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