A Kubatana subscriber made some good points recently in the “should politics and sports mix” debate:

In the midst of all the negative news coming out of Zimbabwe of late, many may have missed the positive news of the legendary Kirsty Coventry, who having already won various medals in many an international swimming arena, continues to swim her way to the top of the world swimming rankings. Coventry broke the world’s oldest short-course record at the World Short Course Championships, recently held in Manchester England on April 12th. Kirsty also won a gold medal in the 200-meter individual medley. During her celebratory interviews, Kirsty Coventry excitedly spoke of her wins, and expressed how much she was looking forward to heading to Beijing China, to represent Zimbabwe at the Olympics in August.

Personally, I support Kirsty’s ascent to fame and swimming stardom, and have felt proud as a Zimbabwean as she has won medal after medal, and broken record after record over the years. However, I have to say I found myself pausing in some degree of disbelief at Ms. Coventry’s expressed anticipation of a visit to Beijing. Ms. Coventry was also asked a question about the crisis that was engulfing Zimbabwe as she, on the other end of the world, painted a positive image of the country. Ms. Coventry reportedly replied that she tries to “stay out of politics”. I do too ….. for the most part! But honestly, what Zimbabwean in this day and age has the luxury to “stay out of politics” !!!?

I think it would be wrong and almost hypocritical for Kirsty Coventry to go to China if she does qualify to go to the upcoming Olympics. Doing so would demonstrate, in my opinion, that she represents her own personal ambitions and interests, and not Zimbabwe’s. Her claim of efforts to “stay out of politics” though understandable are not realistic, and would in this instance be a betrayal of her claim at representing Zimbabwe as she swims her way to the top. Ms. Coventry instead, holds a unique position to represent Zimbabwe in a more meaningful and unselfish manner. As a world renowned Zimbabwean star athlete, she should either speak out against the atrocities going on in Zimbabwe, or quietly boycott China to show her solidarity with the ordinary Zimbabweans who have absolutely nothing to celebrate or look forward to at this particular time, except survival. Reports are coming out that as the ship carrying a consignment of weapons from China now stands to be recalled back to China, China on the other hand, is preparing another consignment of reportedly “more sophisticated” weapons to be flown directly from China to Harare within the coming week!!!

I am no politician, but I consider myself a fairly intelligent being. China’s disregard for the significance of its arms sales to Zimbabwe, demonstrates at best, an utter disregard and disinterest for the value of the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans who will certainly be massacred by these weapons, and at worst, demonstrates what many have said all along. China has no respect for human rights, and in Zimbabwe’s case, like in Rwanda, is seeking to facilitate, aid and enable genocide by the Mugabe regime. Even the pursuit for economic supremacy has its bounds, and no Zimbabwean should stand aside while China massacres our people as a stepping stone to economic supremacy. No Zimbabwean blood should aid China’s economic rise. As Mugabe cries foul to perceived new attempts at colonization of Zimbabwe by the West, he is willing to shed our blood as he hands over the country to those from the East. Even the apolitical Kirsty Coventry needs to look beyond the potential gold medals and the prospects of enhanced fame, and take a stand on one side or the other on this issue. I will be damned to find any Zimbabwean, a true Zimbabwean, anywhere in this world, who is truly “staying out of politics” today. Kirsty should certainly continue swimming her way to the top, but certainly not to China. She can still prove herself the best on other venues that will certainly present themselves in the future after China, but China is no venue for any Zimbabwean to be competing under any guise of any form of a positive spirit as is supposedly embodied by the Olympics. In my view, they might as well extinguish the Olympics torch when it gets to China, and carry on with the games instead of trying to pull a veil over the rest of us. There is nothing positive-spirited about China from an ordinary Zimbabwean’s perspective today, unless you are looking out for the personal gains that come from such an association with China. Currently, the only Zimbabweans I know of who are benefiting in any way from China are Mugabe and his cronies. Which side does Ms. Coventry stand, on this issue, in which EVERY other Zimbabweans has taken a stand?

Please share your views directly with Kirsty and also congratulate her on her wins on her blog (You’ll need to register to leave a comment).

While the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission drags its heels, and the MDC turns to the courts and the international community, a headline caught my eye: Only mass mobilisation can defeat the Mugabe dictatorship.

At last, I thought to myself.

In it, the International Socialist Organisation makes a few important points:

1) Zanu PF will remain in power by hook or by crook, unless otherwise compelled by mass mobilisation.

2) The people’s power route is only possible if there is “the urgent establishment of a united and democratic front of the commons and democrats, including organised labour, residents, informal traders, youths, students, women, progressive civic groups, socialists and other radicals.

3) The behaviour of the regime in refusing to announce the election results has more than vindicated the position of those who said that without a democratic constitution and mass mobilisation, the March election would not deliver change.

4) The MDC’s boycotting of the run-off, would be commendable, but is suspect in the circumstances. Instead of mobilising the masses who have overwhelmingly voted for it, … the MDC(T) has focused on calling for so-called “international community” intervention – code words for the Western countries – and sending its leaders on futile regional/international “diplomatic offensives”. Most damning, it is pacifying its members and civic groups by calling for restraint and not doing anything to provoke the regime. The MDC(T) is again going to Mugabe’s courts for relief, giving the regime cover to draw out the dispute and consolidate its positions.

The ISO recommends the mobilisation of mass resistance to electoral fraud, “starting with less confrontational methods that build confidence, such as pressure on the ZEC members to resign, especially those seconded by the opposition, regular mass prayer meetings, cascading into stayaways and general strikes and demonstrations.”

Now we’re talking.

I’ve been reading a news article in which the Mugabe regime asserts that the MDC is drawing attention to post election violence as a “ploy” for international intervention. Meanwhile the BBC has just published a short film about victims of state violence in Zimbabwe. I wonder whether Morgan Tsvangirai might challenge Zimbabwe’s Minister of Health and Child Welfare, Dr David Parirenyatwa to tour Harare’s hospitals to see and hear the gruesome stories of assault and brutality. Tsvangirai’s visit to supporters who have been beaten and who are recovering in hospital is long overdue. But if Ban Ki-moon comes first, then let’s at least see Someone from the MDC rallying hope in the hospital wards.

In response to my last blog, somebody going by the name DA Mal raised some very interesting and relevant points. He/she wrote: “… what, exactly, do democratic Zimbabweans expect South Africa to do? Thabo Mbeki is right about one thing – it’s your country, and in the end getting rid of your dictator must be your solution. Every thinking South African agrees that we are not doing enough to help you. But, if we were to offer genuine, unalloyed and uncompromised help, such as JZ (Jacob Zuma) might likely offer, then what would you want from us?”

Well, I’m sure Da Mal is not the only one who fails to see exactly what Mbeki, or the rest of SADC, including its ordinary citizens can do, and must do. My first point would be to say that if there really wasn’t anything anyone could do, then what would be the point of appointing a mediator in the first place? What did former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan do for the crisis in Kenya? I hasten to add, that as much as this problem is ours and this is our country, the effects of whatever goes on here may also be felt regionally. Moreover, I believe that a call for help is not a sign of weakness, but of courage. Zimbabweans live under the iron fist of a practically untouchable dictator who moves around in the company of a kilometer long armed motorcade. They also risk being shot dead for coming within the 10-meter perimeter of state house. They live in constant and real fear of losing their lives because unlike other places, here the respect for the right to life is in short supply. They have seen footage of police bashing in the heads of dissenters with baton sticks. They have witnessed peaceful protesters like the WOZA women beaten thoroughly in places normal people would hesitate to hit a woman. Some people have died mysteriously or just disappeared. Can Zimbabweans then be blamed for fearing for their lives?

In short, there is a hell of a lot Mbeki, or our neighbors can do. For instance, we applaud the move by members of SATAWU and the South African naval intelligence for resisting and blocking the entry of the arms reportedly en route to Zimbabwe aboard a Chinese ship. Some sensible people realized the arms were headed into a peaceful country full of defenseless people who were just going to be annihilated simply for daring to want a different government. We are grateful for that. Should the arms arrive somehow, (which is very likely to happen thanks to Mugabe’s loyal friends in SADC), at least SA should be proud for having done the right thing.

Another thing Mbeki, SA or the rest of SADC can do is make it difficult for these big chefs to enter their countries. Hit them with another wave of sanctions; ‘local’ ones this time around. A few colleagues also feel that South African can be a little more tolerant of Zimbabwean refugees. The reports of serious xenophobia down south are distressing. It may help for our neighbors to remember that this can easily happen to them also, and they’d have to depend on others for mere survival.

Mr Mbeki could also be helpful by either keeping quiet and admitting he can’t handle it then step down, or if not, at least stop insulting people’s intelligence by misrepresenting the facts as they are. The man insists on describing his lack of action as diplomacy then has the nerve to say “loud diplomacy” is not diplomacy. Really? I thought the word diplomacy was a verb describing certain tact or artfulness intended to achieve something. What is quiet diplomacy anyway? Let me guess; wait and see? What is that intended to achieve?

If Annan could broker a deal that saw a semblance of peace descend on Kenya, then surely, talks conducted in the right way can achieve positive results? For a lot of people the question of what Mbeki can do, is out of question.

Before the March 29 Election, my impression of Zimbabwe’s Minister of Health and Child Welfare, Dr. David Parirenyatwa was that he was among the more “reasonable” of mugabe’s ministers. He had a good reputation, and the people I knew who had been on committees or at conferences or meetings with him seemed to respect him.

But Parirenyatwa being depicted in the media seems a very different man. He is accused of being instrumental to a campaign of post-election, retaliatory violence in Murehwa.

Dr Parirenyatwa, I challenge you to read stories such as these, and explain yourself.

• Mugabe minister accused of gun threats
• Health Minister Parirenyatwa Organising Violence in Murehwa
• MCDT condemns Parirenyatwa for ongoing violence in Murewa
• Widespread Political Violence Reported in Zimbabwe’s Rural Areas

If you would like to contact Dr David Parirenyatwa and challenge him about these reports, you can reach him on the details below:

Ministry of Health and Child Welfare
Box CY 1122, Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe
Tel: +263 4 730 111-9
Email: npro_moh@gta.gov.zw (Ministry’s National Public Relations Officer)

Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers,
but to be fearless in facing them.
Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain,
but for the heart to conquer it.
- Rabindranath Tagore

Below we share with you an Independence Day message from Arthur Mutambara. He raises many valid points which are worth reflecting on. In order to provide for ways to measure the performance of elected political leaders and the political opposition, we have selected some ideas and suggestions from Mutambara’s paper with a view to them being taken up as reasonable, implementable activities.

1. “It is ironic that we should be celebrating the birth of our freedom in the prevailing climate.”

Actions:

Create your own ways of taking back Independence Day.

* Switch off ZBC/TV.
* Don’t buy state controlled newspapers.
* Play your own liberation songs at high volume.
* Write a letter to the editors of local and regional newspapers . . .

2. “Fellow citizens, make no mistake about it. Mugabe now knows that he will never win a free and fair election in Zimbabwe. The 29th of March made this predicament unequivocally clear. Hence, if he agrees to any new election it is clear that he would have put measures and systems in place to ensure his victory by any means necessary.”

Actions:

* Lobby the political opposition in Zimbabwe to participate in a run-off only if specific conditions are met.
* Refuse to cast your vote in a run-off unless the political opposition stands firm on its demands for a free and fair environment, including an independent vote count.
* Say no to the dithering of the political opposition in their “will run, won’t run” mantra.

3. “All opposition parties, in particular the two MDC formations must work closely on all matters affecting the national interest. They ought to cooperate in the way they tackle the current political stalemate in our country. There is need to unlock and leverage the collective wisdom, moral authority, bargaining power and numerical strength that is unleashed by a cooperating and united opposition fraternity.”

Actions:

* Refuse to participate/vote in a run-off if the political opposition is divided.
* Demand their unification – withhold your vote to make this demand a reality.

4. “The 110 opposition Members of Parliament (from the two MDC formations and the Independent MP) must informally convene, immediately. They should elect the Speaker, and outline a comprehensive agenda for the incoming Parliament.”

Actions:

* Creating parallel structures which by-pass the formal institutions of the state are powerful in their ability to undermine the authority of the state. It is time for our elected political representatives to act with authority and confidence.
* Insist that the representatives you voted for show some leadership NOW.

5. “Zimbabwean citizens will be the key drivers of this revolution.”

Action:

* Our liberation is a contract between political, civic leaders and citizens. It is a time for courage, a time for standing up and being counted. A time for unity – play your part.

A Shameful Betrayal of National Independence: The Case for both Out thinking ZANU-PF and Putting National Interest First

Independence message by Arthur G.O. Mutambara

Introduction

Fellow citizens once again we commemorate the great occasion of the independence of our country from colonial and imperialist rule. The 18th April should always be an opportunity for us as a nation to reflect, take stock, and define new trajectories. This particular 28th commemoration is like none of the previous ones. We are in uniquely invidious circumstances. Our economy has virtually collapsed and industries have grinded to a halt. Our society is calibrated by fear, terror and outright brutality. Our national institutions of governance have been rendered dysfunctional and impotent. We have had harmonized general elections, and twenty days later the results of the Presidential polls are not yet released. One of the key objectives of the liberation struggle was attainment of the one person one vote dispensation. Twenty eight years after independence our people are denied this basic right. Our country is characterized by extreme illegitimacy where we have an abrasive caretaker President and an illegally constituted Cabinet in cahoots with an imbecilic and cynical military junta, running the affairs of our country. There is heavy army and police presence in our major cities to intimidate ordinary citizens. Opposition supporters are being brutalized and killed in the rural areas under an unprecedented terror campaign.

This is the state of our nation on Independence Day. It is ironic that we should be celebrating the birth of our freedom in the prevailing climate. What a travesty of justice, principle and national interest!

Deconstructing the ZANU-PF Strategy

There is a method to the ZANU-PF madness we have witnessed in the last three weeks. Mugabe’s strategy is pure and simple: Regain control of Parliament by criminal and crooked means, win a run-off (or re-run) of the Presidential elections by using brute force and blatant rigging, and thus control the Senate as well. As a result of these efforts, ZANU-PF will be back in complete charge and control of all the three arms of government; The Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary. The second phase of the strategy will then be to force and harangue a bludgeoned and brutalized opposition into a so-called Government of National Unity. This is the strategic plan.

Fellow citizens, make no mistake about it. Mugabe now knows that he will never win a free and fair election in Zimbabwe. The 29th of March made this predicament unequivocally clear. Hence, if he agrees to any new election it is clear that he would have put measures and systems in place to ensure his victory by any means necessary. This is why participation or lack of it in any new election involving Robert Mugabe is a huge decision conundrum for the opposition: Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

Let us further interrogate the ZANU-PF game plan. What does Mugabe need to execute his evil strategy? Just a one word answer would do: Time. The key resource that is essential to this regime is time. All that the post election shenanigans have served to do is buy time for the dictatorship to carry out the necessary intimidation and violence, while putting the requisite rigging mechanisms in place. ZANU-PF strategists know that after announcing the results they legally only have three weeks to the run-off. They toyed around with the idea of demanding ninety days, but dropped the proposition on realizing that they could not legally sustain it. The tactic then adopted was to hold onto the results until they have done most of the dirty work, and release the hung Presidential results when they have only three weeks of evil steps to implement. A variation of the plan at that stage is to allege gross and systematic patterns of misconduct and irregularities, declare the Presidential elections null and void, and call for a re-run instead of a run-off. Yes, Robert, we know what’s up. However, we are glad that you also know what time it is.

In terms of the House of Assembly, the agenda is to fraudulently seize at least 9 seats from the opposition through recounts and court action leading to re-runs. This explains the twenty-three recounts that ZEC has instituted. There is clearly criminal collusion between ZEC and ZANU-PF. To add insult to injury, this unholy marriage is dutifully consummated by a compliant and pliable judiciary typified and exemplified by Judge Tendai Uchena’s unreasonable and thoughtless decision not to order ZEC to release the Presidential results.

For the record, the farce about hung Presidential election results without a clear winner should be rejected with the contempt that it deserves. Mugabe lost the election and Morgan Tsvangirai won with an outright majority. What ZANU-PF has successfully done is to psychologically prepare the nation for a false result through massive propaganda, unmitigated lies and manipulative distortions. It is clear that ZANU-PF’s keenness to portray the results as hung means that the results are the opposite; i.e., we have an outright defeat of Robert Mugabe. It is shameful that even regional leaders and the international community have been duped by ZANU-PF’s big lie. All these discussions of run-off or re-run options are testimony of, and submission to, the power of a duplicitous ZANU-PF. Mugabe has won the psychological warfare.

It is sad that in all this pervasion and destruction of the Zimbabwean national interest, the illegitimate regime of Robert Mugabe has a partner in crime in the name of the SA President. Yes, Mr. Mbeki there is a crisis in Zimbabwe. We are sick and tired of your shameless antics. You clamour that Zimbabwe is not a Province of South Africa, and yet you treat us worse than your mother’s backyard. Whatever credibility and political capital you had left from Polokwane, you are busy dissipating with reckless abandon. This is not how one constructs a basis and rationale for the African Renaissance or New Economic Partnership for Development. Shame on you Thabo Mbeki! Indeed our cup of patience with you has run completely full. How can you be an effective mediator between the Zimbabwean political parties when you show such shameless duplicity, poor judgment and spinelessness? Zimbabwe and Africa deserve better leadership than this.

Let us go to New York. How can we have deafening silence on African matters by African leaders at the UN, and leave our case to be articulated by Western leaders. African solutions for African problems demand proactivity and ownership on the part of the African. We must take charge of our lives and not abdicate on our obligations to the continent. The SADC summit communique last Sunday was too timid and apologetic. Hence it was ineffectual. What happened at the UN this Wednesday is not only disgraceful but an affront to African dignity. We must all hang our heads in shame.

The Appropriate Response from the Opposition

On the 29th of March, the people voted for change and against the status quo. The removal of Mugabe and his fellow travelers was the issue, and nothing else. The voter’s tactical decision was to elect those perceived to have the best chance of defeating Mugabe. All democratic forces must acknowledge and respect this choice. What is imperative is for all opposition parties to close ranks and make the wishes of the Zimbabwean electorate a reality. In any run-off or re-run of the Presidential Election the support for Morgan Tsvangirai should be total and unconditional. There will be neither equivocation nor ambiguity on that subject. He represents the change that Zimbabweans voted for. The people spoke on the 29th of March. They seek no accommodation with the Dictator or any of his manifestations. All democratic forces must stand with the people in pursuit of the total annihilation of Robert Mugabe and all he stands for.

Going forward, all opposition parties, in particular the two MDC formations must work closely on all matters affecting the national interest. They ought to cooperate in the way they tackle the current political stalemate in our country. There is need to unlock and leverage the collective wisdom, moral authority, bargaining power and numerical strength that is unleashed by a cooperating and united opposition fraternity. History will not absolve this generation of leaders if we falter on this agenda. In fact, we will snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Consequently, while the two MDC formations acknowledge that they are two separate political parties, they must irrevocably agree and undertake to work as one in the Legislature. In this regard they will have one Chief Whip and a single Caucus. They will agree to vote together in order to drive the transformational agenda in our country. There must be a solid and binding coalition and co-operation agreement between the two MDC formations. It is our intention it make it clear that our MPs will never vote with the Dictator’s Party. We cannot work with criminals, economic saboteurs and social deviants. Under no circumstances will we vote with Robert Mugabe. Hell no, never, ever. Put simply, the opposition is now in charge of Parliament with 109 MPs, period. That’s where the game is at Robert. Get over it. The self-serving and speculative hallucination among ZANU-PF apologists must stop. The opposition parties are united in their total onslaught on the regime.

In a way, the people of Zimbabwe and the opposition forces are underestimating the critical role and power of the House of Representatives. This is probably because for the past 28 years it was rendered a docile and ineffectual institution due to its domination by ZANU-PF. Now that we are in control of this legislative organ of the State, let us demonstrate its true function and impact. The 110 opposition Members of Parliament (from the two MDC formations and the Independent MP) must informally convene, immediately. They should elect the Speaker, and outline a comprehensive agenda for the incoming Parliament. Items that should be debated and adopted must include, but not limited to: (1) Impeachment of the caretaker President, Robert Mugabe (2) Removal of AIPPA and POSA (3) Establishment of processes for achieving a people-driven democratic constitution (4) Immediate prosecution of public servants, including military and police officers who are currently abusing their authority (5) Establishment of processes to rationalize the land reform program (6) Setting up of a Truth and Justice Commission for Gukurahundi and Murambatsvina (7) Immediate removal from office, and criminal prosecution of, the RBZ Governor, Gideon Gono (8) Dismantling and reconstitution of ZEC.

Although this gathering of, and resolutions adopted by these 110 MPs will be informal, a framework for the terms of reference of the formally convened House is thus created. As these MPs constitute the majority they will use this informal platform to drive the Parliamentary agenda. This will send shivers down the spines of that illegal cabal running our country, as reality will suddenly sink in. The game is up! We need to demonstrate that Mugabe has lost and that the people have won. Even without the Presidential results we can unequivocally say that the Zimbabwean political landscape will never be the same again. ZANU-PF understands what has happened. They clearly appreciate the significance of their Parliamentary loss. This is why they are busy trying to reverse their poor fortunes through recounts and court actions. The opposition forces must both out think and outmaneuver these ZANU-PF losers who are running all over the place like headless chickens.

Conclusion

In the history of every nation there comes a time when a generation has a unique opportunity to break with the past and define a new direction. Such a momentous occasion currently presents itself in our country. We need to seize the time and deliver change. This requires putting national interest before partisan, sectoral and personal interests. It demands that we apply our minds and outthink the regime. What Mugabe has lost in the electoral battle, he cannot legitimately regain in any election remotely described as free and fair. He is fatally and mortally wounded. The veil of invincibility has been pierced. On the 29th of March 2008 the people voted for change, and that democratic choice must be defended. Our independence will be meaningless without the sanctity and integrity of the one person one vote principle. Those that rule our country must do so with the consent of the governed.

If a run-off or re-run is illegally imposed upon us, the first order of business is challenging and exposing the illegitimacy of the basis of that proposition. More than ever, it becomes imperative for all the progressive and democratic forces in the country to close ranks in pursuit of the collective national interest. We must seek to establish a peaceful and secure environment for those illegitimate polls. In addition to observation SADC, the AU and the international community must be allowed to supervise these particular elections; before, during and after the voting process. The mandate of the external players must include the verification and announcement of the results. Yes, the regime has behaved worse than East Timor. We now need international supervision. Consequently, the notion of regional sovereignty and the doctrine of international responsibility to protect must now take precedence over Mugabe’s narrow definition of national sovereignty. We have lost the right to manage our affairs alone internally. We need help.

However, Zimbabwean citizens will be the key drivers of this revolution. The power is in our hands. Let us stand up and be masters of our destiny. On this occasion of our Independence Day, let us rededicate ourselves to meaningful and total political and economic independence. The people should govern. The people must prosper.

We shall overcome.

Arthur G.O. Mutambara