FOR a long time, the MDC-Alliance thrived on the misconception they are a ‘new’ entity in the country’s politics but as Zimbabwe marches towards the July 30 2018 harmonised polls, that narrative no longer holds water.
There is a history that defines the MDC-T; a history they will try, with little success, to escape from, a history steeped in alienation, in divisiveness, in toxicity. It is a history that the opposition will have to confront if they are the democrats they claim to be.
Many questions have to be answered too.
Key to unlocking and understanding this banal issue is unpacking the MDC-T’s politics, especially with the 2018 elections in mind.
For the MDC-Alliance there are many unanswered questions, particularly on the economy.
How does one tackle the politics of the day with the wave of economic morass drowning the aggrieved voter?
The same voter who today asks questions on why there is no water dripping out of the taps?
The same voter who is burdened with litter on the streets?
The same voter who is wondering how his/her money lined the pockets of this or that councillor?
The very same voter who is wondering how agricultural productivity plummeted during the days of the so-called Inclusive Government from which the MDC-T claims credit?
How does the MDC-T become a convincing entity in light of these questions; with an election they are afraid to participate in beckoning?
How do they respond to those questions of the day?
What is irritating is how they distance themselves from the disaster they created.
What is at play is a political party claiming to be ‘champions’ of democracy on the one hand and denying responsibility for their shocking actions on the other.
Here is a political party attempting to throw away their history, their foundation, by claiming to be a new ‘thing’ almost two decades after their formation.
We are being pestered with the generational consensus everyday but we are yet to be told about their Zimbabwe destruction project.
Is there anyone in ZANU PF who is listening to this?
Is there anyone in ZANU PF who has ever considered these issues?
How is ZANU PF dealing with this issue?
How is ZANU PF attending to that aggrieved citizen whose monthly bill payments are being used to buy a car, build a house for that greedy MDC-T councillor?
How is ZANU PF responding to the continuing theft of the money of that caring citizen who everyday pays for parking but drives in potholed roads?
How is ZANU PF responding to mourns of that citizen who has to endure dry taps every day?
Where is the ZANU PF voice when land for commercial and other uses is sold as housing stands?
Where is the ZANU PF voice when opposition councillors are robbing the country’s citizens of their hard-earned money every day?
Who shall speak for those people?
A season of fools
I said we are in that silly season.
The weather has not been friendly to everyone but it seems as if it is hitting hard on those of the opposition disposition.
The MDC-T still believes it can ride on the people’s suffering to get to State House.
It thrived and served them well while it lasted but as with all things that are founded on shaky foundations, it is soon coming to a screeching halt.
This is a party that used the people’s suffering as a ticket to State House.
This is a party thatused the country’s isolation as a route to power.
They ganged up with those who were opposed to the empowerment of the majority in order for them to claim power.
They connived with those who resented the historic and heroic Land Reform and Resettlement Programme to win power by all means.
We have, for instance, known, thanks to the beauty of time, that Tendai Biti has an uncultured, acerbic tongue.
We have also known for quite some time now that the opposition thrives on manipulation and outright malice as tools for its survival.
They have been in the trenches long enough for the voter to descern their make and build.
Of ‘humbwa’ Government and the people’s victory
The MDC-Alliance has been making deafening noises over what they say are electoral reforms.
Fair and fine!
These are people who were in Parliament for five years and they did nothing to push for those reforms — which have been implemented by the way.
What more reforms are they calling for?
There is an interesting angle to this debacle.
They get the reforms but still do not know what to do with them.
On Thursday, while launching their manifesto at the Jubilee Centre the state broadcaster, ZBC TV, gave them live coverage, a first of its kind.
Still childish antics do not escape them.
There is the lumbering Biti.
He embarks on his usual bellicose tirade.
“This country is dead because of humbwa hwe ZANU PF,” said the maverick Biti.
We will not reduce ourselves to that level of inanity.
When will the MDC-T confess and ask for forgiveness from Zimbabweans for destroying their lives?
We leave it there.
Let those with ears listen.