Calls for Tsvangirai to step down unfortunate

By Derick Matsengarwodzi

GENUINE leadership ceases to be significant the instant their subjects continuously question their leader’s place. For any organisation to prosper, it requests total pledge from all those involved. This implies respect of people’s choices in regards to any elective route.  

The moment elected members question a leader’s credentials; his tenure will construct a discord, not only within his rivals, but also amongst his loyal faction. Not only does it attract rebuke; it also sends the wrong chords to distant listeners.

In short, this uncertainty springs victory amongst the opposition fold who will gladly parade it as a malfunction within the opposition body politic. This then forwards me to the ongoing tussle within the MDC-T structures.

The media has feasted and crucified Mr Tsvangirai as a womanizer and weedy head; an accusation he utterly dismisses. This, to some, among other misdemeanors, disqualifies him to lead the group he scarified so much to form; even his beloved wife Susan paid for with her own life.

But his shortcomings, no matter how imagined or embarrassing will only become a reality when they are quantified and finally exposed by non-partisan bodies, and only then can the masses afford to rebuke him.

In other words, it requires an inquest to determine if truly their president is in disrepute of any party formalities. Without that, they could be chasing shadows of a propaganda phantom that will never be cornered.  Without that, he remains blameless and will justifiably resist any manoeuvres to dispense him.

Undeniably, leaders guide institutes to prosperity or doom; they in turn become a brand identified with their chosen entity. Such that, Tsvangirai is the face of the entire MDC formations, he remains the founding father of real Zimbabwe’s opposition politics. He piloted a new resistance forum to uplift opposition politics, only to be recognised during the GNU status.

This imposition can only be insisted by aliens of Harare politics.

So, for other members to swiftly dispatch Tsvangirai they require more than votes, intellectual reasoning and most of all bribes; they need a discerning people’s voice to undertake that path, because he has become the face of liberty and hope for the masses in Zimbabwe and beyond.

Otherwise they risk further ripping the organisation into tiny, insignificant segments offering other formations a leeway to prosper unnecessarily.

ZANU-PF and MDC have parallel ideologies; their only cooperation was during the GNU. But during that phase, the ruling party’s unwavering support for their leadership is always an understudy for any aspiring opposition politician, not only at home but also in Africa.

President Robert Mugabe is an undisputed cog of his party. Yes, infighting is rife like any other unit but its members will always stand firm and safeguard him as the vanguard of his party policies despite mounting pressure from various sections for him to relinquish power.

Support for leadership emanates from within and influences others to follow suit. Having led his party for more than three decades, Mugabe remains an authority; this dispels any mischief because everyone will rally behind his decisions.

The persistent disputes engulfing the MDC-T will only help promote their arch rivals. After Tsvangirai’s deliverance of the party through the dangerous channels of violence, intimidation and even death, today some still insist all this was in vain.  His disappearance could mean another step into the 2000 era.

How blind folded have we become.

Without doubt, opposition movements owe a lot to their current leadership style. All other shortcomings aside, they have given their supporters a reason to believe that democracy is within reach in Zimbabwe.

The persistent calls for Tsvangirai to step aside are unfortunate considering the apparent motive that led his party to lose recurrent plebiscites.

Who amongst his current challengers will lead the party towards the gains that he has achieved. No one can appropriately replace him in my own view. For his unequivocal loyalty to the cause of the party and Zimbabweans; Mr Tsvangirai remains an asset to quench the thirsty for democratic space.

Calls for Tsvangirai’s eminent demise are both treasonous and futile in that those seeking to replace him do not have a clear solution on how to dislodge the governing party from power; the main focus of all opposition formations.  Their target should be aimed towards their familiar enemy rather than commit political suicide by crucifying and strangling their leadership for safeguarding party ethos.

Recent utterances by Mr Tsvangirai that victory will come during our time; can only send fears towards enemies of egalitarianism.

Now the MDC-T should be intensifying their future resolutions rather than confronting and devouring their freedom paths in order to appreciate the reason behind their establishment that is: unveiling the authentic meaning of democracy.