dumisani o nkomo: THE TEST OF AFRICAN DIPLOMACY AND REGIONAL LEADERS...

dumisani o nkomo: THE TEST OF AFRICAN DIPLOMACY AND REGIONAL LEADERS...: "The Test of African Diplomacy and Regional Leadership By Dumisani O. Nkomo The year 2011 has been epitomized by an unparalled wave of popu..."

THE TEST OF AFRICAN DIPLOMACY AND REGIONAL LEADERSHIP

The Test of African Diplomacy and Regional Leadership

By Dumisani O. Nkomo

The  year 2011 has been epitomized by an unparalled wave of popular “people’s” revolutions which have spread like a wild fire in North Africa and the Middle East .Critically the situation in Libya is of grave concern whilst the ouster of Laurent Gbabgo in the Ivory Coast is a stark reminder that Africa has to take leadership in issues that affect African countries .The season calls for Africa through institutions such as the African Union and  regional bodies such as the Economic Community for West African States [E.C.O.W.A.S ]  and the Southern African Development Community [S.A.D.C ]to take leadership in intra state conflict as this may have a bearing on regional security and the well being of the continent .

The North African/Middle East Contagion

The contagion effects of the popular uprisings or revolutions in Tunisia ,Egypt and Libya  in Africa and countries such as Yemen  and Bahrain are indicative of the manner in which “instability “or “revolution can be exported .Emerging empirical  evidence suggests that the rapid growth of the information super highway epitomized by the growth of social networking and global satellite media is contributing immensely to transnational stability or lack thereof .Dictators can no longer get away with wanton abuse of state institutions and suppression of the rights of their citizens .Thanks to satellite television and the internet the excesses of the Ugandan government  against the opposition ,the suppression of constitutional rights by the Swazi Monarchy and the rabid behavior of the Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe are within the watchful gaze of the global community .

Similarly the resilience and energy of oppressed people in Tunisia ignited the flame of liberation and revolution in Egypt ,Libya and the Middle East .The cumulative effects as well as ramifications of the “Jasmine Revolutions “have caused a fundamental shift in global politics ,international relations ,regional power dynamics and diplomacy .If the African Union and regional l bodies fail to take the lead in robustly tackling intra state conflicts these institutions will soon be rendered irrelevant .

Significantly the intervention of the United Nations ,N.A.T.O ,the United States of America and France in Libya ,the Ivory Coast in the past six months may be indicative of the impotence of the African Union and the importance of African leadership in resolving African problems  in a more pro active manner .Whilst the African Union and ECOWAS spoke decisively against Laurent Gbagbo’s attempts to steal the elections in the Ivory Coast ,these actions were largely too little too late .Subsequently the United Nations passed resolutions 1973 and 1975 to deal with the crises in Libya and the Ivory Coast .Importantly the worst losers were the people of Libya and the people of Ivory Coast as over 3,000 people have died in the Ivory Coast and thousands more continue to die in Libya .

Obstacles to A.U Action

There are a number of factors  intrinsic to the design ,operations ,values and political culture of the African Union and African regional bodies which have affected the efficacy of African diplomacy and regional as well as continental peace building .These include but are not limited to the following :

1,Lack of financial and technical capacity to actively intervene and moderate political crises .

2.Lack of political will to effectively deal with emerging crisis situations within nation which  is a big factor because for a long time Africa has tolerated autocratic regimes in Egypt ,Libya ,Tunisia ,Zimbabwe ,Swaziland amongst other countries and the motif “African solutions for African problems” has become a euphemism for accommodating rogue governments .

3.Compromising Democratic Processes at the feet of Sovereignty is a major facto limiting the effectiveness of the A.U .Whilst the constitutive act of the African Union enshrines the importance and pertinence of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states  at the same time it calls upon member states to respect human rights ,good governance and democratic processes .There seems to be a stalemate as  to which comes first and which is more important :sovereignty of member states or the respect of democratic processes and institutions by member states .The rogue regime in Zimbabwe continues to argue that no country should interfere in its internal affairs .This is akin to an abusive father who threatens his neighbours because they have no right to stop him from excruciatingly beating his wife and subjecting his children to cruel ,inhuman and degrading treatment .Surely at one point the interests of the wife and the children have to take precedence of the ego of the abusive man .It is in this context that I would like to argue that Southern Africa has  to reign in rogue elements before they become a threat to regional peace and security .

I propose that the following steps be taken in order to ensure that African diplomacy and mediation becomes more effective and meaningful :

1.The African Peer Review Mechanism[A.P.R.M] needs to be strengthened by making the process more binding and putting in place enforcement mechanisms .At the moment the A.P.R.M is purely voluntary and non enforceable and only a handful of countries have completed the process .

2.Minimum standards of good governance contained in the Declaration on Democracy ,Political ,Economic and Corporate Governance should be internalized in national legislation and policies of  A.U member states .

3.The African Union and its regional bodies such as SADC should strengthen implementation of instruments  on democratic processes such as elections .Such instruments include the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections and the A.U Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa .

4.Setting up of effective implementation ,enforcement and monitoring mechanisms to ensure that Africa countries adhere to the standards of good governance that they have committed themselves to .

It is possible to create an Africa free from dictatorship ,genocide ,corruption and violation of  human rights .

Dumisani O Nkomo is a Zimbabwean based political commentator and opinion leader

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dumisani o nkomo: Is Ethnic Balancing In Politics Desirable ?

dumisani o nkomo: Is Ethnic Balancing In Politics Desirable ?: "The Pros and Cons of Ethnic Balancing By Dumisani O. Nkomo A cursory analysis of the country’s four main political parties namely the MDC T,..."

Is Ethnic Balancing In Politics Desirable ?

The Pros and Cons of Ethnic Balancing

By Dumisani O. Nkomo

A cursory analysis of the country’s four main political parties namely the MDC T, ZANU PF, MDC and ZAPU shows attempts at delicate ethnic balancing in the political leadership architecture and design. It has become commonplace for political parties to ensure that if they have a Shona President, the Vice President must be Ndebele, if they have a Ndebele President, the Vice President must be Shona. Ethnic balancing has become a norm and a political imperative in the Zimbawean context but what we have to ask ourselves is whether it is desirable, necessary or value adding. Does it demonstrate an absence of political maturity in the electorate or party congresses/conferences which are entrusted with electing leaders or is it a necessary political tool to manage ethnic politics? What will it take for Zimbabweans to start electing leaders on the basis of merit, ability, capacity and potential or are we going be stuck in the politics of who comes from where for the next few decades? These are questions which I have but do not necessarily have answers for as I hope they will provide a framework for fruitful, unemotional, informed and intelligent debate.

African politics and specifically Zimbabwean politics has been dominated by issues of ethnicity for centuries. I wish to examine the impact and effect of ethnicity on Zimbabwean politics and the collective destiny of the nation.

Ethnic Balancing Versus Quality Leadership

One pertinent issue that we need to address is whether ethnic balancing compromises quality of leadership in a political party and more importantly in a country. In African electoral politics the most frequently asked question is which tribe a candidate comes from or where they come from and not what they have to offer to the electorate. How has this phenomenon affected the quality of leaders we choose and subsequently the quality of political discourse, engagement and development? When political parties have congresses to elect leaders do they place a premium on the quality of leaders or the ethnic origins of the leaders? Looking at the four main political parties in Zimbabwe it is quite self evident that the ethnic political architecture is inbuilt into the leadership structure of all these parties. The reasons are many and varied but nonetheless it is self evident that ethnicity does a play a role in the way the leadership of these parties is constructed.

Ethnic Balancing As A Political Tool

MDC T, ZANU PF, MDC and ZAPU all seem to have delicate mechanisms to manage ethnic representation in the higher echelons of their leadership structures.  ZANU PF and MDC T appear to have reserved the positions of Vice President for Ndebeles, whilst the MDC N has a Ndebele president and a Shona Vice President whilst ZAPU has a Ndebele President and a Shona Vice President. In the recent MDC congress Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khuphe, Norman Mabhena and Thabitha Khumalo [all Ndebeles] contested for the position of Vice president. Ethnic balancing is frequently used by political parties to manage delicate ethnic interests and dynamics. In the absence of ethnic balancing there is general fear amongst political parties that they may be labeled tribalist regional parties and thus loses support and national credibility. In spite of these reasons I still contend that to an extent ethnic balancing does compromise the quality of leadership for the following reasons.

Ethnic Balancing Is Not Ethnic Representation

It is critical to interrogate the notion that by having a Ndebele Vice President or a Shona Vice President, Secretary General or whatever the case maybe this necessarily entails that the particular ethnic group that the individual comes from is represented. Does the fact that DPM Khuphe comes from Matabeleland and Vice President John Nkomo come from Matabeleland necessarily mean that they become the embodiment of the hopes, aspirations, dreams and concerns of people from that region.

Whilst at the level of the political parties that these individuals come from, it may be felt that these people represent certain ethnic groups in this case the Ndebele, their presence in these positions does not necessarily translate to representation of the Ndebele. History has proven that whilst individuals use the ethnic ticket to campaign for political posts in their parties and government, many of these individuals  tend to become mere political ornaments who do not adequately represent or articulate the concerns of people for example in Matabeleland or Manicaland  or wherever they come from. Ethnicity has thus become a useful positioning tool for some at the expense of addressing core structural issues, ethnic imbalances in resource allocation and development.

Ethnic Balancing As Leverage For Leadership Positions

Disappointingly whenever politicians campaign for positions in their parties they use the issue of ethnicity as leverage but once they are ensconced in power they forget about the people they claim to represent and lay claim to be “national leaders.”

The Ethnic Question In The MDC T

It is important to address the issue of ethnic balancing in the context of the politics of the MDC T because it is the party which is most likely to defeat ZANU PF in elections. If the party does not deal with issues relating to ethnicity now it could perpetuate the ZANU PF legacy of divisive ethnic polarization and marginalization.

Critics and activists in Matabeleland have argued that the MDC T party has poor representation from Matabeleland in its national leadership with Thokozani Khuphe and Lovemore Moyo being the only notable figures in its leadership whilst other politicians such as Morgan Komichi and Abednico Bhebhe are deputies. The counter argument has been that ethnicity goes beyond the Ndebele - Shona issue but should take into account other ethnic groupings such as the Tonga, Kalanga, Sotho, Nambya, coloureds, whites, Asians etc including language groups such as the Zezuru, Manyika and Karanga. To balance representation of all these groupings must indeed be a nightmare for political parties.

The MDC T suffers from a peculiar problem of under representation from Matabeland due to a number of reasons. First and foremost after the united MDC party split most of the party’s senior leaders from Matabeleland who were also in the national hierarchy sided with the then Mutambara faction. This included the Vice President Gibson Sibanda, the Secretary General Welshman Ncube, the Treasurer General Fletcher Dulini Ncube, the Spokesperson Paul Themba Nyathi, Legal Affairs secretary David Coltart and the likes of Esaph Mdlongwa and others. Even some who hold senior positions in the MDC T were initially aligned to the Mutambara faction. All these leaders had vast experience and a galaxy of talent and their exodus left a huge vacuum in the MDC T in terms of quality leadership from Matabeleland. This led to people who were fairly junior in the party structures but having the unexpected blessing of coming from Matabeleland being parachuted to leadership positions. Subsequently, most of the party’s cadres from Matabeleland cannot compete on an equal footing with their colleagues from other regions because of the historical leadership vacuum created by the split. This is a political reality which the party has to accept, confront and develop strategies to address. The leadership vacuum is evident in the fact that most of the leaders from Matabeleland compete for fairly junior posts as deputies or for positions which are guaranteed through ethnic balancing.

 Is ethnic balancing in government and political parties desirable? Well it may not be desirable but it is necessary for the time being anyway because our politics is still far from maturing and elections are less about electing quality people who can deliver but rather are more about personalities and ethnicity. Ethnic balancing also helps to ensure that minorities and marginalized groups within political parties are represented. An ethnic majority in the country could be a minority in a political party and as such could be under represented in that political formation. The reverse could also hold true as an ethnic minority at a national level could be under represented at a political party or government level. Ethnic balancing therefore becomes a necessary evil. The flip side of the argument is that ethnic balancing may compromise the quality of leaders in a political party or government as preference is given to ethnicity rather than ability.

In my opinion Africa in general and Zimbabwe in particular will experience true democracy and socio economic growth once we start placing a premium on what people have to offer rather than which ethnic groups they belong to. The danger of ethnic balancing is that it may reduce minorities such as Nambyas, Tongas, Ndebeles, coloureds, Asians, Sothos, Ndaus and other ethnic groups to perennial deputies. Maybe  we can learn something from the election of Barack Obama who made history by being the first black president of the United States of America. Do we see ourselves in fifteen to twenty years voting for a white president, a Tonga president, a Venda president, a Ndebele President if that person is the best candidate? If the best candidate is a Zezuru, a Manyika or Karanga then so be it, but how long before we get to this level of maturity is another question.

There are encouraging signs in organizations for organized business, students’ unions, trade unions and civil society that indeed there is a generation of Zimbabweans that sees people not for their ethnicity but for their ability, the content of their character and what they have to offer to the nation. Failure to address the question of ethnicity may lead to the radicalization of ethnocentric politics and formations. We need to debate the issue widely and not wildly whilst at the same time thinking about the imperative of developing and electing quality leaders.

Dumisani O. Nkomo is a civil society practitioner and opinion leader. He is a founder of the Matabeleland Civil Society Consortium. Dumisani can be contacted on dumisani.nkomo@gmail.com or visit blogspot at dumisanionkomo.blogspot.com

Victory Felowship Builds Houses For Single Mothers

Victory Fellowship Unveils Houses For Single Mothers

Victory Fellowship in partnership with Equip International has unveiled two four roomed houses for single mothers in Queen Park East  in Bulawayo .There are plans to build two more houses and  foundations have already  been laid for the next phase of the S.M.I.L.E. village project .S.M.I.L.E is an acronym for  Single Mothers Included Loved and Empowered, a ministry of Victory Fellowship .Pastor Dan Harding and his wife Yvonne have been at the forefront of the project for the past five years .A borehole  has been drilled at the site and a water tank installed in preparation for small market gardening projects that will be done at the centre .

 The two houses are part of a bigger vision which will result in the construction of a S.M.I.L.E village complete with  livelihoods projects .The project is unique in that it does not only address the immediate needs of vulnerable sections of the populace but importantly it empowers them to break the cycle of poverty .Whilst many initiatives by both church and secular organizations focus on hand outs and relief for situations of lack and poverty ,the S.M.I.L.E. village project equips single mothers to face the challenges of the future in an empowering and dignified manner .

At an emotional dedication of the two houses Pastor Harding recalled how they had launched the single mothers ministry dubbed Single Mothers Loved Included and Empowered  over five years ago .The need for accommodation was one of the chief needs which they identified as a big hurdle for single mothers .Consequently they developed a vision and a passion for a village for single mothers .This resulted in an initial U.S 10,000 being injected into the project and there after another U.S 70,000 From a Canadian group named Equip International which has partnered with Equip Zimbabwe through Victory Fellowship to build the village .

A representative of Equip International Pastor Phil Nordine  informed the people that gathered at the launch that it was the vision of the group to redeem orphans and widows from the indignity of poverty and lack .

To this end a group of Canadian Christian business men had come together to mobilize resources for partnership with people in the third  world especially in providing shelter for widows and orphans .

Senior Pastor and Founder of Victory Fellowship  Rev Ken Haskins underscored the importance of partnerships in impacting communities for God .He stated that the partnership with Equip International would precipitate other partnerships between Victory Fellowship and local communities .Victory Fellowship is already running a school ,an H.I. V and AIDS project and a soup kitchen .

Besides the timely partnership with  Equip International ,other key stakeholders that contributed to the project include Elder Alfred Nyalila who donated 6 acres of land towards the S.M.I.L.E Village .City businessman Alex Hwekwete provided expertise in planning whilst Francis Rakonda  ,a finance guru provided sound financial advice .Importantly people such as Dean Webster sourced cement for the project at a time when it was in short supply .The initiative would have not been possible had it not been for the Canadian consortium of businessmen through Equip International who pumped over  U.S 70,000 into the project .

The S.M.IL.E ministry exists to empower single women spiritually, emotionally, vocationally and of late economically through projects such as the S.M.I.L.E Village .

The SMILE Village Project is just the beginning of an exciting chapter in the kingdom of God as the church and specifically Victory Fellowship takes its rightful place as salt and light of the world .

By Dumisani O. Nkomo

dumisani o nkomo: African Solutions For African Problems ?

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Beyond The Troika Meeting

S.A.D.C TROIKA, SPEAKERSHIP DEBACLE-SIGNIFICANCE, IMPLICATIONS AND POSSIBILITIES

By Dumisani O. Nkomo

In a space of a week ZANU P.F suffered two excruciating defeats at two critical sites of political contest namely Parliament and at the SADC Troika Meeting in Zambia. The victory of Lovemore Moyo in the battle for the post of Speaker against all odds in the face of growing repression, arbitrary arrests of opposition and civic activists was indeed a significant political development. Critically the tough position adopted by the SADC organ on Security, Politics and Defence against President Robert Mugabe and his ZANU P.F Party marked a radical shift in regional politics which could have a bearing on the direction of national politics in Zimbabwe. It is in this context that is it is important to briefly analyze the import, significance and impact of the two political developments and how they will shape power dynamics in the country.

It is not only important but also imperative to celebrate these two victories and beyond that consolidate the political territory that has been successfully defended and gained through the two critical victories. The maturity and magnanimity of the M.D.C led by Welshman Ncube should be applauded by all progressive Zimbabweans. As I have argued consistently before, a united front is the only way of unseating ZANU PF. It would be tragic if the M.D.C T failed to reciprocate this act of statesmanship.

In the same vein Morgan Tsvangirai must be commended as well for his outstanding diplomatic offensive in Southern Africa just before the TROIKA Summit. I have argued in previous articles that the M.D.C T is very weak in its regional advocacy but this time round the party did its homework and for the first time President Mugabe and ZANU P.F got a rude awakening as Presidents Jacob Zuma, Rupiah Banda and the other Heads of State were in no mood for compromise this time around.

The two victories at Parliamentary and regional level are important in a number of ways and specifically for the following reasons:

Confidence Building

The victory of Lovemore Moyo over Simon Khaya Moyo is not just a victory of the M.D.C T over ZANU P.F but sends positive signals to the fatigued electorate that ZANU P.F can still be defeated in spite of its recourse to force, violence and intimidation.

Unity of Purpose

The fact that Welshman Ncube and some elements in ZANU P.F supported the M.D.C candidate, Lovemore Moyo is a basis for building a more solid moral alliance against ZANU PF with the possibility of reaching out to progressive elements within the former liberation party.

Cracks in ZANU PF

The very fact that several ZANU PF Members of Parliament regardless of numbers voted against the party’s preferred candidate in itself served to magnify the fissures within the party which could prove detrimental to their electoral aspirations. Internal cracks tend to be more difficult to manage than external opposition and could heighten factionalism in ZANU PF increasing internal contestations for power as well as suspicion and witch hunting which could severely hamper the party’s success in any election. It would be in the realm of conjecture and speculation to ascertain the reasons why ZANU P.F legislators voted for an M.D.C candidate.

It could be a result of internal factional politics with neither of the two or three factions within ZANU P.F willing to give the other an advantage. In the battle for strategic succession positioning a victory for any one of the factions could have presented it with a unique advantage in the legislature.

The “rebel” ZANU PF M.P’s could also be reformists who are tired of their party’s ruthless and heartless tactics. Where these M.P.’s driven by conscience or sheer political considerations? The motivation for their actions could be crucial in tilting the power game against ZANU PF if there are reformist elements within the party who are willing to work with progressive political formations. Even if this is not the case if the legislators were driven by “succession” or faction politics this is still grievous and harmful to ZANU PF because it would imply that factionalism in the party is actually a bigger problem than initially perceived or imagined, a factor which could be unhelpful for ZANU P.F’s election drive .

Shift in SADC Position

The strongly worded communiqué released by the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security indicates a shift in both attitude and action by SADC as demonstrated by the decision to second a panel to work with the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee [JOMIC]. Traditionally and historically Mugabe has enjoyed the support of SADC leaders as an elder statesman but quite clearly the scales have tilted against the Octogenarian leader and ZANU P.F. Predictably ZANU PF has argued that the SADC Troika’s actions are tantamount to interfering in the internal affairs of Zimbabwe. However, Article 22:6 of the Global Political Agreement gives SADC a role in the Zimbabwean situation as guarantors and underwriters of the Global Political Agreement together with the Facilitator Jacob Zuma [Formerly Thabo Mbeki] and the African Union. In the context of regional and continental politics ZANU PF is becoming increasingly isolated and sounding like an abusive husband who claims he has the right to bludgeon his wife and his neighbours have no right to stop him from brutally and savagely beating his spouse and children.

ZANU P.F has thus lost in two sites of political struggle and contestation namely Parliament and the Regional Arena thus reducing their circle of friends, influence and political control. Whether they like it or not ZANU P.F is no longer in the driving seat and they have invited this on themselves. However, opposition parties and the progressive democratic movement should not relax because of this momentary victory. There is need to consolidate the gains made through a solid alliance of the main political parties i.e. M.D.C T, M.D.C led by Ncube, ZAPU and other progressive forces. This alliance should not take away the identities of the political parties but be a strategic electoral and parliamentary coalition.

Secondly there is need to maintain momentum in regional, continental and international lobbying of SADC, the A.U, and the United Nations using the Global Political Agreement as a lobbying tool.

Thirdly there should be massive mobilization of Zimbabweans to register to vote, to protect the vote and to engage in positive non violent direct actions to bring peaceful and democratic change.

Mayibuye IZimbabwe

Dumisani O. Nkomo is an activist, writer and opinion leader. He writes here in his personal capacity. He can be contacted on dumisani.nkomo@gmail.com/blog-www.dumisanionkomo.blogspot

African Solutions For African Problems ?

Is African Politics Changing ?Effects of North Africa Revolutions On Regional and Continental Diplomacy

By Dumisani O. NKOMO

The SADC Troika’s position on Zimbabwe has raised the ire of ZANU PF ,its acolytes and apologists who have argued that SADC ‘s strong stance on Zimbabwe  is tantamount to “interfering in the internal affairs  of a sovereign state “ .This is in spite of the fact that President Robert Mugabe himself has been at the forefront of the philosophy of  African solutions to Africa problems .I would also like to argue that SADC  ,its counterpart in West Africa the Economic Community of West African States Ecowas and the African Union do have a role to play in the affairs of member countries whose internal political contexts threaten both regional security and the lives of civilians in those countries .

Historical and Contextual Issues

Can African solve its own problems ,does Africa have the capacity to solve the problem various African member states .Richard Dowden notes that Africa has had over 30 wars  and social upheavals  the period the 1990’s to present .These conflicts and civil wars have ranged from the genocides of Rwanda and Burundi the Somali conflict ,the killings in the Darfur region of Sudan ,the ferment in the Great Lakes Region .This has been accentuated and excercabated in the last few months by the North African uprisings in Egypt ,Tunisia and Libya .Pertinently there is the crisis in Ivory Coast which has seen Allassane Outarra take up  arms against strongman and former democrat Laurent Gbabgo .These multiple crises have brought to the fore the ability of African regional grouping such as ECOWAS AND SADC in addressing conflict issues in Africa .These conflicts are also increasingly forcing these regional bodies to re locate their positioning in global geo politics and transnational relations .

It is important for African countries through the A.U and regional groupings to show leadership in resolving crisis situations in the continent .There are encouraging signs in Libya of signs of life from African leaders with Jacob Zuma leading diplomatic efforts in that country .ECOWAS made its position clear in Ivory Coast when it endorsed the presidency of Allassane Outarra .

Critically we have to ask ourrselves whether these interventions have been timely or effective as the A.U seemed to be taking concrete steps only after substantive action was taken by the United Nations in both the Ivory Coast and Libya .The solid stance taken by the SADAC TROIKA on  excesses of the Mugabe regime are also encouraging signs that much more can be done by Africans for Africans Is it  however a case of too little too late and what lessons can be learnt moving forward ?I detect signs of slow but sure change .

Is Africa’s incapacity to deal with own problems a result of resource constraints or lack of political will ?These are important questions that we need to interrogate as we locate the role of the A.U and regional bodies in addressing the problems of various African countries .I am also keen on interrogating intervention mechanisms and  their efficacy as well the effectiveness of regional bodies in addressing issues of regional peace and security .

The African Union and its surrogate regional bodies such as SADC and Ecowas  carry within their mandate the imperative of promoting and protecting democratic processes and institutions within member states .Regional bodies also have a critical role to play in promoting regional peace ,stability and security and it is in this context that I would like to argue that the contagion effects of instability make it mandatory if not imperative for these bodies to start addressing issues of truant and rogue member states such as Zimbabwe ,Swaziland ,Ivory Coast and Libya who continue to undermine some key tenets of the letter and spirit of the objectives ,ethos and founding philosophies of the African Union and the regional bodies .The A.U has metamorphosed from being the Organization of African Unity with an emphasis on freeing Africa from imperialism to issues of regional integration ,growth ,promotion of democratic principles and processes .

It is a fact that what happens in one member state will affect what will happen in another country in Africa .

The North African Contagion

African statesmen and regional bodies are wary of the effects ,ramifications and implications of the North African revolutions in Egypt ,Tunisia and Libya .They are not oblivious to the happening in the Middle East which have seen a multiplicity of uprisings against dictatorships .The manner in which revolution was exported from Tunisia to Egypt then to Libya in a matter of weeks  will forever change perceptions of regional security ,stability and peace .With the advent of globalization and the information highway, information cannot be locked up by dictators anymore ,neither can the spirits of people in such countries be bound  by repressive laws .

The resilience of the Tunisian people was transferred to other countries and the collective confidence of oppressed peoples has been boosted by the experiences of other oppressed people rising against dictatorships like an unstoppable tide .In North Africa countries such as Algeria rushed to introduce democratic reforms after noting the contagion effect of revolution.

SADC seems to have taken a cue from this as clearly articulated by President Ruppiah Banda of Zambia .The repression of people in Zimbabwe can  easily result in regional insecurity and instability if the people of Zimbabwe  decide to remove the dictatorship through people power .This could have implications on countries such as Swaziland and have a ripple effect on the sub region .Even if this does not happen the exodus of people from Zimbabwe to neighboring countries could severely affect the socio economic and political architectures of these countries

Leadership Renewal Factor

There is also likely to be a change of attitude towards dictatorships because the majority of leaders in Africa are now third generation  ,post independent leaders who may want to be associated with an African Renaissance premised on ideals of democracy ,social and economic  transformation .South Africa for example has had at least four other presidents after Oliver Tambo namely Nelson Mandela ,Thabo Mbeki , Kgaleme Motlante and now Jacob Zuma .The country is thus  a paragon for leadership renewal albeit within one political party .The same story goes for Botswana ,Mozambique ,Zambia  ,Malawi ,Namibia   and Mozambique .Notably though the leadership renewal in most of these countries has been within the ruling parties with the exception of Malawi and Zambia .Angola ,Zimbabwe and Swaziland remain exceptions .

Critical Issues For Regional Bodies

There are two critical issues which I think Africa regional bodies need to start looking at namely elections and negotiated ,power sharing arrangements and in particular the Government of National Unity Experiments .

I would like to contend that the issue of elections as a mechanism of resolving disputes remains contentious in Africa .Elections in themselves are   a democratic tool of facilitating  transfer or retention of power .However incumbent governments have used elections as a tool of legitimizing their dictatorships through electoral fraud and violence .A more radical stance needs to be taken by African countries against regimes that steal elections either through rigging or violence .A positive development is the stand by ECOWAS against Laurent Gbabgo in the Ivory Coast as well the insistence of SADC for a roadmap to free and fair elections  in Zimbabwe .

The G.N.U EXPERIMENT

Disputed elections in Zimbabwe and Kenya amongst other countries have resulted in questionable political settlements that have tended to reward the losers in the elections such as Kibaki and Mugabe .There is need to revisit the concept of power sharing as a conflict management tool as it has been abused by incumbents to usurp democracy .

Dumisani can be contacted on dumisani.nkomo@gmail.com

dumisani o nkomo: Freedom Lies Ahead

dumisani o nkomo: Freedom Lies Ahead: "Freedom Lies Ahead By Dumisani O. Nkomo As Zimbabwe celebrates 31 years of Independence it is important for us to ask ourselves some importa..."

Freedom Lies Ahead

Freedom Lies Ahead

By Dumisani O. Nkomo

As Zimbabwe celebrates 31 years of Independence it is important for us to ask ourselves some important questions as we continue our journey towards freedom .The most important question to ask ourselves is whether we are actually independent .Are actually free or did we replace a repressive white colonial system with a repressive black government ?The very fact that we cannot enjoy the freedom that so many ZIPRA and ZANLA combatants fought for and died for is testimony to this .

Did  Ziyaphapha Moyo and Josiah Magama Tongogara fight and die for worshippers  in Harare to be tear gassed at  prayer services for victims of violence ?Did Leopold Takawira and Samuel Parirenyatwa die for a black government to arrest priests and pastors  in Lupane for daring to speak the truth about Gukurahundi  and the June 2008 violence ? .Did Alfred Nikita Mangena and Edson Sithole die for a black government ,led by black people to arrest people for talking about national healing and human rights? .Did Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo and Robert  Gabriel Mugabe spend ten years in jail in order for a black government to displace thousands of black people under Operation Murambatsvina ?Did William Ndangana   and  Swazini Ndlovu  fight for a black government to slaughter twenty thousand blacks in Matabeleland after independence ? Who detained ZIPRA commanders ,Dumiso Dabengwa and Mafela Masuku  for four years after a competent court of law dropped   charges against them and acquitted them ?It was not the racist and fascist white government of Ian Smith ,it was a black government  and for that ,after independence .Look  Out Masuka led the armed struggle from the front and survived it .He did not die after years of detention by a white government but he died of brain hemorrhage  after years of illegal detention at the hands of a black government

Moses Mzila Ndlovu  ,co minister of Natioanl Healing, Integration and Reconciliation was recently arrested for addressing an unauthorized meeting in Lupane .Moses Mzila Ndlovu is a veteran of the Zimbabwean armed struggle and fought  for the liberation of this country .Today he languishes in the cells of a black government whose right to rule he fought for many years .

 Akim Ndlovu ,Teurai Ropa Nongo aka Joice Mujuru ,Rex Nhongo[Solomon Mujuru] and Amos Jack Ngwenya fought for black majority rule yet  in June 2008 Thousands of M.D.C activists were beaten and tortured for exercising their right to belong to an alternative political party of their choice .Josiah Chinamano ,Joseph Msika and Oppah Muchinguri did not fight for everybody to become members of their party but for every Zimbabwean to choose which political party they want to belong to without fear or  favor .

Herbert Chitepo and Nkomo declared during the struggle that the war was not against the whites but against an oppressive system .Almost fifty years later Morgan Tsvangirai Welshman Ncube ,Dumiso Dabengwa ,Lovemore Maduku and hundreds of other activists are still fighting against  a system that criminalizes freedom of expression and association .

The very people that set us free have become our oppressors ,they have inherited the same colonial system that Ian Smith used to ban political activities and to suppress free speech .They believe that the fact that they fought for the country gives them title deeds to the country .The colonialists invented oppression in Zimbabwe ,but ZANU PF has perfected it, all in the name of defending the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation .

Zimbabwe does not belong to ZANU P.F ,Zimbabwe does not belong to M.D.C T or  M.D.C or ZAPU . Zimbabwe belongs to all the people who live in it Ndebele ,Shona ,Nambya ,White or Black .This country is too great to be monopolized by one political party ,tribe or race .There is no virtue in replacing white repression with black repression .POSA ,AIPPA and other repressive laws are as evil as the Law and Order Act which the colonialists used to repress black nationalism .The oppressors think that oppression is okay  as long as it is practiced by a black government .We as Zimbabweans say no to this .Oppression is oppression regardless of the colour of the oppressor and regardless of the colour of the prison bars .Even if the bars in prison are made of gold it does not justify arbitrary arrests and oppression .

The law may not be on our side but justice is and justice cannot be trampled upon forever because God is on the side of the oppressed and the weak .Unjust laws will not live forever neither can dictatorships as we have seen in North Africa .We do not seek revenge but justice .Freedom can no longer be delayed by arbitrary arrests ,selective application  of the law and suppressing the freedoms of the people .Freedom cannot be contained by the walls of Chikurubi or Khami  Maximum Prisons .Freedom cannot be stopped by unjust laws and disruption of meetings held by civic groups .

As Joshua Nkomo wrote in his autobiography “Freedom lies ahead “in spite of the turbulence and hardships of the moment  .Freedom not just for the oppressed but also for the oppressor . Nelson  Mandela noted that the oppressor also  needs to be set free .The oppressor needs to be set free from fear ,the naked fear that grips and stalks him day and night .

The show of force ,the arrests of activists , banning of meetings  ,the violence, the heavy presence of armed police men ,the disruption   of meetings and deployment of State agents at  every public gathering is not a show of strength, it is a show of weakness and fear .Yes our oppressor need to be set free .The securocrats that are now running the country ,from the police to the army need to be set free from fear of the people .I know that freedom lies ahead , I know that freedom will come in our lifetime .Freedom in our land is an idea whose time has come and “nothing can stop an idea whose time has come” .We are not driven by hatred ,but a love of our country , a love for liberty , a love for a better tomorrow ,a better Zimbabwe .

“You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free .”

Mayibuye iZimbabwe

Dumisani O Nkomo  is an activist and opinion leader .He can be contacted on dumisani.nkomo@gmail.com

Political Parties Need To Be Pragmatic

Political Parties Need To Be Pragmatic and Practical

DUMISANI O NKOMO

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai last week threatened to pull out of the inclusive government after the removal of former speaker Lovemore Moyo and the arrest of Energy Minister Elton Mangoma  .Whilst the Prime Minister was justified in his indignation it is in the best interests of the M.D.C T and indeed all progressive Zimbabweans for political party leaders to think objectively and carefully before committing acts of political suicide which will only be beneficial to ZANU P.F which has been praying for the demise of the inclusive government  and attendant imperatives contained in the Global Political Agreement .If the M.D.C -T pulls out of the inclusive government without an alternative plan this will be tantamount to drinking poison and expecting ZANU P.F to die .The ZANU PF strategy is to push the M.D.C formations to the limit by arresting their legislators ,ignoring the outstanding issues in the Global Agreement and thereby creating more outstanding issues whilst preparing the ground for an election .This election will not just be about settling the unresolved  results of the 2008 elections  but for  addressing pertinent and outstanding succession issues within ZANU PF .

The arrest of M.D.C legislators and members may increase in the next few months thus forcing the opposition parties to respond emotionally without carefully thinking through strategic issues .In responding emotionally to issues the M.D.C T may then fall into well planned ZANU P.F traps which may include more criminal proceedings against the likes of the Prime Minister and other key opposition leaders .In desperation the M.D.C T will then be forced to quit the government of national unity [ G.N.U]  .This would be a most suicidal move as ZANU  PF as this would be an answered prayer for ZANU P.F strategists who are wary about the implications of the full implementation of the Global Political Agreement .At the moment the M.D.C T does not have a plan B and in the absence of such alternatives their only option is the full implementation of the Global Political Agreement coupled with aggressive and pro active  internal mobilization ,intelligent regional and international advocacy .This would be underpinned by strategic alliances with other political parties such as the M.D.C led by Professor Ncube and ZAPU led by former ZIPRA intelligence supremo Dumiso Dabengwa .

None of the three leading opposition parties can make any meaningful progress without each other at the moment and any attempts at self seeking glory would be tantamount to mass political suicide .Instead of forming strategic alliances Zimbabwe’s main political parties are wasting time feasting  on each other’s failures and failing to stand in solidarity with each other at a time when ZANU P.F is indeed experiencing” a Lazarus “moment as Jonathan Moyo predicted and is on the warpath  dealing  ruthlessly with opponents by all means necessary . Dumiso Dabengwa’s principled stand  to express solidarity with incarcerated M.D.C T leaders was to this extent admirable and exemplary  .Such reciprocal actions were expected from the M.DC T when the three Mthwakazi Liberation Front  leaders were arrested on trumped up charges  of treason and similarly opposition parties were expected to unite in expressing solidarity with Munyaradzi Gwisai and over forty other activists who were arrested recently  .

None of the three parties in the G.N.U can elect a new speaker without the support of at least one other party .This is without discounting the possibility of gangster tactics such attempts to win over individual M.P’s either from M.DC or ZANU P F using Machiavellian antics of “carrot and stick “. It is at such a time that the political parties should be kicking themselves for failing to  seize on moments of strategic importance and strategic and principled solidarity .A golden opportunity was lost when Mugabe refused to acknowledge Welshman Ncube as a Principal and Deputy Prime Minister and the  M.D.C T arrogantly referred to  this as an internal problem within  Ncube’s M.D.C  .A golden opportunity was lost when M.D.C then under Mutambara failed to side with the M.D.C T on the issue of the swearing in of Roy Bennet and the contentious issues of the appointment of ambassadors ,the attorney general and the reserve bank governor .The M.D.C [Ncube ] then exhibited intellectual arrogance  by arguing that undue focus was being placed on personalities and posts not policies .Whilst they may have been right ,surely the chickens came home to roost when Ncube was then due to be sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister and Mugabe refused to swear him  that capacity .Now there is the issue of the election of the new speaker and the two M.D.C formations need each other  whether they like it or not .Pride ,polarization and lack of principled positions may cost the two parties dearly in the race for the speakership and beyond if the two parties don’t start acting in the best interests of the nation .Obviously more members of parliament may be arrested thus reducing the M.D.C T ‘s votes in the contest for the speakership .Instead of reveling in the arrest of these M.P’s and lambasting Tsvangirai ,Ncube’s M.DC  should condemn these attacks in the same way that the M.D.C T should make principled attempts to recognize Ncube as leader of the other M.D.C formation as a matter of principle ,pragmatism and appreciation of the political reality that Ncube is in control of most of his members of parliament ,a factor which could be useful to M.D.C T in the future  .This is the politics of pragmatism which is  so critical to statecraft  and effective political lobbying through strategic partnerships .The issue of Ncube being a Principal  will cease to be an internal issue when M.D.C T needs the support of Ncube’s M.P’s in parliament and when Tsvangirai needs Ncube’s support at the level of the principals because Mutambara may side with Mugabe .Why side with two wolves when you are a sheep ?Similarly for the  M.D.C led by Ncube  they should not cheer  when a fellow opposition  sheep is being devoured especially if one is   also a sheep and is  subject to the canine appetite of political wolves such as ZANU P.F .Why are our politicians so shortsighted ?

Ncube’s party is wasting too much time attacking Morgan Tsvangirai and M.D.C T is wasting chances by denigrating Ncube and both parties are failing to seize the moment by forming an electoral pact with ZAPU .Are  these parties really serious about liberating Zimbabwe or they just wasting our time ?ZAPU  is critical in the transfer of power equation ,dividing the ZANU PF vote and unseating the former liberation party from some of its strongholds in Bubi ,Gwanda South and Beitbridge .The M..D.C led by Ncube with it’s deciding seats in parliament is crucial and strategic in  sites of struggle in parliament .The party also has reputable and experienced politicians who are definitely part of the country’s solution to the future .The M.D.C T enjoys huge grassroots support ,is buoyed by the charismatic Tsvangirai brand ,the incredible  resilience of its ,nationwide support  and ability to read popular politics .However without the support of the other two political parties the M.D.C T is a beautiful vehicle  which cannot move because it has  no fuel to translate popularity to transfer of power .Zimbabwe needs Morgan Tsvangirai ,Zimbabwe needs Welshman Ncube and Zimbabwe needs  Dumiso Dabengwa .Any politician from these three parties who tries to play superman could find himself relegated  to the dustbin of history .

Once again I urge these parties to stop wasting time castigating each other whilst the country burns as a strategic alliance of democratic forces should become an inevitability .Pragmatism is an imperative in the rough political terrain of Zimbabwe .The opposition parties need each other because as the bible counsels  in Eccclesiastes3 :9-12

“Two are better than one ,because they have a better return for their work

If one falls down ,his friend can help him ,

But pity the man who falls down and has no one to help him

Though one may be overpowered ,two can defend themselves

A cord of three strands is not easily broken “

“Mayibuye iZimbabwe “

Dumisani  is the chief executive officer of Habakkuk Trust and principal spokesperson of the Matabeleland Civil Society Consortium ,he writes here in his personal capacity .He can be contacted on dumisani.nkomo@gmail.com/blogspot-www,dumisanionkomo.blogspot.com

dumisani o nkomo: What Will Happen If Mugabe Leaves ?

dumisani o nkomo: What Will Happen If Mugabe Leaves ?: "THE DYNAMICS OF POWER POLITICS –WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF MUGABE LEAVES BY Dumisani O. NkomoThe cry of many opposition groups and Zimbabweans for ..."

What Will Happen If Mugabe Leaves ?

THE DYNAMICS OF POWER POLITICS –WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF MUGABE LEAVES

BY Dumisani O. Nkomo

The cry of many opposition groups and Zimbabweans for the past few decades has been for President Mugabe to “go “and numerous avenues of his political exit have been explored and debated .This exit is however inevitable with the passage of time and could  come in the form of legitimate electoral processes ,divine or natural processes as no one can possibly live forever and at 87  it is critical for us as Zimbabweans to start thinking of what will happen if Mugabe is no longer available to lead the country ,is incapacitated or succumbs to natural or biological processes or divinity  .I would like to argue that the issue of transfer of power is going to be very critical in the next few years if not months and failure to appreciate the dynamics of power could result in Mugabe going without any democratic transition taking place .It is important to understand that a lot of the current political maneuvering within ZANU P.F  is largely in the context of succession politics and if this is not handled carefully the country could very easily find itself being run by a military dictatorship .

Whilst many argue that the securoctrat are already running the country ,the possibilities of the military overtly and effectively taking the reigns of power if Mugabe goes are very high .Given perceptions and speculation about the president’s health and the mortality of all human kind it becomes not only necessary but also critical to ponder and cogitate about possibilities should the president’s health not improve either now or in the next few years .

The implication of an early election or any other legitimate process of regime change will also bring us back to the same question of transfer of power which nobody in the opposition parties seems to have an answer to .Will an election this year be really about settling the issue of contested elections and the undesirability of a government of national unity or will it be about dealing with succession issues within ZANU P.F .Mugabe is undoubtedly ZANU PF ‘s trump card In an election in spite of his blighted human rights record he still commands the support and respect of his supporters .ZANU P.F stewards would also be making permutations on their electoral performance if elections are held in 2013 in the absence of Mugabe and possibly would envisage defeat at the hands of the political foes in the absence of the octogenarian leader  .What would happen upon his demise due the aforementioned natural processes? Would ZANU P.F disintegrate? Will there be open fighting between the ZANUP.F factions, will the army take over? Or will the party close ranks and choose either Mnangwagwa or Mujuru or even Chiwengwa as successor ?Would the demise of Mugabe at this point be good for the nation or would it plunge the country into chaos as the military steps in ?Are there possibilities of moderators or reformists taking over ZANU P.F and as some analysts have suggested a “new “ZANU P.F being birthed .Will a Gorbachev or a de  Klerk emerge from ZANU P.F or will another megalomaniac emerge and what will be the role of the other political parties namely the M.D.C formations and ZAPU be in this scenario ?.These are the kind of questions that I will briefly interrogate and proffer a few suggestions and more rhetorical questions .

Will The Army Take Over?

Chances of the military taking over should the incumbent go are undesirable but highly possible .If this happens the new junta could dissolve the unity government and arrest opposition leaders with others fleeing the country .SADC ,,the A.U and the international community would make a lot of noise but to no avail as is the norm .However it is possible that a noble “regime may take over and hand over to a transitional authority .This is desirable but highly unlikely .A military government would be highly undesirable and could take the country back by another ten to twenty years in terms of democratic reform and respect for civil liberties .

Mujuru Takes Over

Should the incumbent be incapacitated by any factors or processes beyond his control there is  also a possibility that the two houses of parliament may sit as an electoral college and nominate a “successor “.Joyce Mujuru seems to appeal to a broad cross section including business and possibly the M.D.C formations and ZAPU .She could emerge as a compromise candidate .Possibilities of a reform agenda are moderately and reasonably higher should she take over the reigns .If this scenario prevails there could be movement towards a form of “glasnost and perestroika “openness and transparency Soviet Union style .This scenario would be most welcome and could give Zimbabwe space to reform and stabilize outside of other better and practical options .

ZANU P.F BREAKS DOWN

Robert Mugabe has personified and embodied ZANU PF and ZANUISM and his demise could spell the rapid destruction of the party .He has delicately managed various factions within the party making sure that no faction is too strong and that any faction that seems to be growing too strong is weakened and the faction which is weaker is strengthened but in the process making himself the most relevant political currency in his party .The likelihood of ZANU P.F descending into anarchy once he leaves is high and whilst this may be desirable for many this would be most undesirable if and when it spills into the public domain of governance and triggers national chaos as  party hawks ,vultures and other political scavengers descend on the national carcass and ravage democracy    .Can ZANU P.F survive without Mugabe? This is a question which I am sure many party stalwarts are battling with  and are making strategic positions about .

If Elections Are Held This Year

If elections are held this year there will be increased violence at all levels as the early warning systems already indicate through the manifestations of anarchy  and the structures that breed it .Fear  will be used to cow people to submission and opposition leaders will be arrested en masse for various crimes as is the case now .At a community level party youths will be used to harass and intimidate villagers and residents .Opposition leaders will be targetted through the police and state security agents resulting in them spending the bulk of their time fighting court cases instead of campaigning .Results of a survey carried out by Professor Susan Booysen  working with the Mass Public Opinion Institute suggest that the M.D.C T ‘s support base has been eroded from around 55 % in 2009 to about 38 % .Even if this figure is not accurate the constitutional outreach process is a significant indicator that ZANU PF may win the elections .if ZANU P.F wins the elections we could be back to the days of the Zimbawean dollar ,shortages and unprecedented suffering .This will enable Mugabe to facilitate some kind of succession positioning as Joyce Mujuru would be strategically positioned to take over “should anything happen “ .ZANU PF would gun for  a parliamentary majority so that  they can ensure that a leader of their choice is elected by both houses of parliament should Mugabe be unable to continue .

IF M.D.C WINS

In the event of the M.D.C formations forming an electoral pact with ZAPU and winning the elections the same question of transfer of power will emerge because there has to be a mechanism of transferring the electoral conquest into actual power to govern .

I rest my case

Mayibuye iZimbabwe

Dumisani O Nkomo

The writer can be contacted on dumisani.nkomo@gmail.com /blogspot-www.dumisanio.nkomo.blogspot.com

Breaking The Cycle of Victimism

Zimbabwe –Breaking The Cycle of Victimism and Taking Charge of Our Destiny

By Dumisani O. Nkomo

I am inspired by two stories in the bible which describe two sets of people in potentially hopeless situations and who by the very virtue of their contexts  were  to all intents and purposes helpless victims .In the first instance we read in the book of John chapter 5 : 5 of a man who had been an invalid for 38 years and on a daily basis waited at the pool of Bethesda for healing .This man was not in charge of his own future and destiny and anxiously waited for somebody somewhere to rescue him .Well that sort of reminds me of Zimbabwe and our predicament of 31 years were we do not appear to be in charge of our destiny and we await SADC ,the African Union ,the EUROPEAN Union and the United Nations to somehow recue us .The other story which is poignant to the premise of taking charge is found in 2 Kings 7 :4 in which four leper find themselves in a hopeless and helpless situation characterized by severe famine and lack .Instead of just sitting and waiting the four ask themselves “why sit here until we die ,let us go over to the other side and if they kill us we die ,if they spare us we live “ .In doing this the lepers took their future into their own hands and refused to be victims of their situation and we learn later that they actually managed to survive and come across much abundance .We as Zimbabweans today need to move  away from the vicious cycle of victimism ,crippling  powerlessness and hopelessness and take charge of the political and economic destiny of this great nation .

I order to for Zimbabwe to move forward as a nation there is an urgent need for us to break the cycle of victimism that has largely affected our ability as a nation to take shape our  destiny and   to claim back our future which has been systematically stolen from us in the past thirty years and some would argue for the past century since colonialism . Victimism has not just affected Zimbabwe alone but this phenomenon of victimism is common in the whole of Africa which though being the richest continent in terms of natural resources is the poorest in terms of actual wealth .I would like to argue that part of the problem is the fact that centuries after colonialism and on average fifty years after independence most African countries continue to lay blame on former colonial powers for their current predicament .This cycle of victimism is not limited to statesmen alone as opposition parties ,civil society an churches have joined in making the circle of victimism larger .In Zimbabwe we are unable to explain  anything without blaming ZANU P.F ,Tsvangirai ,ZAPU ,the west ,sanctions ,Welshman Ncube ,Shonas or Ndebeles or whites or anybody but ourselves for the predicament that we find ourselves in .There is a need for us to conjure a new narrative in which we define our own destiny and course of action .The African Union ,SADC or the African Union cannot solve our problems for  us but these are support mechanisms and systems that are meant to assist us as we navigate our own path .

A victim is unable to take charge of one’s life or destiny and as such is dependent on others to solve his or her problems .Have we become like that in Zimbabwe ?Evidence of  this vicious cycle of victimism lies in the fact that most of us including civil society and political parties have been forced to merely respond and react to what ZANU P.F without being able to generate  vision ,strategy and sustainable action .The results of this victimism are a sense of powerlessness ,hopelessness and fear .These factors conspire to paralyze any form of positive action and reduce us to passive passengers on the Zimbabwean journey .

One common lamentative narrative blames the west, colonialism, neo colonialism and neo liberalism for the underdeveloped state of Africa and Zimbabwe. Sanctions and an unfair international political and economic order are according to this narrative to blame for our collective predicament as Zimbabweans. On the other hand another narrative most commonly articulated by civil society and opposition parties predicates all our suffering on the political crisis in the nation, ZANU PF, war vets, the repressive laws such as POSA and AIPPA, adverse economic conditions. Many of us are now incapable of seeing beyond the crisis and whilst we are so clear about what we do not want we do not have a clearly articulated vision of what we want and how we want to get there. Political parties and civic groups have been formed purely as an emotional response to the state of affairs without clear cut ideologies, principles, policies and vision.

 Sadly at times our victim mentality is such that whenever we are given platforms locally, regionally and internationally we think our case will be heard if we portray ourselves as helpless victims incapable of influencing our own destiny. Whilst all these external factors have a huge bearing on our plight as Zimbabweans and Africans I believe the time has come for us to begin seeing ourselves as part of the solution to the immense challenges that we face. For as long as we delight in being victims we shall never be free and we shall never maximize our potential as a nation and continent. Africa shall never develop and Zimbabwe shall never progress as long as we celebrate being victims and glorify suffering and take pride in not being able to do anything about our social, political and economic conditions. No wonder we only recognize heroism when people are dead and honor human rights defenders when they are beaten or arrested and not for ongoing pro-active work of civic engagement and activism. I am in no way denigrating the courage of those who have been arrested, tortured and unjustly treated but am just challenging us to interrogate our perception of what a “hero” or human rights defender is.

Being a victim can be very disempowering because one feels they cannot do anything about the situation. Everything to the victim depends on the victimizer. The crisis in Zimbabwe has created a nation of victims who need to be healed and restored without which we will continue to wallow in self pity and harbor a strange desire for somebody, somewhere in SADC, AU or EU to miraculously save us. Victims always expect other people to do something about their situation and when nothing happens blame is heaped on “other people”. No wonder we as Zimbabweans expect SADC to somehow solve all our problems and “somebody in the international community to do something” about the Zimbabwean situation.

Renowned writer and speaker Steve Covey in his bestselling book “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” argues that in order for one to be effective one has to concentrate on what he calls your circle of influence or those things that you can do something about. Covey contends that too many of us concentrate on our circle of concern [things that we worry about but can do nothing about]. By focusing our time and energy on what we can do our circle of influence is enlarged and we are able to influence many more things. When we concentrate on what we cannot do anything about we become mere victims as we become depressed by the enormity of the things we can do nothing about.

Civil society can borrow a leaf from this philosophy instead of focusing on unachievable goals which sap our energy. Surely we cannot be prisoners of our circumstances, we need a fundamental paradigm shift if we are to effectively transform our nation. The days of taking pride in being victims should come to an end as we take charge of our lives and the collective destinies of our communities. Far too many civic groups waste time, effort and resources reacting to actions of politicians instead of setting the agenda for politicians.

The cycle of victimism that has so engulfed us as Zimbabweans needs to be broken if we are to unlock our true value and potential. One of the tragedies of the victim mentality is that it not only blames the “perpetrator” for everything but abdicates responsibility laying everything at the feet of other people. In defeating the victim mode it is  important to understand how the victim has become the victim and in our Zimbabwean and African context it is imperative to unpack the socio –economic  superstructure and political apparatus that creates “victimhood” if there is such a word. The next step is then to introspect and understand the potential we have within ourselves of dealing with the predicaments that we face which entails marshalling our internal spiritual, intellectual and social energy. The Afrikaners emerged from brutal oppression of the British forces in the Boer –Anglo of the 1900’s to lead almost every aspect of South African life from business, sport, academics to politics. This is not to justify the evil system of Apartheid which was introduced by the Boer government of 1948 but as an object lesson to understand how people who were perceived and treated as a minority strategized themselves out of being victims to become masters of the nation.  In the 1940’s Hiroshima and Nagasaki were decimated by the Americans but within two decades Japan emerged as one of the leading economic powerhouses of the world. It is rare to hear the Japanese moaning and lamenting about what was done to them, instead they focused their energies on rebuilding their economy through a sound technological and scientific base. Half a century after colonialism we as Africans are still blaming colonialism for the state of Africa. Yes neo liberalism and neo colonialism are realities but what is important is to move from being perpetual victims to pro-active nations that take responsibility for our own actions and  resources and destiny .

The people of Egypt ,Tunisia ,Libya ,Bahrain ,Yemen ,Jordan have shown us that it is possible to free ourselves from the shackles of oppression through people power .They have demonstrated that indeed that ‘if change does not come from the top ,it will come from the bottom “.We may not necessarily go the route of these countries but at least they have demonstrated a resolve to chart their own destiny and rid themselves  of the tag of “perpetual victims “

Mayibuye iZimbabwe

Dumisani  is the chief executive officer of Habakkuk Trust and spokesperson of the Matabeleland Civil Society Consortium he writes here in his personal capacity .He can be contacted on email :dumisani .nkomo@gmail.com or Blog :www.dumisanionkomo.blogspot .com