By Ndaba Nhuku
Political heroworshipping is not a new thing. Its common in the US. Its a norm in many developing countries. It borders on cultism for some. In Zimbabwe it ultimately led to the Gukurahundi genoicde. When leaders are treated like Gods and supporters dont want to see them as human beings who can make mistakes and do wrong, we have heroworshipping, or cultism when such leaders add god and religious powers into their political leadership strategies. If the leader is a naturally likeable charismatic person, his opponents are doomed!! Anyone with different opinion or some followers who believe he can do better than the current leader, is labelled a devil. Look at post independent Mugabe – Nkomo support leading to Gukurahundi.
The video clips are on Youtube of Zanu supporters demonising and dehuminising Joshua Nkomo for being an Opposition leader. Look at Morgan Tsvangirai in 2005. If MDCT was in power what would have happened to Prof Welshman Ncube and his fellow cadres? The tribal and CIO labeling and abuse was verbal genocidal on its own. Concequently we saw what happened to Elton Mangoma and Tendai Biti. This is all because Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai were then very popular as if gods and those below then, and the parties supporters did not want anyone having a different view from them. It is alleged Zanu would through accidents eliminate those members who criticised Mugabe. But what we all know about Mugabe political sainthood within Zanu led to Gujuruahundi and hence why very few if anyone in Mashonaland then could criticise or question why Mugabe’s “moment of madness” was taking place!! It was all because be was seen as a god who can do no wrong and and even those who differed with him were sxared to voice out against Gukurahundi. The toxic tribal abuse in MDC in 2005 followed the same script. And Tsvangirai did nothing about it, it was a norm copied, from Zanu!!
Come Thoko Khuphe vs Chamisa. It replayed itself again as Chamisa took over MDCT. Khuphe was verbally snd physically abused as a Ndebele and as a woman. It was normal with Chamisa, he didnt call to order his fervent supporters. For political strategy and due to his popularity and Khuphe conduct before Tsvangirai had died, l also wanted NC at rhe helm. But l had always publicly said NC is no good leader but we can use his popularity to help change of leadership in the country.
NC knows he is naturally likeable, charismatic, articulate and able to handle crowds! That is good in contemporary churches leadership. As a political leader he is disaster. Like MT he thinks his word is final and the party decision, we saw it in 2005 and 2008. We saw it when Chamisa took over MDCT.
After failing to take over MDCT in court and subsequently forming CCC, NC had something to mould his own way with his supporters. Instead he formed a mass organisation without a struture, as if a mass movement in protest and not a political party. He was the god to appoint mass movement officials. Anyone criticising him was labelled CIO or Zanu! Everyone was silenced and the god could not be wrong!! Why? Should we not criticise national leaders when we think they are wrong? We already know what happens when we dont call to order our leaders. Yet NC continued to treat him as a god. Enter OkTshabangu as SG. We ask, who appointed him? NC has the audacity to lie thst he doesnt know Tshabangu!! The Court and media proves him wrong!! Tshabangu is well known from mDC days. So why is NC lying? He knows his fervent supporters will believe every word from his mouth even if its lie that hes friends with that toxic American racist Donald Trump!
Go back to the coup, most of us were sceptical about the inclusive government the MDC gang was all about. True to the policial game, Zanu left the Opposition in the cold and ran the country the way itnwanted on its own! Which governing party just gives power away to its Opposition? I have nkt yet seen it!! MDC and CCC always expected Zanu to listen to them and make political refoms that suit them; classic political madness!! ‘No party reforms itself out kf power’ Prof Jonathan Moyo told them something to that effect! That is elementary political knowledge worldwide eben if toy have massive support from the West. None of the British or American governing parties ever reform the govening system to benefit their rival into power.
After CCC lost previous elections, the mass movement had no time to reflect on its dismal performance. NC was all about SADC and courts. To be honest, NC had not campaigned and had only done a few presidential campaing rallies. Again pokr strategy or self entitlement of seeing himself as a god thst voters will vote for. He neglected MPs and Councillors. But law is changed by parliament, not State House, where you need the majority of MPs. Without refkecting on all this and silencing dissenting voices, came the Tshabangu recalls. Who was party SG before Tshabangu camr in? Noone asks? What happened to them? Who appointed Tshabangu?
Did NC do the mass movement any good by ditching party structures and appointing party offocials? No. We were told he cant be criticised. Beloved media people like Holewell Chin’ono were also called names for questioning this! Worse, Prof Moyo was called all sorts of namesnesp a political prostitute. Ironically Prof Moyo has always been Zanu or lndependent yet NC has been MDC, MDCT, CCC and whatever other party he bas now formed. Who is fit to be called a political prostitute between Prof Moyo and Nelso Chamisa?
Without any consultation, Chamisa suddenly abandoned a party he formed leaving its supporters in limbo. Same fervent supporters say it is wrong to criticise him! If we can not have divergent views, then what will you do to us non-aligned political critics should you get into power? Politically slaughter us? To stop the Mugabe led Gukurahundi, every leader must be held accountable by others. Supporters will not do that to their leaders, they must listen to non supporters too. Leaders and supporters have a lot to learn and stop from happening by listening to outiside voices outside their movements.
NC erred and must be quesriibed and criticised. Those who see nothing wrong with his handling of Tshabangu recalls and sudden departure from CCC must call us names after giving us convincing reasons as to why their god must not be criticised for throwing about political tantrums as if hes a spoilt kid with an over inflated ego! NC has proved several times thst he cant handle dissent but resorts to brutally blackmailing other politicians using his mass support. Indeed its his own political strategy, same way Zanu can not rrform itself out of power.
NC must act as a national leader. He must learn to work with everyone, those he likes and his sworn enemies in the party. He can not be liked by everyone
He must appreciate as should his mass supporters, that every politician is ambitious to be the leader of the party. Its not being power hungry, but politics is all about power at the top spot, the same way he on that spot, ambition!! If he fails or gets incapacitated, the next most ambitious person with enough support should take over. That is politics nothing about being power hungry. NC should reflect on his personality, team work and negotiation skills.
I for one will criticise all political leaders without any fear or favour. NC is not a god and must not be treated as such.
By Ndaba Nhuku
Comments
About Author
