The ZIMBABWE Situation | Our
thoughts and prayers are with Zimbabwe - may peace, truth and justice prevail. |
PRESIDENT
TSVANGIRAI’S TUESDAY MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE OF
On
In 1980, the world
witnessed the birth of what we thought was a secure nation with a strong economy
and functioning state institutions. We
were a potential powerhouse with an industrial base which compared favourably to
what existed in the few well-managed African countries at the time. We anxiously
positioned ourselves ready to rebuild the country and to contribute to wealth
creation and to explore the abundant opportunities brought about by the promise
of freedom.
Unfortunately the 24 years merely registered a period of sustained
regress. We have nothing to show for it, except overwhelming poverty, economic
decay, a systematic loss of our basic freedoms and a national crisis whose
dimensions are mutating and fast becoming more pervasive in every facet of our
political, economic and social life.
Millions returned home from exile. Today the ordinary citizen is confused
and shocked to live in a country where, once again, the forces of democracy are
under siege. They are desperate to get out.
The
Poverty and
insecurity have already forced an estimated 3.5 million -- more than a third of
the nation’s adult population -- into exile where they live in near-slavery
conditions. There is too much poverty
and too little growth. This is unacceptable.
Those in the rural
areas are caught between a rock and a hard place. They are being forced to
contribute their meagre earnings towards the
No opportunity would
be available for them to reflect on the 24 years they are supposed to have been
free from colonialism.
The people are
stunned at the manner in which the political and economic climate has become
even more embattled, more beleaguered than before April 1980. The march to
tyranny can be traced to the early years of our
In a 24-page
private letter in 1983 on the then emerging trend towards state-sanctioned
brutality, the late Joshua Nkomo told Robert Mugabe:
“
Six years later on
In March 2001, I
wrote a personal letter to Mugabe. I pleaded with him to put the national
interest above his personal ambition. I was concerned about the downward slide
our nation was facing arising from Mugabe’s selfish approach to the resolution
of the crisis. Nothing came out it.
Given
the highly negative and comprehensive onslaught on people’s welfare and
political freedoms, questions are being raised as to what happened to the ideals
of the liberation struggle; what has become of the democratic resiliency of the
nation.
The
people are watching with trepidation as a small nationalistic class, aided by a
parasitic bureaucracy and supported by desperate opportunists wreak havoc on a
dwindling national cake. Zanu PF is quick to label dissent as neo-colonialist
and racist as a way of whipping up emotions to cover up inefficiency and
repression.
Zanu PF has
yet to realise that without political freedom and stability, any
government policies that seek to address the people’s concerns are seriously
weakened.
The people have
taken note of the activities of a determined tyrannical class that has pushed
the country into a state of paralysis and succeeded in cutting off
By contrast, SADC
has made tremendous headway in its efforts to harmonise governance systems and
the political behaviour of its leadership. Kenneth Kaunda of
Those SADC leaders
who have retired (and those who plan to follow suit) left an indelible legacy
whose hallmarks include the institution of an Independent Electoral Commission
to conduct elections and ensure that electoral disputes are kept at the barest
minimum. By so doing, these nations are enhancing the ideals of the liberation
struggle in the region – giving their people an opportunity to enjoy greater
freedom. What is it that makes Zimbabwe a unique case? Why should
We
formed the Movement for Democratic Change as an alternative player in
post-independence politics. We are a social liberation movement guided by the
ideals of the liberation struggle and directed by the people to wrest the
people’s power and sovereignty from an elite nationalistic class whose style of
governance is at variance with our expectations.
For
five years, the MDC has pursued an agenda for change. In the process we hit
numerous landmines: outright vote rigging, electoral fraud, the deaths of
hundreds of activists, beatings, rape and massive state-induced hunger. The
country was plunged into lawlessness, vigilante groups and party militias were
born, repressive legislation was enacted to muzzle the voice of the people and
basic freedoms were severely curtailed.
Given the
conditions on the ground, you may ask: which direction therefore are the forces
of democratic change moving? The answer defines our agenda for action. Our
national policies and programmes are informed by a need for a post-Mugabe period
of national healing, in which the nation could come to terms with 24 years of
trauma.
We
shall work out effective ways of handling the evils within our past in order to
vaccinate against any future reversion into tyranny and darkness. The challenges
facing the democratic movement are immense. The freedom we gallantly fought for
up until 1980 has been confined to a vastly shrunk political arena.
Parliament, the judiciary and law enforcement agents have been subverted
and compromised. The fusion of the executive, the judiciary and the legislature,
has led to a total collapse of the regime as a civilian outfit. The military has
been deployed everywhere. The military runs elections. The military has taken
control of all strategic arms of the state, including the management of our food
reserves.
After the stolen
Presidential election in 2002, I stated that
The
reality since then is that after winning the liberation struggle together as
Zimbabweans 24 years ago, Mugabe ignored the wishes of the people and proceeded
to put in place an openly repressive infrastructure to turn himself into an
absolute monarch in order to preside over a totalitarian state.
In the face of a
deliberate derailment of the people’s preferred course for meaningful political
change through the ballot box, calls have been made for the MDC to seek
alternatives to redirect the course of politics in
As we
approach the Parliamentary election in 2005, we have in place a comprehensive
plan to stop the rot and make way for the people to recover their sovereignty,
their basic freedoms and their national independence.
Our
campaign for a changed set of electoral conditions has been well received. The
campaign has gained currency among key stakeholders. It has become a strong
talking point nationally and within the region.
We in
the MDC have never been as determined and united as we are today on the question
of electoral conditions and national elections. Our objective has always been to
participate in a legitimate election and to win such an
election.
The
situation on the ground is so unstable and volatile for anyone to dream of
tampering, yet again, with the people’s demands. The tension is so high that
Zanu PF does not have the capacity to contain the people’s anger if Zanu PF
steals another national election. The people are fed up.
Our fear, from the
feedback we are getting nationwide, is that
People
are tired of being denied their rights through unemployment, poverty,
legislation and violence. People remember what happened in 2000 and in 2002.
They know that any election conducted under the same conditions will cause more
problems for the nation already in a crisis.
Twenty-four years
after Independence, the people realise that they are no longer sovereign.
Through the use of repressive laws, the regime awards and withdraws generic
freedoms according to its own wishes. We are under tremendous pressure to turn
the tables and lead the people to new dispensation that would restore
Together, we believe we are on the right track and through action and
sustained pressure we shall overcome our present difficulties. It is now
abundantly clear that Zanu PF can never turn around the economy, despite a
national shrinkage of nearly 50 percent in five years.
Zimbabweans face a severe humanitarian crisis; with more than half the
population having had their livelihoods eroded by the current economic decline
and severe food shortages. Essential infrastructure has collapsed and inflation
has soared. It is common cause that delivery systems of health, education and
other social services have completely collapsed. Zimbabweans have become regular
guests at funerals of thousands who are perishing from the HIV/Aids
pandemic.
The
MDC wishes to thank the people for their refusal to allow the regime to assume
some form of legitimacy since the stolen Presidential election in 2002. The
people remained resolute and steadfast in their resolve to continue calling for
sanity in our country. We made it impossible for the regime to consolidate
electoral fraud. That struggle continues to this
day.
Our history shows us that it is important to galvanise the people to
challenge any form of oppression until final victory. Despite the impressive
gains made by the MDC, our quest for freedom, which has become a major national
grievance, remains unanswered; the national agenda remains unfulfilled. The
Zimbabwe crisis is deepening.
We cannot allow this regime to impose its false supremacy over the people. Only action and political pressure shall bring in the desired results and lead us to resuscitate our failed state and all its institutions.
Morgan Tsvangirai
President.