Kasukuwere a threat to democracy and good governance

By Maxwell Zimuto

During the past few months that Saviour Kasukuwere has served both as Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing and as Secretary for the Commissariat in the ZANU PF party, he has caused a lot of disquiet, disharmony and chaos in both institutions.

His immature, arrogant, haphazard and combative approach to issues that require skilful management has left a trail of disasters, particularly in ZANU PF.

Kasukuwere’s self seeking demeanour, embodied by his display of disingenuousness, combativeness and some air of bravado has thoroughly exposed his lack of skills, needed to deal with the internecine conflicts within the party.

As Secretary for the Commissariat, he could have sufficiently dealt with these internal matters as they fall within his mandate.

In-fact it is the lack of appropriate skills in the Commissariat Department needed to manage intricate and delicate matters of such magnitude, which is now being reflected through chaotic scenes that have become a permanent feature in the party.

As a consequence of the lack of confidence in the Commissariat Department, factions have hardened the resolve and have instead, dug in to defend their respective positions.

Sadly, these developments, which are characterized by the unending political turmoil and the inertia generated there from, have transcended the political party boundaries into the national realm, causing unparalleled discomfort to the generality of the Zimbabwean population.

ZANU PF party structures which Kasukuwere superintends over are in a shambolic state, with the party in a coma, literally gasping for political oxygen to survive. Thanks to Kasukuwere and his colleagues in the G40, for decimating the once powerful institution through unwarranted dismissals of party cadres, perceived to be opposed to G40.

Kasukuwere has, daringly though, managed to export into the local government purview, the same strategy, of unmitigated and counterproductive dismissals and suspensions, with the sole aim of; first and foremost, undermining and destabilizing the opposition in areas they control in order to project ZANU PF as a better alternative and second to restore ZANU PF political hegemony in the sphere of governance.

But no one is fooled by Kasukuwere’s naked political shenanigans, particularly his sterile claim about the suspension of Harare Mayor, Bernard Manyenyeni. The hard to sell claim, that he suspended the mayor in order to protect the interests of the residents is a gigantic lie which should be dismissed with the utter contempt it deserves.

The residents of Harare do not need Kasukuwere to protect their interests; only the law will and should. We know for certain that the real motive of the suspension was to protect partisan and selfish interests.

Kasukuwere should also stop masquerading as an ant-corruption champion. We know for a fact that he is a key player of the doomed looting brigade that has held this nation hostage for a long time. When he promises to make available, thousands of hectares of free residential stands to the youths, what is that supposed to mean to law abiding citizens?

Under which section of the law is this provided for? Kasukuwere should equally disabuse himself of the notion that Harare residents share his myopic, hypocritical and undemocratic theatrics.

Why should we allow an individual to arrogate himself the authority to suspend an institution that has been democratically installed by the residents, and particularly so, when this is done without their involvement.

MDC councillors were given a five year mandate by the residents of Harare and only the same residents have a right to suspend that mandate not Kasukuwere.

It is obvious that he took advantage of the still to be concluded synchronization of the Urban Councils Act to the Constitution to further his selfish interests.

It is equally not surprising, that instead of rushing to court to make an urgent application to stop the appointment of the Town Clerk, he rushed to the dustbin to retrieve copies of the obsolete Urban Councils Act, from which he purports to have derived the authority to suspend the mayor.

But with due respect, is it not commonsensical, particularly to a first year law student such as Kasukuwere, that the supreme law of the land is the Constitution which for all intents and purposes, takes precedence to any other law particularly in cases such as the one before us?

MDC-T should be concerned about Kasukuwere’s political antics. He is up to no good. His shenanigans are a clear assault on both democracy and good governance. He should be stopped now otherwise he will divide MDC-T the same way he has decimated ZANU PF.

The time for MDC-T to flex its muscles is now not later. It is not enough to bank on the hope that the courts will do justice to the matter. This is a political issue which requires a political solution. The MDC President, VaMorgan Tsvangirai has demonstrated beyond any reasonable doubt that he still commands a big chunk of the support in the nation.

He should mobilize not only his supporters, but the residents of Harare as well, to protest against Kasukuwere’s irritating and brazen antics. These protests must continue until both the mayor and the Town Clerk are restored to their respective positions.