Tsvangirai underestimating his influence

By Elijah Mangwengwende

Morgan Tsvangirai deserves credit for being in the gladiatorial political arena. His life is marked by sweat and blood, he sacrificed a lot for the suffering people, he strived valiantly but there is no effort without error and shortcomings.

He put his neck on the line for a worthy cause, if he fails at least he fails while daring greatly, he made his name among greats in Zimbabwe and his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory or defeat.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. Whatever people might say, Tsvangirai must be hailed as a peace loving political leader, he avoided the Alfonso Dhlakama way, he avoided the Jonas Savimbi way, and yes like the great Joshua Nkomo the man chose a peaceful path to conflict resolution.

The Nation awaits his leadership

After 15 years as leader of the main opposition, the man has accrued a sizeable number of followers in and outside the country, if not the largest following, no other opposition leader has done that since the days of ZAPU.

Since 2000, no opposition member won an election without endorsement from Tsvangirai, he is the only person people would listen to, as witnessed by his rallies, they are all well attended from Chikombedzi to Binga, from Zambezi to Limpopo.

The man actually won presidential elections by 73% in 2008 as confirmed by President Mugabe himself. I have no doubt that the man, if he can harness his power base and utilise it properly, things will be different in Zimbabwe even before 2018.

Elections: To contest or not to contest elections that’s the question, either way Tsvangirai has the power to change things that is if he wants to.

In reality, there is no such thing as not voting: you either vote by voting, or you vote by staying home and tacitly doubling the value and legitimising someone’s vote, in our case Bob. In equal terms partial boycotting doesn’t bring required results.

Boycotting by-elections and accepting proportional seats in parliament sends mixed signals to the electorate. They will ask, what really is Tsvangirai is trying to achieve. People will ask again, what if the electoral boycott doesn’t work?

Does Tsvangirai have an alternative, if so what is it? Is he trying to use unconstitutional means or not? This has been happening for the past 15 years, question, questions and questions. People are restless and one man, Tsvangirai is letting them down. He accepted to be a servant of the people, people answered him, he must lead, and now. He must find a way.

Possible outcomes of election boycotts

In my view if Tsvangirai chooses to boycott elections he puts himself in a very weak position because he cannot mobilize the people in protest the same way Raila Odinga did in Kenya. Odinga is different in that he did not boycott the election but used the stolen election as a rallying point to get the country ungovernable until Kibaki had to concede.

So Odinga negotiated from a position of strength. If Tsvangirai boycotts all elections he won’t have same moral authority needed to mobilize the people and the international community especially AU. Boycotting will only legitimise the ZANU PF victory and nothing will be done legally or illegally.

Tsvangirai will be on his own with the opposition facing a bleak future. I stand to be corrected if there will be any basis to argue even in a court of law! The only other alternative will be street demonstrations. Will Munyaradzi Gwisai’s Jambanja Ndizvo slogan be resurrected?

Vendors are leading the way, although as a peace loving citizen I prefer elections but if the majority led by Tsvangirai decide otherwise, I will follow suit. I am not advocating for anarchy. That’s anti-Christ. Am just saying if Tsvangirai uses his power, I will follow him just like what the twelve disciples did.

Surely the African Union will have no choice but to recognize that Bob is the President of Zimbabwe come 2018 and they can only appeal to Bob to accommodate the opposition more as a public relations for the EU, US and UK of which Gushungo will flatly refuse.

As I am predicting this means that Bob will start selling the Mnangagwa succession plan and the US and EU will have no problem with Mnangagwa so long he is ready to engage them. If MDC boycott the election they will be of no use to AU, US, UK and EU and all the current noises will be just for public relations to their own electorate.

We must remember that the ordinary person in Europe or America or AU is right now sympathetic to the MDC and Tsvangirai and it would be politically unwise for David Cameron and Barack Obama to come out in the open to say they are happy to engage Bob and Mnangagwa.

So they will sponsor resolutions they know will be rejected by the UN Security Council but at least they keep their image intact with the public. MDC will no longer be a factor internationally regarding any plans for Zimbabwe.

By keeping embassies in Zimbabwe the West are in fact acknowledging that Bob is the President of Zimbabwe and willing to engage him anytime. When a country really does not recognize the legitimacy of a government they break off diplomatic relations. To the contrary Britain even built a new £27 million embassy in leafy Mt Pleasant. They are already engaging ZANU PF.

Opposition leaders must interact and engage people: Free lesson

Being an MP or Minister does not mean you generate all the ideas by yourself – you are only the focal point for channelling of all the bright ideas. As you receive these ideas they become yours because you are the person who is putting everything together.

All you need for public relations is to acknowledge with thanks all those who gave their input but the final result is yours. If you have consulted many people it is unlikely that the final result would represent the input of only one person.

Even if you decide that out of 100 responses only one makes sense, the person who made that contribution will not know that his was the only idea taken – because you will state and thank the 100 who will then assume that the final result is from several recommendations!

That is how all politicians work. Remember politics is an opinion of what the law should be – and that is exactly what policy is – a guideline for law-making. Answer your phones or respond to email, engage people on social media. No Baal worshipping.

Tsvangirai must unite the Nation: Yes he can

However, even without international assistance and even with the intimidation, the fact is that a united country this time cannot be defeated and therefore it is important to stop mourning and get down to finish off the job.

The people who have been killed over the years and are being beaten are certainly not giving any sane person motivation to vote for Bob. If united, the chance for Bob losing the urban votes that he recently stole is much higher now than ever because people are ready and the rural vote may be significant judging by crowds attending Tsvangirai rallies.

Also the Matabeleland voters need to be mobilised and convinced after feeling betrayed recently by bringing memories of ZANU PF within their doorsteps.

As part of the campaign, this time Tsvangirai must announce the transitional program for taking power, provide assurance to professional people in the civil service and security forces, provide assurance to look after the interests of genuine war vets, provide assurance to protect those with lawfully acquired land and promising help for those who are suffering from politically motivated violence.

Land audit should be a top sloganeering statement. Promise to arrest corruption, at least not arrest the corrupt people for now.

Statesman Tsvangirai

What Zanu PF fears most is a united opposition and a united country against them. By presenting a united opposition Tsvangirai will act as a statesman and serve notice to Zanu PF that the votes that went to Simba Makoni in 2008 will not be going to Bob, votes given to Madhuku in 2013 will not be going to Bob, make Bob and ZANU PF history and move our country forward. ASI munotya kutonga here nhai SAVE.

Tsvangirai must be motivated knowing that in 2008 he was no longer an opposition candidate.

Elijah Mangwengwende is a certified opposition activist, motivated by the vending community in Zimbabwe.