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The role of Trust in Zimbabwean politics

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Tuesday, March 17th, 2009 by Dewa Mavhinga

Recently l had a quiet chuckle as l reflected on the role of trust in Zimbabwean politics. The reflection led me to recall a story my father often told me. The story goes something like this: There was a man in my father’s village who was notorious for poisoning the beer of colleagues as they drank in open mugs. The entire village feared him and no-one dared drink with him. My father shared this fear and mistrust but wanted to show this man but he told wanted to show this guy he trusted him, so, quite exceptionally they went for a beer drink together. During the course of drinking it became inevitable that my father had to respond to the call of nature and of course had to leave the notorious villager in sole custody of his beer mug. As he walked back to  rejoin the notorious villager, my father was faced with a difficult situation: whether to trust that the villager had not tempered with his beer and just finish the beer in the mug or to reveal his deep mistrust by not finishing up his beer. Fortunately my father was lucky to have a brain wave; he feigned a drunken stupor, stumbled around and tipped the mug over, immediately removing the need to take the ultimate test of trust. Political parties in Zimbabwe may not be so lucky to escape taking the test of trust.

The question of trust was recently thrust to the fore of people’s minds by the tragic death of the Prime Minister’s wife Amai Susan Tsvangirai (may her soul rest in peace) in a tragic road traffic accident. While the causes of the accident will not be examined in detail here, leaving that to an independent investigator, suffice it here to state that the nation was immediately gripped with deep suspicion – and many, including yours truly, saw, not the hand of God, but the hand of ZANU-PF behind the unfortunate event. This, l believe, demonstrates fully the level of distrust that prevails in Zimbabwe.

Now that the Global Political Agreement has ushered in an inclusive government that necessarily requires ZANU-PF and MDC to work together for the good of Zimbabwe, one wonders whether there is sufficient mutual trust to enable the parties to work effectively together. Trust generally refers to a firm belief in someone or something or being confident about someone or something. Trust develops over time, based on solid past experiences that inform present levels of trust. Trust is not nurtured by beautiful speeches of flowery language; it feeds on consistent action to deliver on promises made.

If history is anything to go by, then it will be very difficult to trust ZANU-PF. Its human rights and social services delivery record when it was in government for the past 29 years is appalling and its propensity to break promises made to the people astounding to say the least. Distrust of ZANU-PF is therefore not paranoia, rather, blind trust of ZANU-PF maybe be an indication of serious amnesia. To what extent can ZANU-PF as a political party and partner in government be trusted by the MDC and by the people of Zimbabwe to deliver food, health, democracy and fundamental freedoms to the people of Zimbabwe? Or, is it a sign of mutual trust that MDC and ZANU-PF have joined hands in this inclusive government or a sign of desperation on the part of both parties? I hazard a guess that the inclusive government is not a reflection of trust but desperation. ZANU-PF and MDC are trying to work together under a dark cloud of mistrust while pretending that there is not a speck of mistrust in the bright blue sky of the partnership.

For the GPA or anything to work, or any relationship for that matter, there is need for a certain level of mutual trust to exist. For parties that have worked together for a long time in a spirit of opposition and mistrust, to build and raise trust to required minimal levels requires solid political will and a lot of hard work. It requires a change of attitude and a radical paradigm shift. ZANU-PF must demonstrate, by concrete positive actions, that it has turned over a new leaf and is now worthy of the nation’s trust.

At the moment, ZANU-PF’s trust account is in overdraft, there is need to work gradually and progressively to restore people’s confidence as well as the trust of the international community that Zimbabwe is open for clean business. The international community must see for them concrete evidence that, for instance, financial accountability has been restored at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and that if aid is given it will reach intended beneficiaries and not vanish into thin air.

Unfortunately recent events in Zimbabwe do not contribute to the genesis and growth of trust; rather, they fan the fires of mistrust and suspicion and confirm to the unconverted that perhaps ZANU-PF, much like the proverbial leopard, will never changes its spots.  Instead of reassuring the nation that abductions and acting outside the framework of the rule of law are a thing of the past, even as the parties and joining hands, a senior member of the MDC and deputy Minister of Agriculture designate is abducted and slapped with trumped-up and politically motivated charges. Not only that, in open violation of constitutional and GPA provisions, all parties to the GPA agree to swear-in more cabinet ministers than provided for. How can both the MDC and ZANU-PF persuade the nation to trust them that they are indeed putting the best interests of the nation ahead of their own?  Again, quite oblivious of the need to build trust, President Robert Mugabe of ZANU-PF unilaterally sought to make appointments of Permanent Secretaries to all ministries.

Another interesting development that raises the question of trust once more is the fact that MDC members of cabinet have been allocated State security agents for their personal security. One really wonders whether these ministers feel more secure or more insecure as a result. My father used to tell me of a statement coined by opposition parties in the 1980s to refer to ZANU-PF. It says, ‘ZANU-PF Isinjonjo – tamba wakachenjera,’ which in English is ‘when in partnership with ZANU-PF, always be on the watch out – better sleep with one eye open.’

Finally, word of advice to ZANU-PF is that trust is earned and once earned must be guarded jealously. To earn the trust of the nation and indeed of MDC, there is need to demonstrate, through action, that there is a difference between the ZANU-PF in the inclusive government and the other one that belongs in that past. The MDC must also earn the trust of the nation that they have their bearings and priorities right and that they represent a change that brings bread to the table for all. Zimbabwe’s Finance Minister also needs to earn the trust of the international community from whom Zimbabwe is seeking aid, and one way of earning this trust is to clean-up the Reserve Bank and put in place water-tight systems of financial accountability while ensuring that both small and big fish found guilty of looting national resources are locked away. I end by quoting and respectfully agreeing with Arthur Mutambara who at his swearing in ceremony as the new Deputy Prime Minister said it was high time for political parties in Zimbabwe to “deliver, deliver and deliver.”

Are We In A New Zimbabwe Yet?

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Monday, March 9th, 2009 by Dewa Mavhinga

Since the swearing in ceremony of the Prime Minister, his 2 deputies and ministers some 2 weeks ago l have been asking myself the question: Are we in a new Zimbabwe yet? The answer eludes me still. My hope, and l am sure many Zimbabweans and other well wishers shared this hope too, was that the consummation of the inclusive government would be the ushering in of a new era characterized by a bold paradigm shift on the part of government and a fresh and new way of doing things. In other words, with an inclusive government it cannot be business as usual. I desperately wanted to feel the winds of change blowing across the country, and to see the change with my own eyes.

It was with a heavy heart, but not entirely unexpected, that it dawned on me that a new dawn has not come to Zimbabwe. Only minuscule and purely cosmetic changes have taken place; there has been no paradigm shift on the part of ZANU-PF and certainly there is nothing tangible to reflect a change of heart and attitudes on the part of ZANU-PF. Robert Mugabe and company has simply made a little room for the MDC to squeeze in at the table without making any alterations to the menu. Those, like me, who expected ZANU-PF to suddenly embrace accountability, human rights and other democratic values were met with the a rude reality that its business as usual for ZANU-PF and that all newcomers to the business of government will learn the ropes at the feet of ZANU-PF.

It appears ZANU-PF has stood on the shores of the river of change, and, instead of crossing over to the land of transparency, good governance and democracy; ZANU-PF has beckoned to MDC to cross over to its side of the river which is blighted with corruption, lawlessness and repression. As soon as the inclusive government came into being ZANU-PF promptly began vomiting on the agreement. State Agents, no, State Thugs really, had the audacity to abduct Deputy Minister of Agriculture designate, Roy Bennett and incarcerate him on trump-up charges. Despite a High Court ruling by Justice Karwi granting Bennett bail, one Prisons Assistant Commissioner Albert Mandimika flatly refused to release Bennett. What more, Robert Mugabe at his birthday Party in Chinhoyi declared that farm invasions are not over until the last remaining white farmers leave their farms. These events provide conclusive evidence to those in doubt that we are certainly not in a new Zimbabwe. We are definitely in Mugabe’s old Zimbabwe where human rights and democracy are anathema. We are still in a dictatorship where human rights defenders are threatened with extinction.

That MDC is now part of government so far makes little difference. They have not demonstrated to observers that they will not take crap from Mugabe and his cronies. They are yet to demonstrate that they wield some power, beyond merely talking about it. I challenge the MDC to take decisive measures and to stand up to ZANU-PF and demand that ZANU-PF stops this nonsense. I urge the MDC to be open and transparent and resist ZANU-PF’s way of doing things. This is the only way to ensure we make a clean break with the past.

The MDC cannot be preoccupied with saving the so called inclusive government to the point of making concession after concession to ZANU-PF. Morgan Tsvangirai and his team must stand solidly and firmly on principle and refuse to move an inch from principle. If the government of national unity will collapse because Morgan insists on respect for human rights – so be it. A warning to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is this: Do not give ZANU-PF any quota, if you give ZANU-PF your hand they will want your whole arm. In the twinkling of an eye, ZANU-PF will swallow you whole. MDC remember your slogan and promise to bring about change; and please deliver the change we need in Zimbabwe.

Chinja Maitiro!

Words of advice to President Robert Mugabe

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Friday, April 4th, 2008 by Dewa Mavhinga

Dear Gushungo, as a patriotic and peace-loving son-of-the-soil, l write to you to advise you on the pertinent issue of Presidential elections. As you know, ZEC is holding on to Presidential results (a result that indicates Tsvangirai as winner) to give you time to consult on your next move and possibly to plan a graceful exit from the now chaotic stage of Zimbabwe politics. Now many people are pushing you to remain in your seat, or to call for a runoff, let me warn you that all these people are doing it for selfish interests, and they are liars.

These people lied to you that the people of Zimbabwe were with you, and that a ZANU PF victory would be overwhelming, they lied that MDC had no support; but now you know Mr President, the people have spoken, and the message is loud and clear: your time is up. Now is the time for you to exit the political stage with a modicum of dignity, you have been embarrassed by this outcome, in a runoff you will be thoroughly humiliated.

I advise you against going into a rerun not only because it is pointless, this election was more a referendum on your leadership than anything else, l caution you against a rerun primarily because of the very much alive risk of dividing our country and the likelihood of sour losers unleashing violence in the country. We do not want war, we want to heal our nation and bring the nation together.

Be a statesman and resist a knee-jack reaction of resisting change, you have said yourself that you do not believe in second rounds, you have been knocked out in this round, take it, and let the nation move on and leave it script the next chapter in the life of Zimbabwe. For inspiration you can look to the conduct of Trudy Stevenson; she put her heart and soul into campaigning for the Mount Pleasant Parliamentary Seat, she lost dismally to Tsvangirai’s MDC, upon losing she was courageous and graceful enough to concede defeat – and to wish the winner well. That is the spirit we want in Zimbabwe, of understanding that when the people have spoken then that is the end, of acknowledging that life must go on outside political office.

I challenge you Gushungo, in the name of Zimbabwe and all its fallen heroes, to rise above personal interest and bruised ego to make your next move based on the best interest on Zimbabwe. Your last act as President, that of resigning and handing over the reins to Morgan Tsvangirai, just that single act, will avert great suffering and put Zimbabwe firmly on path to recovery.

I know that there are many who were milking the country dry because of their proximity to you and your office, and they are not prepared to see an end to their outlandish lifestyles. Also, there are those who have committed heinous and egregious violations of human rights, who have looted, plundered, raped and killed in the name of Zanu PF who now feel exposed by your imminent departure from high office and are prepared to have you humiliated just to save their skins. Do not be deceived by their sweet words, leave them to face the full measure of the law.

For the sake of our country and our people who have suffered for so long, l urge you to see reason, concede defeat and sit down with Tsvangirai and urge the winners to form a government of national unity. After renouncing the Zanu PF culture and embracing democracy and good governance values l am sure Zanu PF will be useful as opposition. We need to move forward now, to a new government and a new Zimbabwe.

However Gushungo, if you choose to ignore voice of reason, and stubbornly insist on a run-off, then know that you will have squandered the last shred of dignity left in you, and all in vain, because you will surely lose, and lose in the most humiliating way. Also rest assured that the long arm of the law will catch up with all these criminals who are lurking behind the curtains at State House shouting shrilly that Mugabe is not going anywhere. The sooner you accept this reality the better for everyone, there is no turning back in Zimbabwe, the time for change is now.

Not this time around; Mugabe must simply GO

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Tuesday, April 1st, 2008 by Dewa Mavhinga

Against the backdrop of a blatantly unfair pre-election environment, Zimbabweans voted on 29 March to indicate the direction they want the country to go. According to electoral laws, all votes are counted, verified and displayed outside each polling station. This is especially useful since much of the rigging has taken place in the counting of the vote. Voting ended at 7pm and, in an unprecedented move, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission delayed announcing results for at least 36 hours and only started a slow process of announcing results at 6am on Monday, 31 March. The MDC, through its elections directorate, simply collected and collated all votes displayed outside polling stations and announced a resounding victory for Tsvangirai’s MDC.

Because of the highly suspicious behaviour of ZEC of taking too long to announce official results, there are genuine fears that Mugabe and ZANU PF want to subvert the will of the people and silence the people who have spoken through the ballot by fixing figures and announcing that Mugabe and ZANU PF as winners. There are rumours now swilling in Harare that security chiefs are in marathon meetings preparing to rig elections and prepare to crush any challenge to their electoral fraud.

I must say the conduct of ZEC is reckless and inconsiderate as it puts the nation at risk of a Kenya style revolt as the absence of official results for no apparent reason creates tension and anxiety in the people. It is criminal and treasonous for security chiefs to interfere with the counting of the vote and the announcements; security chiefs must be warned that days of lawlessness and mayhem in Zimbabwe are over. In a new Zimbabwe we will hold them to account for their actions. If Zimbabwe’s army and police think that they can hold the nation hostage they are dreaming; no-one can stop the wind of change that is sweeping across Zimbabwe, not Mugabe, not Chihuri, and not Chiwenga. Mugabe has said his conscience will not let him sleep if he steals an election (l wonder how he has managed to sleep since 2000), so he must heed his conscience and do the honourable thing of respecting the will of the nation. Zimbabwe needs a new political leadership with fresh ideas. Zimbabwe cannot move on with Mugabe at the helm; Mugabe must go, and he must go now before he plunges our beloved country into chaos and bloodshed.

ZANU PF may want to take comfort in the knowledge that they have rigged before and there was no uprising and South Africa and others looked away and pretended all was well. That was then, this time the people of Zimbabwe will defend their vote; the prospect of another disastrous five years with Mugabe and ZANU PF is motivation enough to take the struggle to the next level, on the streets. What Zimbabwe needs is a new leader with fresh ideas, not the look-east nonsense and diet of starvation that we have known with Mugabe. This time the rigging is easier to expose because results are displayed at polling stations; so we must defend the vote and pray that all patriotic and peace loving security forces must join the people of Zimbabwe and say no to Mugabe. Let us all stand up and act to stop Mugabe squandering our future.

The people of South Africa must stand in solidarity with us in Zimbabwe during this, our hour of great need, and prevail on Thabo Mbeki to demand that Mugabe respects the will of the people. The African Union has rejected all forms of unconstitutional changes of government and the massive electoral fraud unfolding in Zimbabwe is clearly unconstitutional and must be severely condemned as such by AU. In the case of Kenya, the African Union led the international community in activating the international duty to protect the fundamental rights of Kenyans, sadly, it was after considerable loss of life. My appeal to Mbeki and SADC is that they help stop this madness in Zimbabwe now before Mugabe plunges us into total darkness. It is with a heavy heart and tears in my eyes that l write this appeal. Now that the people have spoken, Mugabe and ZANU PF have a moral and legal obligation to give expression to the voice of the people and the respect the outcome of the elections. In Shona we say, Chisingaperi Chinoshura – which extorts all to know that everything has an end; for Mugabe and ZANU PF’s leadership of Zimbabwe the end has come and l urge them to accept it.

Rantings of little men allergic to democracy and good governance

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Monday, March 17th, 2008 by Dewa Mavhinga

Utterances and statements emerging from Zimbabwe’s uniformed forces, starting with Rt Major General Paradzayi Zimondi, Head of Prisons, to the effect that they will not accept or salute either opposition Movement for Democratic Change Presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai or Independent and former ruling party minister Simba Makoni (should they win the Presidential election on 29 March) cannot go unchallenged. Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri and Army General Constantine Chiwenga are also on record saying they will not accept Robert Mugabe losing to what they derisively termed ‘puppets’. There is no room for such misguided utterances in Zimbabwe; these men of uniform must resign with immediate effect.

Zimbabweans will not be held to ransom by a bunch of men who should know that it is highly unprofessional for the army, police and prisons to delve in political matters or to attempt to influence the vote by spreading fear, alarm and despondency. Political engagement and discourse is for civilians and civilians alone, it is a fundamental right of the people of Zimbabwe to determine through the ballot who they wish to lead them; the uniformed forces must be reminded that this is none of their business. The uniformed forces belong to the people of Zimbabwe and have an obligation to respect democratic political processes and must swear allegiance to whomsoever Zimbabweans chose as leader.

It must be stated clearly that it is treasonous and shameful for the leadership of uniformed forces to issue such irresponsible statements threatening to return to war if President Mugabe loses elections; it is shameful for government of Zimbabwe to remain silent and not condemn outright such utterances; worst of all, it is shameful and unacceptable that SADC and international community should remain silent in the face of these treasonous statements which are obviously meant to sway and compel voters to vote for a value system that is unmarketable and can only be forced down the throats of the masses. Effectively, Chihuri, Chiwenga and Zimondi have become Zanu PF campaign agents, poor ones at that, as they only know the language of threats. It is very strange that, in the face of all these unconstitutional, frivolous and inflammatory utterances, South African President Thabo Mbeki still has the audacity to express hope that Zimbabwe elections will be free and fair. One wonders what benchmarks Mbeki is applying to elections in Zimbabwe; they are certainly not the SADC guidelines, standards and norms for the conduct of free and fair elections.

How can elections in Zimbabwe be possibly be credible, free and fair when the electorate is threatened with war should they vote out Mugabe? Enough is enough, we cannot accept mortgaging Zimbabwe’s future to a few cronies who selfishly cling to the past and are keen to destroy Zimbabwe for selfish personal interests. In a new Zimbabwe there will be no place for unqualified and unprofessional people in our uniformed forces, people will hold office on the basis of merit and merit alone, so let beneficiaries of political patronage beware.

This old guard in army, police and prisons must know that it is now time for professional uniformed forces who are not in any way part of political formations and that should either Morgan Tsvangirai or Simba Makoni win in the coming elections, if they do not wish to salute they must simply resign and go home. Already they have outlived their usefulness in these institutions and must be replaced in order to take our uniformed forces back to values of impartiality, patriotism, professionalism and allegiance to Zimbabwe’s constitutional values. Chihuri, Chiwenga and Zimondi cannot masquerade as kingmakers and godfathers of Zimbabwean politics, they must confine themselves to their terms of engagement which categorically exclude meddling in political affairs of the country.

The rank and file in the army, police and prisons must also reject these patently partisan and unprofessional utterances and be patriotic enough to resist illegal orders to vote for Mugabe. Soldiers, Police officers and prison officers have a right to vote, their vote must be a secret and a personal choice and not an order from anyone. I am hopeful and positive that the views expressed by these cronies are views of a tiny minority in Zimbabwe and do not reflect the views of masses inside and outside uniformed forces who love peace and democracy and are equally fed up with a diet of starvation and rantings of little men allergic to democracy and good governance. As a patriotic Zimbabwean, it is my sincere hope and trust, and my prayer that sense will prevail over madness.

Thinking outside the ‘ballot’ box

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Wednesday, March 5th, 2008 by Dewa Mavhinga

All indications are that for Zanu PF it is business as usual as Zimbabwe goes into elect ions on 29 March. It is the same old story. True to the script, the Police Commissioner-General, Augustine Chihuri has allegedly come out and instructed the police to back Mugabe’s candidature; the head of Prisons, Paradzayi Zimondi, issued a similar command to prison officers. Stories of routine harassment of students, WOZA, NCA and MDC activists abound. Simba Makoni has also tested the full measure of Zanu PF’s intolerance as he is receiving only negative coverage from state media and has had his rallies disrupted by the police. The Herald continues, true to form, to denigrate and vilify all opposition while glorifying Zanu PF mediocrity.

Nothing has changed in terms of the laws or the attitudes of people running state institutions to warrant a different expectation come 29 March. Therefore, barring a miracle of biblical proportions, the result of the 29 March will simply be a repeat of the past elections of 2000, 2002 and 2005. For this reason l feel that we must begin to think outside the ballot box and critically consider other viable options. When the election was stolen in 2002 plan B was to challenge the electoral fraud before the courts. Sadly, but not unexpectedly, our severely compromised judiciary dilly-dallied in handling the cases and effectively rendered any remedy of no use or effect. After 29 March elections, going to the courts is not a viable option – considering past experiences and a knowledge that a significant portion of the judiciary has directly benefited from the patronage of the state and has lost the last shred of impartiality.

A viable back up plan in the (very likely) event of electoral fraud is to ensure, within legal and constitutional means, that Zimbabwe is rendered ungovernable. We must be ready to defend and reclaim the vote by way of a mass presence on the streets of Zimbabwe. For this to work, the police and army, who are suffering just as much under the current government, must desist from using heavy-handed methods on the people. My appeal to the army and police is that, when the order to shoot at the people is given, they must simply refuse to obey such a command, so that electoral fraud can effectively be challenged without turning Zimbabwe into a Kenya scenario. An appeal to the international community would be that, unlike its intervention in Kenya which occurred only after more than 1000 lives had been lost, their involvement in Zimbabwe should occur as soon as it becomes apparent that electoral fraud has taken place.