ZIMBABWE A SELF MADE PROBLEM
THIS is a continuation of the piece I posted two days ago concerning the matter of the Suedes offering assistance to Zimbabwe on the condition that the ruling party Zanu PF and MDC put aside their differences. But the problem is the leadership of the political parties has polarised
issues and made it hard to create grounds for dialogue and rapprochements.
It’s the case of the grass suffering on account of two elephants fighting.
For example Chamisa’s refusal to recognise ED as the President of Zimbabwe,
insisting the elections were stolen. And coining new political verbiages such as
the People’s President, or President elected by the people while ED is
president elected by the courts. Where does that strategy take us
next as a starting point for dialogue? It’s
dead before is started. On the other end, ED argues that
he created the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) in May 2019 as a platform for
national dialogue, and Chamisa and MDC (who refused to participate in it),
should join that group. Chamisa is also saying that there is a legitimacy
crisis in Zimbabwe. The President and Zanu PF see no crisis and these are the
real issues standing in the way of dialogue towards an engagement process. We
can see it. The Swedes can see it, they have an embassy in Harare.
There is this whole issue of serious political
polarization in Zimbabwe characterised by blame game, hate speech, gross abuse
of social media, and a zero-sum game approach to issues. Its all about scoring points.
This is the politics that is holding us back. There are too many vested
interests within both political formations that will not give up, and unless as
Zimbabweans we stop shouting over each other and start finding each other, the country with all its promise can end up taking the route of the failed states
such as Somalia with a broken nation that will be beyond repair. True friends can help stop that.
What
true friends of Zimbabwe Should do
Given the situation separating our political contestants
from coming together, I think true friends of Zimbabwe should play a more
constructive role of quiet diplomacy to get the two main parties talking
than to place these kinds of conditions when the reasons standing between
dialogue is in the public domain. I
know Sweden means well for Zimbabwe, and I had the privilege during my time as
a journalist in Zimbabwe to witness some of the work in the country supported
through Swedish funding. I can safely say Sweden is a friend of Zimbabwe.
Friends do not fold their hands while you butcher each other. Instead, they help
build bridges, they are active players in peace-making and reconciliation and
support programmes aimed at seeking common ground. I don’t think placing
conditions on the antagonists will work because ultimately it is Zimbabwe and
the people who suffer the most from ostracism.
Sweden
would be remembered by generations to come if it plays its role well
rather than watch the two fight each other to the bitter end like gladiators.
In the end, there may be no Zimbabwe to support because the gladiators will have
killed each other.
Just a rhetorical question to the friends of
Zimbabwe such as Sweden…
So what happens if Mnangagwa and Chamisa fail
to talk? Should Zimbabwe, the country, and the people you so
very much love, continue to suffer?
TR-6.BLOGSPOT.COM
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