Wednesday, January 23, 2008
They call him Mr. Mugabe......
....no one can Fuck with Bob. Opened ZW NEWS today for a little update action and Mugabe meets Makoni is what greets me. Without even reading the article I knew that it was done, so much for Simba challenging Uncle Scar......but you've got to give Bob credit for managing to keep holding the strings of his puppet show for 28 years. If only that brilliance could be used for good not evil. Oh well that's it for this post I am taking a break from Poll-tix till something new happens
Thursday, January 17, 2008
It's the new trend!
So it seems ZANU break-aways have become the new thing in Zim in the lead up to the elections . Today New Zimbabwe reports that Dabengwa leads Zanu PF revolt, to challenge Mugabe.....YAWN! Is this the same Dabengwa who was quick to give in to the Unity Accord so that he could get rich at the expense of the Matabele people? Ok, so it may not be fair for me to heap that responsibility on Mr. Dabengwa but .........
As you read the article further apparently Mr.Dabengwa has also been in talks with MDC to form an alliance. Is there anyone in ZANU the MDC has yet to invite to form alliances? Next week's news will be about Emerson forming an alliance...somehow though I don't see that one happening. I don't think Emmie wants to share power with anyone. It's Masvingo netara solo for Cde Mnangagwa, who may win Bob's favour again now that there is all this dissent within Zanu.
Mashingaidze's article in ZW NEWS today is sobering, he makes the point that all this new opposition that is coming up 2 months before the March elections may really be a toothless lion. If Bob refuses to delay elections till June, what real chance do any of the new Zanu hopefuls have of organising? Especially seeing as they will be sanctioned by the very laws they helped create?
As you read the article further apparently Mr.Dabengwa has also been in talks with MDC to form an alliance. Is there anyone in ZANU the MDC has yet to invite to form alliances? Next week's news will be about Emerson forming an alliance...somehow though I don't see that one happening. I don't think Emmie wants to share power with anyone. It's Masvingo netara solo for Cde Mnangagwa, who may win Bob's favour again now that there is all this dissent within Zanu.
Mashingaidze's article in ZW NEWS today is sobering, he makes the point that all this new opposition that is coming up 2 months before the March elections may really be a toothless lion. If Bob refuses to delay elections till June, what real chance do any of the new Zanu hopefuls have of organising? Especially seeing as they will be sanctioned by the very laws they helped create?
With only two months to go, Makoni's supporters may not be
able to organise a challenge, the MDC may remain divided and, without adequate
oversight, the elections would be a forgone conclusion.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Enter Simba
The name Simba is associated with the sacchariny Lion King. Simba is the young lion cub, crown-prince, who leaves his kingdom in shame after his father dies at the paws of the evil uncle Scar . Uncle Scar is evil and is ruining the kingdom and he has allowed the hyenas to come and live with the lions...it's awful and then Simba comes back to save the day...Yay... "the circle of life" etcetera and so forth.
Well according to the news Friday, Zimbabwe is about to experience our own version of the Lion King as Simba Makoni has decided to stand for the presidential election and finally prove to me that he really is a big deal. Apparently the anti-Mugabe faction in Zanu has decided to launch a party.........Maiwe zvangu! Directing this new movie is Dr. Ibbo Mandaza.....oh joy...this man is one of those whom many forgive because "he has no choice but to enjoy the spoils of Zanu affiliation"...huh? Any way if I can use the Lion King analogy again, Ibbo would be Rafiki.
Look I don't much about Simba Makoni when he was Finance Minister I think I was at that age when snogging my Falcon College boyfriend was the most important thing. But I know that among the educated, sophisticated and advanced Zimbos he is really respected. There was outrage among the aforementioned group when the Western nations blocked Makoni's bid to head the ADB at the World Bank because of his former Zanu ties. All I ever hear is "Simba is a good guy". He is not a revolutionary he is a technocrat...kinda like Mbeki. The general consensus among middle-class Zimbabweans (oxymoron,i know) is that Makoni can make us the new South Africa......ah who care about the new South Africa, people just want to eat.
So now those who have been hoping for a Makoni Presidential bid can celebrate because apparently next week we may see the formation of a third or fourth political party in Zimbabwe. Which signals to me ( and I admit I am not informed enough to make thsi prediction, but f u! this is my blog) the end of MDC - Tsvangirai and MDC-Mutambara even if they are claiming unity for the March.
As far as I am concerned the MDC lost their privilege to represent the Zimbabwean people in government when they shamelessly aired their dirty laundry in public. When the leadership in the MDC exposed themeselves to be no better than ZANU, I lost faith. Our problem in Zim and Global South in general is the we give our leaders messianic status and we can no longer imagine anyone else leading us. (Look at the mess in Pakistan with Benazir Bhutto's (R.I.P) replacing her - WTF?) For all their shennanigans I for one am shocked that the MDC is still a viable party in Zimbabwe.
In my opinion they are ungrateful and they do not have the welfare of the Zimbabwean people at heart. Right now they are in secret talks with Thabo Mbeki and ZANU Pf and no one, not even civil society knows what they are doing or agreeing to. Once in a while we learn that they are in actuality giving in to ZANU. Then came the mess with the Women's Assembly and yet we still think that MDC is our answer. Can they really be trusted not to match or even top Robbie? At least with Robbie we know what to expect zvino ava who are newbies and foaming at the mouth for power are even more dangerous.
The person who take over after Robbie is going to have to have a cool head. This individual is going to have to know how deal with the anger that will be misdirected at the new government by the people who have been oppressed for 27 years. The new government will have to know how to respond to the demands of the people and how to quell the anger without bringing the army. Chaos doesn't even begin to describe what could possibly happen in Zimbabwe if ZANU loses and relinquishes power in March. Can MDC handle it? Especially now when they don't even get along and they have already had violent clashes among themselves? May be Simba is really who we need.....more so because he is pals with the guy who controls the army.
But like I said earlier what do I know about Simba Makoni...not much but anyone who is accused of "embracing the neo-liberal agenda of western countries" by Zanu probably has a way to dig us out of this economic Dante's Inferno. Now let me clear I am not promoting World Bank and IMF economic liberalism models for African democracy I think we can all agree that doesn't work. But what I am arguing is that here we have a guy who understands that without a solid political system there can never be a successful economy in Zimbabwe. Now what ideology informs that economy is another debate for another times.
In conclusion I would advise the MDC to follow their own advice to ZANU and they should "chinja maitiro".
Well according to the news Friday, Zimbabwe is about to experience our own version of the Lion King as Simba Makoni has decided to stand for the presidential election and finally prove to me that he really is a big deal. Apparently the anti-Mugabe faction in Zanu has decided to launch a party.........Maiwe zvangu! Directing this new movie is Dr. Ibbo Mandaza.....oh joy...this man is one of those whom many forgive because "he has no choice but to enjoy the spoils of Zanu affiliation"...huh? Any way if I can use the Lion King analogy again, Ibbo would be Rafiki.
Look I don't much about Simba Makoni when he was Finance Minister I think I was at that age when snogging my Falcon College boyfriend was the most important thing. But I know that among the educated, sophisticated and advanced Zimbos he is really respected. There was outrage among the aforementioned group when the Western nations blocked Makoni's bid to head the ADB at the World Bank because of his former Zanu ties. All I ever hear is "Simba is a good guy". He is not a revolutionary he is a technocrat...kinda like Mbeki. The general consensus among middle-class Zimbabweans (oxymoron,i know) is that Makoni can make us the new South Africa......ah who care about the new South Africa, people just want to eat.
So now those who have been hoping for a Makoni Presidential bid can celebrate because apparently next week we may see the formation of a third or fourth political party in Zimbabwe. Which signals to me ( and I admit I am not informed enough to make thsi prediction, but f u! this is my blog) the end of MDC - Tsvangirai and MDC-Mutambara even if they are claiming unity for the March.
As far as I am concerned the MDC lost their privilege to represent the Zimbabwean people in government when they shamelessly aired their dirty laundry in public. When the leadership in the MDC exposed themeselves to be no better than ZANU, I lost faith. Our problem in Zim and Global South in general is the we give our leaders messianic status and we can no longer imagine anyone else leading us. (Look at the mess in Pakistan with Benazir Bhutto's (R.I.P) replacing her - WTF?) For all their shennanigans I for one am shocked that the MDC is still a viable party in Zimbabwe.
In my opinion they are ungrateful and they do not have the welfare of the Zimbabwean people at heart. Right now they are in secret talks with Thabo Mbeki and ZANU Pf and no one, not even civil society knows what they are doing or agreeing to. Once in a while we learn that they are in actuality giving in to ZANU. Then came the mess with the Women's Assembly and yet we still think that MDC is our answer. Can they really be trusted not to match or even top Robbie? At least with Robbie we know what to expect zvino ava who are newbies and foaming at the mouth for power are even more dangerous.
The person who take over after Robbie is going to have to have a cool head. This individual is going to have to know how deal with the anger that will be misdirected at the new government by the people who have been oppressed for 27 years. The new government will have to know how to respond to the demands of the people and how to quell the anger without bringing the army. Chaos doesn't even begin to describe what could possibly happen in Zimbabwe if ZANU loses and relinquishes power in March. Can MDC handle it? Especially now when they don't even get along and they have already had violent clashes among themselves? May be Simba is really who we need.....more so because he is pals with the guy who controls the army.
But like I said earlier what do I know about Simba Makoni...not much but anyone who is accused of "embracing the neo-liberal agenda of western countries" by Zanu probably has a way to dig us out of this economic Dante's Inferno. Now let me clear I am not promoting World Bank and IMF economic liberalism models for African democracy I think we can all agree that doesn't work. But what I am arguing is that here we have a guy who understands that without a solid political system there can never be a successful economy in Zimbabwe. Now what ideology informs that economy is another debate for another times.
In conclusion I would advise the MDC to follow their own advice to ZANU and they should "chinja maitiro".
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Go Home and Vote
I am always keenly aware of what it means to be one in the diaspora, our presence outside the country is a double-edged sword. On one hand we are essential to those still at home because we send the much needed forex for them to eke out an existence. Without the thousands of dollars sent into Zimbabwe by the diaspora to relatives, who knows what would happen. On the other hand our staying away from Zimbabwe contributes to the further entrenching of Robbie and his crew. We lose touch with reality and to an extent our connection to the home country; we can no longer truly empathise with those left behind.
This morning I read a very short news blurb on VOA Zimbabwean Nongovernmental Group Urges Exiles To Return For Elections , and the guilt overwhelmed me. In 2005 I remember watching Ukraine's Diaspora gather on Michigan Avenue in Chicago in a show of solidarity for Yuschenko and democracy. It was so inspiring to watch and once or twice I caught myself getting choked up as I imagined Zimbabweans doing the same. Named the "Orange Revolution" this show of support by the diaspora for the resistance that was ongoing in the Ukraine I believe was powerful enough to allow some transparency in the democractic process and the eventual election of Viktor Yushchenko. That summer I remember writing passionately for a class about the power of the diaspora and how those outside who are maligned by ruling elites as traitors and defectors could really be instrumental in the fragile democratic process in Zimbabwe.
So here were are in 2008 awaiting the next round of elections and I really cannot see myself marching down Michigan avenues waving the Zimba flag nor do I see myself purchasing a plane ticket to go and cast my vote in March.
So my rhetorical question to self is two-fold....
What does it mean to be a citizen?
How do I exercise my citizenship from thousands of miles away?
Honestly we in the diaspora whether you support the ruling party, the opposition or no one are all spineless. It's great isn't it to sit here with a full belly, electricty, running water, and spew my pathetic rants about saving Zimbabwe when really I wouldn't have the guts to endure the life in Zimbabwe. I am ashamed of myself. Yes I contribute I suppose by being outraged everytime I read of some injustice or the other. I e-mail the news link to friends, I blog, I "spread awareness" but this awareness I am spreading doesn't seem to be a very catchy disease. Heck I seem to recover from every bout.
So what do I do? Man I wish I was one of those revolutionary types, the ones who don't just read books and newspapers but the ones who actually act. Like my beloved women of WOZA who remind me everyday that I am nothing but a candy-ass nose brigade.... and I am shamed.
This morning I read a very short news blurb on VOA Zimbabwean Nongovernmental Group Urges Exiles To Return For Elections , and the guilt overwhelmed me. In 2005 I remember watching Ukraine's Diaspora gather on Michigan Avenue in Chicago in a show of solidarity for Yuschenko and democracy. It was so inspiring to watch and once or twice I caught myself getting choked up as I imagined Zimbabweans doing the same. Named the "Orange Revolution" this show of support by the diaspora for the resistance that was ongoing in the Ukraine I believe was powerful enough to allow some transparency in the democractic process and the eventual election of Viktor Yushchenko. That summer I remember writing passionately for a class about the power of the diaspora and how those outside who are maligned by ruling elites as traitors and defectors could really be instrumental in the fragile democratic process in Zimbabwe.
So here were are in 2008 awaiting the next round of elections and I really cannot see myself marching down Michigan avenues waving the Zimba flag nor do I see myself purchasing a plane ticket to go and cast my vote in March.
So my rhetorical question to self is two-fold....
What does it mean to be a citizen?
How do I exercise my citizenship from thousands of miles away?
Honestly we in the diaspora whether you support the ruling party, the opposition or no one are all spineless. It's great isn't it to sit here with a full belly, electricty, running water, and spew my pathetic rants about saving Zimbabwe when really I wouldn't have the guts to endure the life in Zimbabwe. I am ashamed of myself. Yes I contribute I suppose by being outraged everytime I read of some injustice or the other. I e-mail the news link to friends, I blog, I "spread awareness" but this awareness I am spreading doesn't seem to be a very catchy disease. Heck I seem to recover from every bout.
So what do I do? Man I wish I was one of those revolutionary types, the ones who don't just read books and newspapers but the ones who actually act. Like my beloved women of WOZA who remind me everyday that I am nothing but a candy-ass nose brigade.... and I am shamed.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
New Year
Happy New Year! Election 2008....will it bring hope? Will it make permanent the current state of things? Friends and family without electricity for a full week. How does one wish them a merry Christmas and a Hppy New Year without the yoke of guilt weighing heavily? What is to become of Zimbabwe? I miss home and I so want to be back among my own................
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
