THE Standard issue of 18-24 July made very interesting reading.  The piece that caught my interest the most was one entitled, “Job Sikhala, frustrated genius or rebel without cause?” Sikhala answered questions that were thrown at him soberly and articulated his views without emotion or anger. He demonstrated the kind of maturity which most of our leaders lack.

However, the two analysts interviewed in the report were trying to interrogate Sikhala’s political personality but failed to do this convincingly. They betrayed themselves by trying to present themselves as political activists campaigning for a certain political party. Dr John Makumbe even went to the extent of suggesting that Sikhala should have joined one of the two main political parties in the country suggesting that there is no more space for other parties in the country.

It is as if Zimbabweans only deserve two political parties that should house all the political wisdom and beyond that, there are no other options. That is ridiculous. I have known Dr Makumbe as my former lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe and know him to be politically emotional rather than conceptual and analytical on political content with academic and intellectual substance that is helpful to the public in making informed decisions. Of course, what he said was his opinion but as a political scientist I expected him to give us an informed and well structured viewpoint.

It is a fact that Zimbabweans are frustrated by the two main political parties in the country both on the political and economic front and that frustration requires a psychological outlet in the form of an alternative political dispensation. When the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) was formed in 1999 it became very popular not because it was led by strategists and people of strong political fibre but because of the frustration at the deep economic crisis ravaging the country that time. This frustration has become even deeper because of the exaggerated hope that came with the formation of the inclusive government.

The MDC-T made a terrible mistake of joining the GNU and now it is painted with the same brush as Zanu PF. I am sure your readers would concur with me that nothing significant has come out of the GNU because  of the presence of Zanu PF, a highly discredited party with whom no sane international investor would want to do business.

There is also a disturbing level of arrogance in the MDC-T, resulting in the alienation of it’s supporters. This is worsened by their lack of capacity to produce clear policy blue-prints and the general level of relaxation towards their declared change agenda. If the truth be told, MDC-T and MDC-M have only helped to consolidate the power and confidence of Zanu PF as any blame for national failure now has to be shared among the three parties in the GNU.

The two MDC formations have helped to do a lot of good public relations for Zanu PF and that is a disaster for their supporters.
Dr Makumbe fails to appreciate political issues obtaining in our country. As a political scientist, he seems unable to analyse political issues in greater detail.
People make political choices based on their national aspirations and the demands of the day. What the majority of Zimbabweans want is governance that results in economic sustenance and the improvement of their lives.

Political populism is very temporary in many democracies throughout the world; there is time for dissatisfaction if that populism does not translate into concrete results and this is the time at which both the MDC-T and Zanu PF have reached.

If Dr Makumbe is a skilled political analyst and advisor, what happened to his advice to the now defunct Forum Party of the late Dr Enock Dumbutshena?

Readers will also recall that Dr Makumbe was also the advisor to Zimbabwe Union of Democrats (ZUD) and the project collapsed.

Wilkins Nyamagodo
Chitungwiza

Comments (7)

Show/Hide comments

Show/Hide comment form