Time for MDC to strategically kill the GNU

By Freeman Chari

After reading the statement by Mr Morgan Tsvangirai on Mr Mugabe’s stubborn disregard of goodwill in the Government of National Unity I felt angry.

I felt like taking my catapult and running to Munhumutapa Building today. The last time I had this feeling was when we laid to rest one Lameck Chemvura after he was thrown out of a moving train by soldiers way back in 2001.

As I sit to write this, I ask myself, is this a call to national duty or is it just an emotional tirade incited by restlessness? As an ordinary citizen yearning for a better Zimbabwe, what can I do apart from attending rallies and voting for change each time I am accorded the chance.

What more can I do. What is expected of me? I cannot wake up and run in the streets alone demanding that Mr Mugabe reforms because apart from the fact that I would be risking my life, I am pretty certain that my voice on its own is nothing. I know that recklessness is not bravery.

We were beaten to submission. We used to strike, to boycott work and to demonstrate in the streets but we were beaten and maimed. We no longer have the willpower to bring our heads to the altar of ZANU PF.

Given this situation, how can MDC deliver permanent change to Zimbabwe? Does MDC have any other option than to wait for Mr Mugabe to declare another election? So if Jonathan Moyo states that Morgan Tsvangirai is just barking how else can Morgan show that he can bite?

These are questions that need answers today. Frankly MDC cannot in its compromised position seek to organize protests against its partners in government. Such a move can only serve to boost ZANU PF’s saboteur agenda.

Is Morgan Tsvangirai just a dog that barks but does not have teeth or is he a dog that has teeth but does not know that they can bite? What could be going through ZANU PF’s mind right now- “he is just crying the way he has been doing to SADC, EU and America; nothing will happen!”

Indeed Morgan Tsvangirai has just two options- to do something or not to do anything. If he chooses not to do anything he gives Mugabe the impetus to carry out more acts of defiance. It is clear; Mugabe wants to frustrate MDC until they pull out of the GNU on their own volition. The more he jumps out of line without rebuke the more he fancies his power.

If Morgan chooses not to do something soon Mugabe will assign most functions of Ministry of Finance to Ministry of Information. Oh yes he can do that, we saw it happening with Chamisa’s ministry. MDC protested but Bob had already made his move.

What we ought to examine is; if Morgan chooses to do something what can he do? What are the strengths of MDC in the GNU? MDC brings forth stability and a positive image. Unfortunately ZANU PF is busy undermining this by seeking to portray MDC as a party of amateurs, thieves and greedy men.

This is the time for MDC to be carefully reckless. To be slippery and to be cunning. The GNU should die but if it is to die it should die in the hands of ZANU PF and not in the hands of MDC. Mugabe’s aim is to ridicule Morgan Tsvangirai at every turn; it is Morgan Tsvangirai’s turn to trash Mugabe.

Mugabe needs Morgan more than anybody else but Morgan has nothing to lose. He has shown the world that MDC has the capacity to bring Zimbabwe to economic viability. That alone is enough for him to hold on to and let the GNU collapse.

Mugabe holds the government dear to his heart. He wants to be seen to be controlling the most powerful man in Zimbabwe. What will happen if the most powerful man decides to stand aside and replace himself with the least powerful of his own?

Will Mugabe gain satisfaction in outwitting an unknown fellow like Freeman Chari in the Government of National Unity? I bet he will crack his head about what Tsvangirai’s next move would be.

Article 20.1.8 of the GPA states that when any of the non-electoral posts becomes vacant it shall be filled by a nominee from the party that held the post. If Morgan decides to leave government today MDC-T can nominate any other person to take over from him.

I suggest that all senior MDC officials in the GNU should leave together with Tsvangirai; these are Tendai Biti, Tapiwa Mashakada, Thokozani Khupe, Elton Mangoma, Nelson Chamisa. The party will then second a person like Samuel Sipepa Nkomo, Adv Matinenga or Eddie Cross as Prime Minister. This would be strategic withdrawal, meant to frustrate ZANU PF.

At this juncture Morgan Tsvangirai would then explain such a decision to his supporters. The new Prime Minister should be in a position to take dubious decisions like shuffling the cabinet thrice in a month. This would be a ploy to make ZANU lose its temper and control; to make the country ungovernable and to bring that which Mugabe holds dearly to the ground.

Two things may happen which have the same end result.  Mugabe may decide to rule by decree. In this case Mugabe would dissolve parliament and proclaim a state of emergency. The constitution allows him a month but obviously he can use his military power to extent the timeframe.

Another possibility which ZANU PF may find appealing is a stage-managed coup where soldiers claim to have taken over power but immediately declare allegiance to Mugabe. The ultimate result is that Zimbabwe will be officially under military rule.

This situation is both positive and negative to MDC. Firstly, ZANU PF’s true colors would have been exposed. This gives Tsvangirai the opportunity to regain public sympathy and probably international support for a more intensive offensive against the regime.

On the other hand it is difficult to remove a military regime through non-military means. In recent cases it has taken a sudden mishap like death or an attempt on the leader of the junta for such to consider returning the country to civilian rule.

As it stands ZANU PF does not have a lot of resources to sustain its operations because it can no longer abuse state funds at will. A sudden unprecedented move by MDC may send shivers in ZANU as this would demand more resources especially in having to call off it’s current Operation Chimumumu and Operation Kubudirana Pachena. This may cause despondency amongst the Military and anything may happen but MDC should not bank on this.

Lastly, such a path as I have suggested would definitely mean that Zimbabwe falls back into shambles. It will mean renewed suffering in terms of hunger and brutality on the ordinary citizens. Is MDC prepared to see such? I personally feel that for freedom to prevail some people have to sacrifice themselves.

ZANU knows that MDC will be too concerned about the suffering of the people to make any move that may return Zimbabwe to the June 2008 situation. The onus is on Morgan to show them otherwise.

I have sought to show that contrary to the demands that “Ask what you can do for your Party”; it is not the ordinary person who can bring change today but a collective thrust taken by MDC to show ZANU PF that they too can be as cunning, as slippery, as reckless and most of all as calculative in this power game!

This GNU should die today!