By Dr Takavafira Zhou.
Please note : This is an objective historical analysis, whose weaknesses, if any, is solely the responsibility of the writer and not any political party or organisation.
The seizure of Morgen Richard Tsvangirai House ( Harvest House) around 2200hrs on 4 June 2020 was well planned by the army, police and Mwonzoraist for political expediency. How Mwonzora enticed the army and police in the seizure can only point to his useful adjunctive role to furthering Zanu pf diversion from its failure to deliver, and intention to weaken a credible opposition party in the form of MDC Alliance. Indeed the script echoes Stalinist approach to politics in which the best opposition was/is deemed to be the one whose leadership was/is chosen by the ruling party. This may further bolster echoes of Zanu pf contemplation of forming an inclusive gvt with a weak opposition under Khupe.
The seizure was a patent obiter dicta to settle political differences, but all the same blatantly callous, palpably unjust and illegal as it was done without consent (cadit questio) of occupants, viz, MDC Alliance. Not surprisingly, MDCT has now approached the courts with dirty hands trying to resolve a legal lacuna they created. Under normal circumstances such an approach should not be entertained by competent courts, and it remains to be seen how our courts will treat the case on the 9th of June.
As such the seizure of Harvest House was not only an act of provocation to MDC Alliance, but also reflective of MDCT’s cold and calculated violence and vandalism with state impunity. It was tailor made to entice MDC Alliance into a defensive confrontation with them in order to give the army and police a cassus belli to militarily crash MDC Alliance once and for all. But they had reckoned without taking into consideration MDC Alliance wisdom. Rather than being pulled into confrontation MDC Alliance leadership offered the invading soldiers, police, and proxies, nothing but flowers.
Sadly, in further acts of provocation MDC Alliance leaders (including VPs Biti and Kore) were arrested and charged with criminal nuisance when they visited Harvest House. Needless to mention the recent thuggery and rape of youth leaders J Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova, let alone the arrest of youth leader, Obeyi Sithole, on spurious charges.
It is clear the ruling party has engaged a high gear to decimate MDC Alliance, and the recent Supreme Court judgement, and seizure of Harvest House must be fully comprehended within this broad scheme.
What therefore is MDC Alliance Way Forward under seige from the army, police and Zanu pf proxies?
It is clear that faced with partisan state institutions like police and army, MDC Alliance has limited options. It is also evident the state is trying to pull MDC Alliance into confrontation in order to deal decisively with it. All the same there still remains enough space to manoeuvre carefully in order to triumph over acidic, arid and toxic Zimbabwean politics.
1. MDC was formed on the basis of capturing power from Zanu pf through the ballot box, entrenching corporate governance, improving people’s livelihoods, and that process must not be totally abandoned in spite of Zanu pf thuggery and thievery. All the same there is greater need now than before to ensure the entrenchment of security sector and electoral reforms, more so given their current defective partisan nature.
2. Although the state is an accomplice in the seizure of Harvest House, it is prudent to exhaust domestic remedy before moving to other levels. As such MDC Alliance must approach the courts over the illegal seizure of Harvest House.
3. The greatest asset in any struggle, war and politics are the masses. No weapon can be greater than the masses. MDC Alliance has this asset and must tap and harness intellect from this broad and enriched asset for democratic struggles by all means necessary. While Harvest House as a symbol of resistance is significant to MDC Alliance, its grassroots support remains the most important asset that cannot be captured or seized in the fashion in which Harvest House was seized. The party must continue to water and cultivate such broad based support base for democratic struggles and victory.
4. MDC Alliance elected leadership at the May 2019 Gweru Congress, and that leadership under President Chamisa must protect the people’s mandate until 2024.
5. Peaceful, democratic marches remain part of MDC Alliance alternative strategies to defend the shrinking democratic space.
It is unfortunate that at a time Zimbabwe needs collective wisdom across the political divide in order to respond in a better manner to challenges affecting the nation, unprecedented political polarisation has become the order of the day. Such animosity would not add value to Zimbabwe, but rather would leave us worse off than before. No serious investors, can invest in a country where rule of law is deteriorating, and high profile corruption has become routine rather than episodic. The earlier we ensure that the courts, police, army and CIO are state and not partisan institutions, the better for our democracy, egalitarianism and sustainable development. As much as we may belong to different political parties, we must unite as Zimbabweans on common developmental path, or else we will perish as fools. Fair political contestation must be part of our democracy as opposed to Machiavellian politics of thuggery and thievery.
I rest my case
Dr Takavafira M. Zhou
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