda, isXhosa, Shangaan; Sotho, seTswana, Khalanga – our regional, provincial and national languages. English is not only a national; commercial and academic language – it is also international and nothing that you can do or say will ever change that. Many Shonas have said time and again that they find no purpose in learning Ndebele because it is of no use to them – why shouldn’t we reciprocate their tribalistic gesture?
Do you know about the ZANU 1979 Grand Plan – have you ever read it? You need to go back into history to understand the current developments my friend. You need context and stop commenting or making conclusions ABOUT THE NOW in a vacuum of ignorance and youthful exhuberance;
Its is clear that you are too young – you clearly dont know or understand the history of the Shona language in Matebeleland; that is why you see nothing wrong.
The Shona language in our rural areas came via the barrel of the Gukurahundi guns – do you know that? Now to take advantage of that situation is clearly not only insensitive but very, very provocative; especially by someone who claims to want to provide a different and progressive leadership from that of Robert Mugabe