Tsvangirai should not ignore UK jeers

Opinion — By on June 24, 2009 7:30 am

By Terrance Tendai Mutyambizi -Dewa

*Morgan Tsvangirai should rather reflect on the Boos in London than listen to the MDC UK rhetoric which blames it on a White Rhodesian.

ONLY that my car was not properly serviced to travel. I missed the drama and the excitement which happened on Saturday 21 in a place of worship somewhere in London… to be frank I failed to witness democracy in action. I failed to witness the failure of the MDC UK first hand and I missed to see how the new Zimbabwe Prime Minister responds to critics and demonstrations now that he is in power.

I wanted to see how Kudzai Moyo (aka Makusha Mugabe) will respond when he is part of the plot to also take down Tsvangirai because he did not give him a post. I wanted to see but unfortunately I only heard and read and see images and off course followed comments. I wish could see first hand.

At around 1700 hours I received phone call from Uganda and in a very funny accent a friend was telling me “ you guys you are funny …why are you booing Tsangirai(Tsvangirai in Ugandan Accent). I asked “who?” “Iiiii” he eased “so you don’t know? Go to BBC news …the man is gone… he is finished” the voice hang up. I immediately ran downstairs to take TV controls from a daughter who immediately protested “but daddy it is my turn”… “Wait” I said as I changed channels my mind now rushing “surely why was the foreign journalists booing Tsvangirai? Is this the strategy by the MDC UK to humiliate him because he is alleged to have humiliated their delegation when it went to Zimbabwe looking for posts and came back empty handed? Was it that they British no longer likes him because he now in a unity arrangement with a man they call a dispose?

None of the above. The commotion was that members of the Zimbabwe community had jeered my dear leader off the stage after commanding them to retreat back home so that they develop the rear and prepare the nation for economic and political progress… in the frontline with him off course. This statement triggered the audience to a series of “chinja” and boos echoed on TV stations from Aljazeera to Russia Today. The MDC UK faction led by Nyasha Chaora (formally Ass Comm Jonathan Chaora ZRP Crime) through its mouthpiece edited by Makusha Mugabe (former editor of Chaminuka News a ZANU (PF) Community Newspapers Group publication) would later claim that these were from a minority people from the Zimbabwe Vigil and organised by former Chairman of the MDC-UK Ephraim Tapa who was deposed from leadership (by who and for whose benefit?).

It was also not surprising that the MDC UK faction led by former Assistant Commissioner Chaora with Makusha Mugabe and one Mathew Nyashanu in its information department in trying to spin the story accused the Vigil of being run by a “former Rhodesian who left Zimbabwe in 1978” – this could just be expected in the Herald or the People’s Voice, a ZANU (PF) publication.

Surprisingly Makusha Mugabe was a ZANU (PF) youth chairman in the volatile District of Marondera. As far as I know he was never trained as a journalist in Zimbabwe yet he served as an editor for a reputable publishing stable. He was a temporary primary school teacher instead.
The power dynamics in the MDC UK and the unfair practice and incompetency has led to this humiliation rather than laying the blame on white Zimbabweans like what the MDC UK is starting to do. The Humiliation of the Dear leader was a result of some protracted warfare which started long ago and which others believe might have led to the death of Isaac Matongo through inhalation of poisoning at his home the night he died.

Matongo complained of shortness in breath when he arrived at his home, a clear sign of some form of air poisoning. This eventually leads to either a slowed heart effect or blockage of airway causing death by choking. This type of death is usually confirmed by autopsy as heart failure and most rogue military intelligence services across the world favour it in eliminating enemies.

Others just claimed that his(Matongo) role in stopping the reformed guys from the Zimbabwe intelligence services, police or ZANU(PF) from ascending to power in MDC UK was being seen in both the MDC and ZANU(PF) as the stumbling block to any meaningful coalition. Matongo died in February 2007 and was immediately replaced by his deputy, then little known Lovemore Moyo who immediately stepped in to change the UK leadership through what many regarded as an undemocratic means.

Moyo’s air ticket was bought by the faction now in power and his accommodation was arranged by one Israel Mutanhaurwa a former “student” in Gweru who says he witnessed the shooting of the Late Patrick Kombayi by Kanengoni a CIO operative. A friend who happens to be Kombayi’s nephew denies that any youth was present to assist Kombai except relatives who some young man thought to be a CIO operative was harassing. Unfortunately Izzy was not one of them relatives.

The problems in the MDC and the humiliation of Tsvangirai by die hard campaigners of democracy in Zimbabwe should not be blamed on the white minority population of Zimbabwe. The MDC UK faction led by Chaora should never try and spin their mess to attack an already weakened and less protected community of our country. Nyashanu should be bear the blame of not informing his faction well in advance of what was happening with the GNU. May be he was busy entertaining somewhere? This new MDC strategy of blaming whites will not work but backfire as ZANU (PF) retreats from the practice.

I do not see anything wrong in people demonstrating against their leader, however I feel very much concerned when people plot against their leadership and try and blame it on a section of people through race or organisation. It is not a secret that the MDC UK faction led by Chaora, Mugabe and Mutanhaurwa has been having meetings across the UK castigating Tsvangirai for not selecting them for posts in the New Government. Ironically this faction has the support of one Henbson Makuvise, an uncle to Tsvangirai and his representative here (don’t know how this will work now) and his brother a Jaison Matewu who is the Organising Secretary of the faction. Sources within the faction claim both the two relatives receive payments in cash and kind from most members of the faction for different forms of favours social and political.

One of such meeting was recently held under the auspices of the MDC UK North Midlands District chaired by one Tonderai Samanyanga, a proved crook whose (UK)travel document is believed to have been used by an illegal entrant with his consent in return of love. He submitted his CV in hope that Tsvangiari will appoint him as an ambassador but was turned down, a result which made him bitter, alleging Tsvangirai was choosing his relatives into government. Others complained that the MDC was using them as a fundraising tool. Some sources close to the faction claim that others were required to pay appointment fees of up to £10 000.00 but were never appointed.

The problem in the Diaspora, Mr Tsvangirai must note is not from any white corner, neither is it from failed asylum seekers as he is led to believe by his party’s reformed leadership in the UK. The problem in the diaspora is most central to the ideas and the fundamental principles of the party when it was formed. It is to do with the power dynamics as it stands and his failure to deal with this at this stage will lead to the demise of his influence and the creation of new wisdoms. The agenda of the party has been changed by the reformed ZANU PF now running and controlling his mind in exchange of loyalty and patronage. He is led to believe that those who have been working all along for the party are betraying him and they need to be either quarantined to put into acid.

He has forgotten the men and woman who started this revolution in the mid nineties; he has taken the ideals and the victories of the revolution of the working people to be rather the victory of his immediate family and the reformed people. He has since forgotten the young boys and girls from Chitungwiza who formed the first branches and districts for the party amid police harassment. He forgets that the same boys and girls are now grown ups and are no longer boys or girls. He wants them to be friendly and to listen to the police chief who once called them terrorists. He wants them to shut up and put up before their oppressors so as to get registration.

Morgan Tsvangirai should revisit the formation of the party and look at the agreed principles of the way forward. He will be able to establish what the people wanted from their leadership. He needs to address the issue of Tripartite, the issue of social housing, strategy for a welfare state and the commitment to democracy. Walking away from the people when they talk is never heard of in a democracy. Even when President Bush had a shoe thrown at him in Iraq he continued to address the audience. Walking away is a sign of either cowardice or a total lack of respect to what the people are saying. I remember in Luton after having met the other faction of the MDC UK led by Tapa upon having similar questions on the appointment of his uncle Makuvise to the post of representative to the UK, the UK faction led by Tapa managed to answer the question instead claiming that that was a presidential prerogative.

It silenced their membership which then included the reformed police gurus and Zanu (PF) agencies now making the other faction. This is what a committee should do.

And on this one the PM should look beyond the lies and statements of goodwill he always gets from the individuals who just want to impress him and his immediate to gain their confidence for appointments. He should take heed of those voices which challenged him in London and plan with them in mind instead of thinking that they will be silenced. He should note that his rise was due to the Mugabe government trying to silence him. People in London spoke and their language was understood. Trying to cook up the event and blame it on Rhodesia is very unfortunate and retrogressive. The culprits in the MDC UK who did this should be punished because racism should not be allowed to start at the point and time.

And now “ngoma Ndiyo ndiyo isai mari mubeggi” calls the white boy whose campaign for MDC led to the loss of his family business and his friendship with the top Zanu guys a Rhodesian. Who are you Nyashanu and Makusha Mugabe to call a fellow Zimbabwean “White Rhodesian?”

Surely this is not the MDC we all started and campaigned for. The MDC UK faction led by Chaora should only resign and allow a new leadership contest. A leadership which knows what it’s doing not a confused bunch of alleged former sell-outs who plot against their own Prime Minister and yet blame it on whites. Sorry kwazvo.

* Tendai Mutyambizi is a former National Council Member of Zimrights, first Provincial Deputy Organising Secretary of MDC in Chitungwiza and participated in the formation of MDC structures nationwide in 1999, Regional council Member for the NCA,founder member of Community Working Group on Health, a member of the National Working People Convention which formed MDC . He is currently the Acting Director of Communities Point a Charity for (social justice and human rights auctioning). Contact ethnicrecords@yahoo.co.uk.

Did you find this information helpful? If you did, consider donating to fund our operations.

For breaking news alerts on Zimbabwe click here Tags: , ,