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| DANIEL FORTUNE MOLOKELE: THE VIRTUAL NATION |
 Zanu PF's worst Christmas present ever By Daniel Fortune Molokele Last updated: 12/18/2006 14:19:24 AS THE dust begins to settle in the aftermath of yet another annual Zanu-PF conference, it is trite to note that the most poignant outcome of the event is the fact that it was a huge non-event for the Zimbabwean majorities. Indeed, the conference was at the very least a missed opportunity for the party to come up with a strong consensus in terms of the way forward on the political and socio-economic crisis affecting the country. Instead, as the weekend event unraveled, it became increasingly clear that the party gathering had no serious intent at all to address the real issues affecting the nation. It is therefore most unfortunate that the party chose to invest their meager intellectual and strategic planning resources on a rigorous exercise of self-preservation. What is even more tragic is the fact that contrary to some media reports, there was not even a direct focus at all on the so-called 'succession' debate. If anything, the issue was effectively eliminated from the agenda as soon as Mugabe announced nonchalantly in his speech that there was still no job vacancy at the country's highest office. His speech had the net effect of setting the tone for the actual intended major outcome of the conference, that is, the endorsement of Mugabe's selfish plans to extend his tenure in office. The glass ceiling of the so-called debate was effectively reached when the party's Chairperson, John Nkomo announced at the end of the weekend non-event that the conference had resolved that there should be no debate at all on succession because there are still no vacancies at the top. The mere fact that his remarks were greeted with wild applause by the thousands of the cheering delegates also underlined the party's determination to invest its energies in this lucid exercise in self-preservation. It is clear from the facts that emerged during the run-up to the conference that most provinces had already decided that the purpose of the 2006 conference was to legitimize the long rumoured plans to defer the presidential elections to 2010. The weekend event was thus to all purposes and intents a rubberstamping process for Mugabe's insatiable thirst for political power. In the final analysis, it was thus not such a big surprise that the most crucial resolution of the 2006 conference was the approval of a motion to move the presidential polls from 2008 to 2010 so that they could be 'harmonised' and held at the same time with the Parliamentary elections. The postponement of the presidential elections aside, the other defining moment of the conference was what Mugabe said in his closing remarks. The leader of the party expressed his pride at the full support he had received from his cohorts. He is reported to have said thus, "I go out of here proud that I have the people behind me. I am what I am because of you". Surely it is clear that Mugabe has long lost touch with the masses of the country! One does not need to be rocket scientist or robotics professor to clearly note that the long suffering people have been pummeled into reluctant submission by Mugabe and his party. It is sad that the party is no longer able to differentiate the aspect of fear and popularity in terms of the opinions of the country's majorities. The truth is that even scientific research from such surveys as the African Barometer report have already confirmed what was always an assumed reality. The fact is that Zimbabweans are a nation that lives in perpetual fear of State terror. Whichever way one looks at it, the point of the matter is that Mugabe and his Zanu-PF have already overstayed their welcome in power. It is common cause that the people of Zimbabwe have for long tried to boot them out of power. The fact that they still remain in office has nothing to do with their popularity. No, not at all! In fact it has everything to do with their suppressive political trickery and chicanery. Everyone now knows that dissent is a byword and taboo in the Zimbabwean political landscape. Diversity and pluralism have long been banished out of the country and monopolism now reigns supreme across the land. No one has the right to freely express a different opinion from Mugabe from Zambezi to Limpopo! What is even more sad for me is that Mugabe and his party also chose to ignore the fact that a sizable number of the Zimbabwean people have already decided to voice their disapproval of their political leadership by leaving the country altogether. The facts and stats are there for all to see! It is now estimated that at least three million Zimbabweans now live outside the country. In fact a simple glance across the country would have easily revealed the long queues spiraling out of the South African boarders. Thousands of Zimbabweans are on their way home at this moment and time in what may be the biggest annual human trans-migration in the African continent. The process of the many Zimbabweans returning home for Christmas is only comparable to the world famous game migrations of the Serengeti in East Africa! As the conference was busy adopting its resolutions, the rest of the country's majorities were busy bracing themselves for yet another Christmas separated from their loved ones. It is often said that Christmas is a time for the families to gather together and enjoy the final moments of the year that was. But no so in Zimbabwe! The fact that at least one third of the country's population is now living in the Diaspora simply means that many families will once again be forced to have yet another Christmas without their beloved ones. But as if struggling to have the basic food commodities on the Christmas menu was not enough for the Zimbabwean population, the resolutions of the weekend conference must surely have added salt to injury! Indeed the last thing any average Zimbabwean would have wanted to listen to as the Christmas hit song was "Handiende' from Bob and his Wailers! The sad music emanating from the Zanu-PF conference is surely the worst Christmas gift ever to come from Mugabe since 1980. Daniel Molokele is a Zimbabwean Human Rights Lawyer who is based in Johannesburg. He can be contacted at zimvirtualnation@yahoo.com JOIN THE DEBATE ON THIS ARTICLE ON THE NEWZIMBABWE.COM FORUMS |
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