THE MDC-ALLIANCE MEMBERS HAVE TO FIND A WAY OF BEHAVING DIFFERENTLY.

 

In the next installment of the MDC Game of Thrones, MDC- ALLIANCE supporters expressed dissatisfaction over the presence of certain individuals at the funeral of Gogo Chamisa, mother to MDC-ALLAINCE President, Advocate Nelson Chamisa. The victims were MDC-T Acting President, Dr Khupe and NCA President, Professor Madhuku. Dr Khupe is the President of the MDC-T which has been weaponized to destroy the MDC-ALLAINCE, whereas Prof Madhuku has been instrumental in providing that armory. Over the past few years, ugly scenes have erupted at different MDC-ALLIANCE gatherings, primarily the burial of MDC leaders and officials. One would immediately remember that ugly scenes were experienced at Dr Morgan Tsvangirai’s funeral in Humanikwa, as well as Vimbai Tsvangirai’s funeral in Harare. The common denominator in all three instances is Dr Khupe, whose unhealthy relationship with MDC-ALLIANCE supporters in only getting nastier. I attempt to explore what is at play, and how things can and should play out differently.

WEAPONS OF THE WEAK

On some twitter thread, I made reference to “the weapons of the weak”. Development Experts make reference to this practice, to account for actions that are undertaken by those who feel disempowered when faced by situations where their own thoughts and beliefs are put aside. This course of action has its roots in the “nothing-for-us-without-us” thinking. In unorthodox means, the weak find ways to show their strength. For instance, in development, a donor might come and decide to build some infrastructure to assist local residence without their input and initial involvement. Although the donor’s motivations are “genuine”, the interpretation of the intended beneficiaries is what holds sway.

One random example is of how some donors decided to build blair toilets for some local community in Zimbabwe to alleviate rising cholera cases, as well as a general improvement in hygiene and civilization. The donor provided all materials for all intended beneficiaries and left. Some years later, indeed some households had built the toilets. The challenge however was, the majority of the locals turned the blare toilets into granaries. They major reservation was that it was un-cultural for parents and their children or in-laws to use the same place of convenience. They thus preferred the bush method and were adamant to persist with it. The bush was their “historic way of life” and they equally felt that their immediate concern was wild animals that were attacking their produce. There are so many other instances where people come up with justifications for certain courses of action, which might sound stupid to the next person, to express their dissatisfaction. I could come up with more examples, perhaps more appropriate ones, but I’m convinced the point has been harmed home.

In the MDC political fights, the “war” has been reduced to board rooms and court sessions. Consequently, the most important stakeholder in politics, the voter, has been reduced to a mere by-stander. Imagine someone who waited for hours in a long queue suddenly being told “we have recalled your MP” by someone who was an opponent in the same election. There isn’t enough Latin in the world of law, to satisfactorily explain this. In one tweet, someone questioned why I was taking Dr Khupe lightly. The fellow citizen says to me “when Harvest house was taken away, I could not sleep”. These are the sentiments of die-hard MDC-ALLIANCE supporters boiling with anger and frustration. These people have been in the trenches for twenty plus years, and realize that the MDC-ALLIANCE, led by Advocate Chamisa is the vehicle towards the realization of a democratic dispensation. They equally realize that this vehicle is under surge, from yesteryear enemies, and their own erstwhile colleagues, fronted by Dr Khupe and Senator Mwonzora.

Parallels can be drawn with the donor example explained earlier. The same way the donor felt their intention were for the greater good of the communities, the MDC-T officials equally feel that their actions are for the greater good of the party, thus a drive to bring “sanity and constitutionalism” in the movement. The same way the locals felt that granaries were of immediate importance since the project coincided with harvesting, MDC-ALLAINCE supporter feel that the elevation of Nelson Chamisa was of immediate importance post Tsvangirai, with an ensuing election, regardless of what the constitution said. This illustrates how people have their own logic, based on their own experiences. In the MDC fights, the most painful part for these citizens is that all they can do is watch. But therein lies the challenge. They cannot only watch. They can act, and are already finding ways of doing so. The easiest and simplest way is occupying the space which they feel they control. One such is social media, primarily twitter. The other one obviously is their own party gatherings, such us what has happened at rallies and funerals. By booing and heckling opponents, the weak are showing their strength.

Dr KHUPE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER!

One of the argument that has been raised is that the Dr Khupe should have known better, and used her sense of judgement to avoid the burials of Dr Tsvangirai, Vimbai Tsvangirai and Gogo Chamisa. After all, MDC-ALLAINCE supporters, who now see her as an opponent, were the majority at all events. It thus wasn’t going to take much, for anyone to pre-empt her reception. Indeed, others Khupe allies, such as Senators Mwonzora, Mudzuri and Kimichi did not attend the funeral. It is not impossible to think that they might engage the Chamisa family later. The same can be said about other officials such as Dr Mashakada who have actually known Chamisa for a very long time. It’s indisputable to argue that there was a poor sense of judgement, regarding circumstances at play. Tempers are high and the MDC fights are only getting nastier.

I however will rhetorically ask, if MDC-ALLIANCE supporters are free from the same inquiry? Can they themselves be absolved from the same? If Dr Khupe’s intention was to grandstand, as some allege, why then give her an opportunity to expose your failings? The “war” is lost when an “enemy” is able to pre-empt your action. They can easily use this to destroy you.  If Dr Khupe attended the funeral so as to be hackled and then be able to use her experience against the MDC-ALLAINCE, why then give her that? In fact, whereas I previously said Dr Khupe was the common denominator in the expression of dissatisfaction by MDC-ALLIANCE supporters, the other one has indeed been Nelson Chamisa. In all three instances, he has had to stand and protect her. Unfortunately, in the third installment, Chamisa was not just the MDC-ALLIANCE President, but the bereaved. It is unfortunate that such a burden was bestowed on him. Videos are all over the internet, of a grieving Chamisa, addressing party supporters and imploring them to leave political contestations for another day. Sadly, by the time he intervened, Dr Khupe had left, and Chamisa himself has promised to reach out to her and apologize. It should not happen this way. Here are a few reasons why MDC-A supporters have to find ways, within their justified anger and frustrations, to show restraint

• THE MDC-ALLIANCE MUST GOVERN DIFFERENTLY

The MDC was founded on the idea of winning state power and governing differently. To the extent to which the MDC wishes to maintain and sustain the respect it has earned over the years, it’s supporters have to find ways of remaining slaves to their own founding ethos. Actions that divert from this, will simply turn the MDC into the very monster it is aiming at dethroning and replacing. More importantly, it’s of strategic importance that the MDC-ALLIANCE becomes attractive even to people who would not vote for the party. Over the years, opposition supporters have been at the receiving end of state sponsored violence. More often than not, the state has even dared the opposition for confrontations. The idea has always been to have an excuse for a clamp-down on MDC Leadership and party membership.

But in the scheme of things, everyone, at the very least, has to believe that they can be safe under a MDC-A government, especially those who have threatened to leave, when Chamisa eventually assumes the country’s Presidency. Even current criminals need to know that under the MDC, they will be subjected to fair legal trials. Not retribution. This is uncomfortable in the eyes of someone who has been a victim for twenty or so years, yet that’s the foundation on which progressive states are build. This is what separates Statesmen from politicians, and is indeed the way Advocate Chamisa should structure his own politics.

• GIVING THE OPPONENT EXCUSES

The justification for Gukurahundi atrocities has always been that a renegade force was existing in Matabeleland and Midlands regions, after disarmament calls. This became a convenient excuse to descend on those regions and cause so much bloodshed. Soon after the 2018 elections, unplanned demonstrations gave the establishment a convenient excuse to engage in another clampdown on innocent citizens exercising their constitutional rights to freedom of expression and communication. The demos left supporters and innocent individuals at the mercy of the army and now many citizens have been reduced to statics of state sponsored violence. Rebuking this un-strategic move landed Advocate Chamisa in trouble again, after he labelled the demonstration “stupid”. Whereas the convenient narrative became that Chamisa had called the demonstrators “stupid”, this simply exposes how the MDC opponents are always ready and able, to use any excuse to attack the Opposition.

One of the challenges which some do not immediately see, when they make threats which they cannot fulfill for one reason or the other, is actually that someone might decide to do it on their behalf, in their name, and use it to implicate them. This is easily achievable in a nation who’s institutions work in the favour of the State. At the Monthante Commission Of Inquiry, former ZanuPF youth Leader, Jim Kunaka’s testimonial exposed how ZanuPF youths are given police uniforms and are deployed to attack political opponents in the name of the State. Why then wouldn’t the same youths wear MDC-ALLIANCE party regalia and commit violence in the name of the MDC? Would it be difficult to gain traction if the conduct of party supporters make the commission of such acts believable? I have seen with regret, many atimes, on social media, when certain individuals threaten to kill MDC-T officials. Often, it is an expression of anger and frustration. The tragedy however is that it creates a convenient excuse for the execution of the same by others. It can only be a matter of time, when the country is plunged into conversations over how MDC-ALLIANCE officials did certain things to MDC-T officials. This has to be guarded against. At all costs.

• ZIMBABWE NEEDS TO HEAL

One of the realities of our politics is that it’s very toxic. Citizens who support different political parties cannot even agree which year it is. There is always a politicized way of looking at life and social phenomenon. This toxicity is a consequence of bad leadership. The political leaderships in Zimbabwe has historically used citizens as pawns. Yesteryear experiences have left the country deeply divided. These include Gukurahundi as well as pre and post-election violence. 2008 immediately comes to mind. Post-independence, ZanuPF employed the same machinery previously under the settler regime, against citizens and all those perceived to be enemies. These include the security, the media and even the legal system. Tough questions have to be asked of the MDC-A, in terms of the outlook of a Zimbabwe under their Leadership. There has to be conduct, genuine conduct, to indicate that Zimbabwe will be a better place under Nelson Chamisa and the Leadership of the MDC-ALLAINCE. One of the ways to show this, is a different political culture. Zimbabwe needs to heal. Violence and threats of violence only take us many years back. Citizens have to contest rigorously at the polls, but still meet and engage respectfully at a church or a funeral. Political contestations should be left for political arenas. Death is the ultimate equalizer, and should bring out the humanity in all of us. Let those who wish to commiserate do so. It becomes more important when the deceased was not a politician. It is imperative to give their family and friends, an opportunity to pay their respect and send off their loved one with dignity.

• ALWAYS LEAVE ROOM FOR RE-ENGAGEMENT

I always refer to political banter that was thrown at Tendai Biti by Advocate Chamisa when the MDC-T held its Congress in 2014, after the party split. Tendai Biti left with a group which was known as the Renewal Team which then turned into People’s Democratic Party, PDP, later on. Towards the Congress, the then MDC-T Organizing Secretary, Advocate Nelson Chamisa, updating the media on Congress preparations said: “…we have not invited Biti and his oranges”. Indeed, the Biti faction had employed orange as their official party colour. The banter was hilarious, true to Chamisa’s nature. But over the years, whenever the party has split, character assignation has been used to target opponents. Some accusations were/are true, some are mere banter, and indeed some are out rightly false and unfortunate. Tragedy befalls these Leaders when they eventually build bridges and decide to work together again. This is something we can never rule out in life. It then becomes of paramount importance to choose words carefully and leave room for re-engagement. More so when the party treats itself as an alternative. Some of the words that have been used to attack Dr Khupe’s person, primarily her health, her gender and tribe, are cold, ugly and repugnant. They serve no purpose but to expose the ugliness of our thinking. People should be judged on the substance of their character and conduct, outside other things they do not have control over. Victimizing Dr Khupe on such lines is something that has no justification. Women should be safe in our politics. So too should people of other identities.

• CHAMISA IS MORE THAN JUST MDC-ALLIANCE PRESIDENT

Nelson Chamisa wears many jackets. Consequently, he engages with different people from different backgrounds. He is a lawyer, an Advocate more precisely. Indeed he once represented a company linked with Mr Mnangagwa, in a court of law. Nelson Chamisa is a Pastor. That on its own, demands that he behaves differently. He has to preach his Lord to everybody. It’s understandable that this has been used against him. However, it’s a reality which his supporters have to find ways of accepting. It’s either that, or they remove him from their party Leadership. His calling, dictates certain behaviour of him. True to that, those who have engaged the man would know how accommodating and jovial he always is. It’s difficult to think that he actually gets annoyed and angry like the rest of us. But that is testimonial to the man he is. Politically, Chamisa aims at becoming State President. That will make him President to Dr Khupe, Douglas Mwonzora and even Mr Mnangagwa. No one has to leave when he assumes the Presidency. It is thus important for MDC-ALLIANCE supporters to exhibit the same conduct, more so at gatherings which have a different agenda. It can only work in their favour.

CONCLUSION

Another reality is that, the Zimbabwean political landscape has many power brokers. Many of those have only known ZanuPF and have invested so much in maintaining the status quo. They need to be convinced that under the MDC-ALLIANCE, Zimbabwe will open a new page of progress and development. They too need to be dragged kicking and screaming to a better Zimbabwe. It’s important to climb the political mountain and try to gaze at what possibly awaits Dr Khupe in the not so distant future. Engage her on politics and her conduct, but leave the person out of it. Zimbabwe feels like a hot summer day in the middle of a desert. If we are to survive, then MDC-ALLAINCE supporters should turn Nelson Chamisa into a big shady tree where all can come and find refuge. Personally, I will not be surprised should Dr Khupe, minus others, reach out to MDC-ALLIANCE, sooner rather than later. But that’s a conversation for another day. As of now, let’s find a way of healing, or else Nelson Chamisa will be left with no country to lead, let alone a NATION.

Enkosi!!