Zim opposition and perils of dancing to a stranger’s drum

By William Muchayi

Hardly before the dust has even settled after the Norton by-election won by Temba Mliswa against all odds, it was just a matter of when as opposed to why he was to be embroiled in an inferno much to the amusement of both foes and friends.

Indeed, the YARD leader did not disappoint as evidenced by his choreographed photo shot with ‘nemesis’ Saviour Kasukuwere, Zanu PF’s political commissar, to the astonishment of many especially within opposition ranks who had warmed to him as a born again.

It would be harsh to dismiss as foolish those deceived by the chameleon Mliswa, for, the newly elected Norton legislator availed himself at every event at the right time to the extent that many equated his change of fortunes to that of the Biblical Saul on his way to Damascus.

Mliswa rubbed shoulders with activists at the Africa Unity Square, attended opposition rallies to the extent of being made guest speaker on some occasions and is reported to have contributed a few bags of maize to the Dzamara family as a goodwill gesture if media rumours are to be believed beside the fact that he once had contacts with the missing Itai as acknowledged by Patson, the latter’s brother. Given all this track record after being unceremoniously expelled from Zanu PF, who in their right minds would dispute the legislator’s sincerity in the fight for democracy?

In fact, it has to be acknowledged that in a mature democracy as opposed to Africa’s, Mliswa and Kasukuwere’s meeting would have been a none event in the developed world whereby known nemesis  occasionally rub shoulders in events  of common interest.

Also, being the Commissar’s former fitness trainer, it is absurd to assume that the two can barely communicate in spite of their public spats, hence, the choreographed photo shot that has caused uproar in the media. As justified by the legislator, in order for him to deliver his election promises to the Norton electorate, he can not in any way avoid Saviour Kasukuwere who is the Minister of Local Government.

That is the dilemma any opposition legislator faces when not in government and Mliswa can’t be an exception. In that regard, and considering the fact that he is an independent MP not answerable to any political party except for his constituency of Norton, it would be naïve to label the legislator as a traitor simply on the basis of the controversial meeting between the two.

That being said, the opposition needs to self-reflect in the way they embrace without scrutiny  rejects from the sinking Titanic such as Temba Mliswa, Jonathan Moyo, Joyce Mujuru, Jealous Mawarire and others just to mention a few.

And, for those with long memories, Jonathan Moyo is rumoured to have entered into an electoral pact in Tsholotsho with the MDC in 2008 elections which saw the latter not fielding a candidate under the banner of a united front to confront Zanu PF.

What followed is now history as readers recall the unfolding drama. In Mliswa’s case, in spite of all his public gestures that helped him get traction with the suspicious opposition after his expulsion from the ruling party, his sincerity was questionable from the start.

Firstly, Mliswa didn’t leave Zanu PF voluntarily just like Joyce Mujuru, Didmus Mutasa and crew. It implies that with all the rot presided over by the Mugabe regime with  some of them being participants, these ‘born-agains’ were happy to be passengers in the grave train until forced out of the window through a misunderstanding with the driver who happens to be the geriatric. On this premise, it is logical to conclude that if these rejects did not cross the geriatric’s path, they would still be on the grave train with all its rot.

That is not the end of the saga since Mliswa, his uncle Didymus Mutasa, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti and others made frantic efforts without success to cling onto the windows of the Titanic by challenging the constitutionality of their expulsion in the courts. All this evidence reinforces the fear that Mliswa is never a born again but just an opportunist who thrives on sheer bravery and an exceptional ability to camouflage his treachery.

In Shona vakuru vanoti shiri yakangwara inovaka dendere rayo neminhenga yedzimwe, meaning that the legislator, just like Jonathan Moyo of Tsholotsho in 2008, exploited the naivety of the opposition to advance his personal interests.

It is through these exceptional talents that the legislator was able to infiltrate activists at Africa Unity Square thereby managing to access classified information which he in turn handed over to Saviour Kasukuwere and ultimately Mugabe. 

In fact, the public rants on gay gangsters was nothing but just a camouflage to disguise his treachery. And, embarrassingly, the MDC-T even went to the extent of campaigning for such a mole at the expense of fielding their own candidate in the Norton by-election, hence, the folly of dancing to a stranger’s drum.

As a public relations coup, there was nothing wrong in parading Mliswa at opposition rallies but it would have paid off if the newly elected legislator was a genuine convert in the footsteps of the Biblical Saul which he appears not to be.

The mere fact that he stood as an independent in the presence of a plethora of political parties was a big statement which should have forced many to think twice about his sincerity in dislodging the Mugabe regime.

Again, not to be underestimated is Mliswa allegiance to the expelled war veterans backing Emmerson Mnangagwa. Of late, the legislator heaps praise on the ‘Crocodile’ urging Mugabe to step down so as to pave way for the former.

With due respect one wonders how a Mnangagwa presidency will turn around the fortunes of many in the country who have been reduced to paupers considering the fact that the aspiring candidate for the top job in the land has been part to the rot since independence.

Mliswa is well aware of this paradox but as long as his interests, including the farm he grabbed from the white farmer are protected, then, all is well for everybody. In this treachery, the legislator is not alone but many and even some within opposition ranks such as Chris Mbanga, Sekesayi Makwavarara, all former Harare Acting Mayors, and others are implicated. All these scandals raise questions on the credibility of opposition intelligence and strategy in the fight against entrenched dictatorship.

As long as the opposition boycott polls due to irregularities in the electoral process, acres of space is created for the Mliswas, for, there can’t be vacuum in the congested playing field. The Norton by-election is over with the Bikita and Chimanimani West contests by the corner. Who is to fill the vacuum deserted by mainstream parties?

For, rather than giving Mliswa space by boycotting elections which the latter now abuses to advance his personal interests, the opposition should never have played second fiddle in this drama. Indeed, none of the opposition parliamentarians ever resigned in protest over the non- implementation of electoral reforms and it becomes illogical to boycott by-elections when they are participants in the August House.

Instead, a total boycott of both parliament and by-elections would have made sense to the electorate. Regrettably, the opposition feature in the Mliswa saga for all the bad reasons which do not help their cause.  As long as they boycott elections but are willing partners to prop up the Mliswas in by-elections without credible intelligence to justify their support, the Norton saga will not be the last and Mugabe will have the last laugh to his grave.

William Muchayi is a pro-democracy campaigner and political analyst who can be contacted on [email protected]