zimfinalpush
Robert Mugabe's latest ploy to extend his term of office to 2010 must be rejected by all patriotic Zimbabweans who want a new Zimbabwe charecterised by freedom, prosperity and democracy.
The Zanu PF mouthpieces have now confirmed the people's suspicions that Mugabe's term, which expires in 2008, will be extended to allow him to continue ruining the country until 2010. This is unadulterated constitutional fraud. Presidential terms are six-year terms; even under the current defective Constitution and Zimbabweans demand to know on whose mandate Zanu PF seeks to extend an illegitimacy that will mete out further punishment to the people.
The MDC reiterates its position that only a new people-driven Constitution, and not piecemeal amendments by Zanu PF, is the panacea to the crisis of legitimacy and governance facing this regime. Mugabe should not be allowed to abuse a controversial and technical majority in Parliament to buy himself a safe exit. Mugabe is an illegitimate President whose incumbency is being challenged in court. He now wants to use his Parliamentary technical majority, which is being challenged through several electoral petitions that are yet to be heard, to buy himself a further two years in office. Zimbabwe cannot have an illegitimate President, using an illegitimate technical majority to seek further tenancy at State House. The regime simply wants to buy more time to handle its contentious and divisive succession drama that has turned out to be a real-life soap opera.
The MDC believes that seeking a further extension of his term through Parliament is tantamount to Zanu PF turning an internal succession squabble into a national crisis. Zanu PF is unelectable,leaderless, divided and candidateless. In short, Zanu PF is a party in crisis.
The MDC leadership, supporters and the people of Zimbabwe shall not allow a unilateral declaration of a Zanu PF-imposed coup on the wishes of the majority. The country is bigger than Zanu PF. Zimbabwe belongs to all its people who are the ultimate authority in the governance of the country. Zanu
PF must be stopped now if Zimbabwe is to be saved from the jaws of this tyranny. All democratic forces must demand a new, people-driven Constitution
to form the basis of the legitimacy of those occupying the highest office in the land.
Zanu PF's latest antics only serve to confirm that Zimbabwe has become an absolute monarch ruled by power-hungry geriatrics bent on clinging to power at any cost. Zanu PF must not be allowed to sacrifice Zimbabwe on the altar of political expediency. Mugabe has confirmed that he is afraid of a free and fair electoral process and will take the slightest excuse to seek asylum in a controversial technical majority to run away from an imminent and inevitable people's verdict. In their 70's and 80s, Zanu PF's leaders are overdue candidates for the fireside chair, telling folk stories to bemused children wondering how these people have lived for so long when they are presiding over a serious national crisis which has seen life expectancy tumbling down to a mere 34 years.
The MDC believes that all political parties, the churches, labour unions, students, civic groups and the generality of Zimbabweans must urgently demand that Zimbabwe adopts a people-driven Constitution that should lead to free and fair elections under international supervision. We believe that Mugabe's time is nigh. We believe that all patriotic Zimbabweans must heed the clarion call to save our country. Zimbabweans are now tired of the outrageous antics of this regime. We believe that is why the millions of Zimbabweans across the country and those in the Diaspora have resolved to engage in a mass-driven political process of democratic resistance of resistance to express the nation's aspirations for a new Zimbabwe.
Change demands action. Our country deserves better. A new Zimbabwe is inevitable.
Nelson Chamisa, is a Zimbabwean legislator and MDC Secretary for Information and Publicity
No comments:
Post a Comment