Tsvangirai call to diaspora is misguided

By Tendai Kwari

I am saddened by the news that the United Kingdom Border Agencies is deporting Zimbabweans basing on the rhetoric that “Morgan Tsvangirai recommended that Zimbabweans should go back home and help rebuild Zimbabwe”.

Many Zimbabweans are eking out a living in neighbouring countries like South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and others as far as United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and America. How can one ask diasporas to go back home before violence is denounced by the major political parties in the GNU?

Morgan Tsvangirai cannot guarantee their safety, especially with a major election coming soon. It would be hypocritical for Morgan Tsvangirai to point out that ZANU-PF is still violent, and at the same time, calling out for diasporas go home. This is an own goal, ZANU-PF can now easily claim that Zimbabwe is non-violent and conducive to a free and fair election as Tsvangirai sees it fit to call diaporas back home.

What plans has the GNU got for the diasporas if they return home? One must hold a ZANU-PF card to benefit from some of the schemes being championed by ZANU-PF, such as indigenisation. Maybe the Honourabe Kasukuwere should out reach and outline what he has for the diasporas.

Many Zimbabweans in the diasporas have acquired both academic and professional skills throughout the years. How is the GNU going to pay their salaries? The GNU cannot pay all the doctors and nurses practicing abroad, that is, if they come home.

The education sector is collapsing by the day and will not be able to employ all the over seas based professionals in education. The industries and factories are shut. Our own mining sector is run and controlled by the Chinese and ZANU-PF heavy weights. Unemployment is running at unprecedented levels.

Many diasporas fled the country after becoming victims of violence perpetuated by ZANU-PF thugs and for Tsvangirai to call them back home; with impending elections is tantamount to betrayal. Many were raped and tortured because they were MDC supporters.

We know that voter apathy is prevalent in Zimbabwe politics at the moment. After years of looting, corruption and politics of patronage, Zimbabweans do not trust their politicians. Voter apathy is bad news for Morgan Tsvangirai.

He wants people to go back home and vote for him. Is it not the same Tsvangirai who recently endorsed a final draft constitution that does not give diasporas a right to vote and have dual citizenship; yet, he wants their vote.

It is unfortunate that in Zimbabwe, we have failed to come up with a viable third force to challenge both ZANU-PF and MDCs. After five years in the GNU, these two political parties are becoming one and the same thing. None of the two parties has got the interest of the people at heart other than enriching themselves.

ZANU-PF’s liberation mantra does not appeal to our generation, any more. We all can not be a nation of war veterans or liberation fighters. The CHANGE mantra of MDC is fading as well and our hope lies in our own hands.

We have got the capacity to make a REAL change in Zimbabwe; as long as we are prepared to come together and work for a better Zimbabwe. My heart bleeds, true democracy will never come if we are all a nation of arm chair revolutionaries and critiques. We must actively get involved in the affairs of our country.

Tendai Kwari is the spokesperson for Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn in the UK