Opposition Parties Have Betrayed The People Opposition political parties in Zimbabwe especially the various M.D.C formations are a disappointing lot that have continued to let down the people and the struggle for a just, democratic Zimbabwe . Instead of focussing on mobilizing the people on issues affecting them they have continued to major on minor things and in effect have taken opposition politics back to the mid nineties .They have become a micro cosmism of ZANU P.F only that they are a lot weaker since they do not enjoy incumbency and the support of the coercive structures of the state such as the army ,police and intelligence forces .I would like to point out several factors that have weakened the opposition and continue to weaken opposition parties especially the various M.D.C ‘s .The foremost reason why the opposition parties have and will fail is their failure to unite as pointed out by ZAPU leader Dumiso Dabengwa .The fact is the opposition will never win elections unless they form a formidable united front capable of challenging and defeating ZANU P.F . United Front The only way the opposition can unseat ZANU P.F in the next elections is by forming a formidable issue based united democratic front which has segments of progressive breakaway ZANU P.F members and a whole lot of new leaders between the ages of 25 to fifty .This united democratic front should be inclusive including the M.D.C –T ,M.D.C-Renewal ,M.D.C Green ,N.C.A and ZAPU as well as progressive individuals and institutions .I do not agree with many antics of the M.D.C –T including blatant blundering by their leader Morgan Tsvangirai and cases of violence ,intimidation etc within their party but the fact is a united front without Tsvangirai and his party will be very weak . Likewise a United Front without M.D.C Renewal and M.D.C – Green will be very weak because the two parties have rich intellectual capital and political history but questionable grassroots support . ZAPU would be crucial with it’s rich ideology and links with former and current members of the military establishment .No one should come into this united front thinking that they ware or will be the automatic leader because it may be actually be the best idea to choose somebody who is not even leading any of those parties to lead this new coalition so as to do away with all the history and excess baggage . The M.D.C –T has let down the people of Zimbabwe by engaging in an exercise of political suicide by literally donating 21 seats to ZANU P.F after “expelling “21 M.P’s .If the M.D.C – t decides not to contest in the by elections it will be literally donating the seats to ZANU P.F hence betraying the people by failing to defend democratic space that they gained through the 2013 elections . If they participate they will confirm their status as perpetual flip flops and masters of political acrobatics as a party that has no permanent position on anything and everything except being in perpetual opposition to anything and everything .The recalling of the 21 will also adversely affect any chances of a united opposition for the elections much to the joy of ZANU P.F . The U.M.D.C is being affected by small mindedness ,personal interests and in some cases personal ambitions which override capacity .This will lead to a weak and fragmented opposition .Obviously infiltration can never be ruled out as it is expected in politics in any country .To enter into the rough domain of African politics and not expect infiltration would be the height of political naivety hence opposition parties need sound intelligence infrastructure and stratagem built into their systems in order to deal with this ever present threat Representation Age number of opposition members of parliament have been established themselves as Missing Persons [M.P’s ] both in their constituencies and in parliament . Nauseatingly they enjoy being called “honourables”without understanding the first thing about being honourable . May late uncle Sihambile Jeqe Stephen Nkomo was an M.P for over 20 years and i don’t remember him even once wanting to be called honourable unlike this undeserving horde of .M.P’s who have failed to hold constituency feed back meetings for the their constituents to hear their grievances or to give feed back on parliamentary proceedings . Some have failed to visit their constituencies and a vast majority have decided to be virtually non speaking , non acting legislators in parliament . This is unlike the days of Micah Bhebhe ,Sidney Malunga ,Byron Hove ,Edward Ndlovu and Lazaruzas Nzarayabani who gave ministers a tough time in parliament even though there were only one or two news outlets at the time .There are exceptions of course like Jesse Majome and few others but most of the others have failed to represent the people in parliament . With the advent of Information Communication Technology one would have thought opposition members of parliament would take advantage of Twitter and Face book to engage their constituents but alas they are waiting for the next elections before they open Face book pages and Vote so and so Twitter accounts .Those who are active in social media expend their energy on internal character assassination ,petty fights amongst themselves and social media subsidized ego trips .Our opposition political parties have failed to resonate with issues affecting ordinary people and have failed dismally to take advantage of factionalism within ZANU P.F and instead they continue to disintegrate like amoebas or is it replicate . Unlike in South Africa ,the United States and the United Kingdom where politicians actively contribute their views on pertinent issues in newspaper columns so that people understand their policies and perspectives most of out opposition politicians seem to unable or unwilling or unable and unwilling to engage these mediums .It was therefore pleasing to see Moses Mzila Ndlovu writing on the Maleme issue in a local paper .Others that have done well in this regard include David Coltart ,Eddie Cross ,Nhlanhla Ncube and Obert Gutu . The times have changed and we need leaders that can engage the public on issues by taking their ideas onto public platforms .