No matter what one might characterize what transpired in Zimbabwe over the past week – a coup, not a coup, or a ‘smart coup’ – there is one thing for sure…this was not, by any stretch of the imagination, a revolution.
The replacement of one dictator with another can not in any way be regarded as a revolution – moreover, when these two are birds of the same feather, and from the same party.
The rapacious celebrations witnessed in Zimbabwe both last Saturday – during a rally and march called for by veterans of the liberation struggle – and when the long-time Zimbabwe strongman Robert Mugabe announced his resignation on Tuesday – betrayed the desperation of the people of this country, such that they will welcome anything akin to a half-baked revolution.
Zimbabweans had lost hope of ever removing Mugabe over the past decades, such that they would settle for anything that ushered in an new leader.
However, such an approach to the welfare of the country is not only shortsighted and foolhardy, but also downright dangerous and catastrophic.
As much as the suffering people of Zimbabwe had wanted a change – and Mugabe being the epitome of the cause – he was by no means the only one responsible.
He had a whole party- ZANU PF – behind him, which included the incoming president Mnangagwa and his military friends, who never expressed any qualms over how the country was being run.
In fact, when the military intervention occurred last week, the reason proffered for such action was the factional infighting in the ruling party, and its capture by the former First Lady Grace Mugabe, whom they accused of engaging in a campaign of getting rid of liberation war veterans, through unending expulsions from both party and government.
These expulsions also did not spare Mnangagwa, prompting the military intervention
At not point was the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe a factor in this military intervention, and the subsequent events that led to the resignation of Mugabe.
If ever such was mentioned, it was merely as a smokescreen designed to mobilise the desperate people of Zimbabwe to sign up for these shenanigans.
Shockingly, the opposition blindly jumped onto the bandwagon, maybe, as there was talk of another government of national unity, and thus, another opportunity to be part of the gravy train.
They encouraged their supporters to attend last Saturday’s march and rally, as well as today’s inauguration of Mnangagwa.
Have we failed so dismally to change this system – that has led to our untold suffering – such that we have lost all hope and now so readily to settle for mere crumbs?
What, honestly, are we celebrating here?
What ‘new dispensation’ are we talking about?
When did Mnangagwa ever criticise the manner by which Mugabe ruled the country?
Was this ‘take over’ not merely a result of factional fighting within ZANU PF, and absolutely nothing to do with the suffering people of Zimbabwe?
In fact, this has set a very dangerous precedence, in that the military now feels welcome to impose its will on the people of Zimbabwe, and choose leaders.
How would the people of Zimbabwe, especially the same Mnangagwa and the military, have reacted had the then Rhodesia army general Peter Walls merely pressured Prime Minister Ian Douglas Smith to resign, yet maintaining the same Rhodesian system?
What is the difference with what has just happened this past week in Zimbabwe?
Actually, this same Mnangagwa and his military comrades rejected a government of national unity between Smith and Bishop Abel Tendekai Muzorewa – called Zimbabwe-Rhodesia – as they saw the hand of the colonial system still present.
So why in the world should we accept this facade?
Has the repressive and mismanaging system that led to this once great nation’s downfall and suffering being removed?
Let us not forget that Mnangagwa is no P.W. de Klerk – the South African president who took over from Pik Botha – leading to fundamental changes, which included the release of Nelson Mandela and the lifting of the ban on nationalist parties.
De Klerk had always had a different mindset from Botha and his predecessors, and considered the apartheid system archaic and cruel – albeit, through concerted international pressure.
If Mnangagwa had been any different from his longtime mentor and boss Mugabe, he should have expressed that during the period he was in his government.
We have witnessed the resignation of the likes of former ministers Simba Makoni, and Nkosana Moyo – clearly over policy disagreements with Mugabe.
Unless, Mnangagwa openly tells the nation that he was quietly critical of Mugabe’s policies – something we have no reason to believe – maybe there could be justification to support him.
Before all these celebrations, what concrete economic and political policies have we heard from Mnangagwa?
Otherwise, this is just Zimbabweans celebrating what is akin to a Rhodesia without Smith.
It is so ridiculous.
Mnangagwa is not known as ‘the crocodile’ for his smile, or love for meat, but for something more sinister.
Remember, ‘ngwena’ is not his totem, contrary to popular belief – as his is a ‘shumba’ – so why was he, and still is, referred to as ‘the crocodile’?
Ask any Ndebele person what happened during Gukurahundi.
Have we forgotten the letter and book written by nationalist hero Joshua Nkomo, blatantly fingering Mnangagwa in having a very powerful hand in the genocide?
Some of us who were born and bred in the Midlands town of Redcliff can clearly remember how he used to tell us that when Shonas are returning from beer-drinking, they should pass through homes belonging to Ndebeles, and beat them up.
When asked what happened, they should just accuse the Ndebeles of jumping out of their own windows and hurting themselves.
Such is the leader of the ‘new dispensation’ that Zimbabweans are celebrating!
Let us be warned, the struggle for Zimbabweans emancipation has not yet being realised, and if the opposition has sold out, we can move ahead without them.
Quite frankly, I have always viewed the Zimbabwean opposition as dubious power-hungry individuals, who can sell their own mothers for some cash and power.
And, they have proved me right.
Let us all remain peaceful, as that is always how we have been, but let us take full ownership of our own struggle for our freedom – as no one else will do it for us.
When the likes of Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak, and Tunisia’s Ben Ali were forced out of power, it was not a matter of one or two individuals – but the removal of the whole system.
The people of those countries – without any political leadership – took charge of their own future by removing these dictators and the entire system.
Zimbabwe needs a truly new democratic dispensation, and let us not be so desperate to accept the replacement of a dictator with another – as we will certainly be crying again very soon.
Tendai Ruben Mbofana is a social justice activist, writer, author, and speaker. He is available should you invite him to speak at any gathering and event. Please call: +263715667700, call/WhatsApp: +263782283975, or email: zimjustice@gmail.com. Please also follow him on Facebook and Twitter.
