November 28, 2009
By Takarinda Gomo
FOR people who have suffered so much, for far too long, Zimbabweans should be forgiven for being apprehensive. They have no faith in the politics of their country because they have been let down many, many times. Even this new Sadc initiative led by South African President Jacob Zuma is already being dismissed as hot air.
Political commentators have written, painting a gloomy picture of the Zuma intervention. They are entitled to their opinions, but sadly those opinions are informed by emotion rather than analytical thinking, based on recent events.
Ever since Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai dropped the bombshell by partially withdrawing from engaging Zanu-PF, there has been political turbulence in Zimbabwe, which has now gathered momentum and has a life of its own.
Zuma is dispatching a three member team of hardliners to Harare as his advance team this Sunday, November 29. The team is led by Zuma’s long time ally in the African National Congress, Mac Maharaj, who is a speciale for this mission. The other two are Charles Nqakula, former Safety and Security Minister and now Zuma’s political advisor, and Lindiwe Zulu, who is Zuma’s advisor on international relations.
At the signing ceremony of the long-awaited Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement (BIPPA) between South Africa and Zimbabwe, in Harare Friday (November 27), this reporter engaged some business executives who had accompanied their Trade and Investment Minister Dr Rob Davies. I was told that Maharaj is a no nonsense man and that the trio mean business. It will not be business as usual for Zanu PF, I was assured.
Sources who attended the Maputo Troika Summit, which Zuma attended as an observer, say they saw a subdued President Robert Mugabe cutting a lone figure during deliberations.
The troika insisted that if Zanu-PF and the two MDC formations were failing to agree on the outstanding issues, then Zimbabwe should go for elections forthwith. Sadc, the African Union and the United Nations, would supervise the elections. Mugabe was cornered. This did not augur well for Zanu-PF given the popularity currently being enjoyed by Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC-T.
Besides, apart from being broke, Zanu-PF needs time to mobilize resources in order to deploy its youth militia and the secret service to go into the rural arrears to whip the hapless villagers into line. This requires time and the troika was coming up with an ultimatum.
Going to the polls within three months, as stipulated in the current Constitution, would only mean one thing for Mugabe and Zanu-PF. Defeat!
So Mugabe made his calculations to buy some more time by accepting the tight timelines of between 15 and not more than 30 days to have all outstanding issues in the Global Political Agreement resolved. He can then procrastinate and drag his feet as usual. Phew! That was close.
The Mugabe we all know is not the kind of person who takes kindly to anybody giving him an ultimatum, more especially from small boys. He could have told the troika to go and hang or to hell! So why was he so subdued? It was the Zuma magic and also mounting pressure from this young man called Joseph Kabila, the President of DRC Congo, who now chairs Sadc.
The South African facilitation team leader Mac Maharaj, who has impeccable credentials, will this week have his reputation put to the test.
By deploying this tough team, it seems Zuma wants results and he wants them fast. That is why part of the brief to the facilitating team was that Maharaj and company submits reports on progress and lack thereof to Zuma, before he arrives in Harare soon.
This time around, it is a different ball game for Zanu-PF, which seems to be running out of tricks.
Additional Reporting: The Zimbabwe mail
Its usefull to politically masturbate, it raises the spirits of your supporters sir. After 2013 we will be hearing about a different ball game again. And what raises the optimisms of this aurthor? That Mahraj is a no nonsense guy?hahahahah
And what power does he have in Zimbabwe? or should I ask maybe you are suggesting Mugabe is a nonsense guy also. If he could tell a UN envoy to go to hell, what of this nobody called maharaj? Keep on keeping on, if you dont write such wishfull thinking, your party may become demoralised.
Abel you must enjoy licking and slurping on Bob’s wrinkley old balls because co**suckers like you think that power without responsibility is the right thing. Change is comming whether you like it of not and Mugabe is not forever see you in 2010.
dino there is nobody by the name ‘Abel’, I have been informed by reliable sources that Jonathan Moyo is behind this ‘Abel’ character!!
I had the longest chuckle in a long while by your stmt Jana. I know you want to seem like you know important people but hey, this is a bit too desperate, even by your own standards.Reliable sources!! I will give the maximum chuckle here mate!!!
dont steal my joy bra, i know people that know people!! Hows Mrs Moyo though?
Jana, I am a lot of people in a lot of places.I suppose Mrs Moyo is well sir, seeing we have not heard any bad rumours.
Mugabe is cornered and so is Abel. His comments shows that he has not clear message on this one and thats a sign of utter lack of options for him and his soiled master’s overlicked rear. Chuckle, chuckle, all you can do is chuckle Abel. Even Mahoso is invading farms hoping to hold on to it once justice starts to take everyone to account. Now we know Abel’s favourite passtime: ****** I guess it gives some sense of imagined satisfaction. Thats how it is with his ilk, ride on a pretence and climax. chuckle!
MODERATED (ED)
Zanu pf is cornered here on the internet and VOP radio station, but on the ground I assure you there is no such thing. Is it not on this website where you see diamonds continuing to be taken by the chefs as yours are watching in disbelief. And you tell me zanu is cornered.If you could stop cheerleading for a moment and look at events on the ground, I am sure you would be able to make more practical suggestions for your leaders.You celebrate that SADc has instructed the issue of Gono and Tomana as if its something new and that gives you some sense that Zanu is cornered. Those were issues that were discussed before and are not new at all:
Imagine a friend of your owes you money and you take him to court. At the court the judge rules in your favour and asks the friend to give you your money by tomorrow. Tomorrow arrives and still your friend does not give you your money and you go back to the judge to complain. The judge again tells the friend to comply with his judgement. At this news you jump up and ululate.
That,my friend, is exactly what the MDC-T is doing now.The issue of Gono and Tomana were dealt with already and there is no need for them to act like they did a very clever act in Maputo.Finish and klaar.
P.S
Chuckle!!!!!!
SO ABEL DO YOU THINK NORTHING WILL EVER HAPPEN TO ZANU PF????
DO YOU HONESTLY BELIVE ETHEY WILL GET WAY WITH EVERYTHING THEY DID????
Something may happen to zanu pf Baba TEE but I will assure you not by the current crop of opposition in its present configuration. I am hopefull that one day we will be blessed with a proper home grown political party which really has people at heart and not these mercenaries calling themselves MDC-T.
ARE YOU SAYING MDC-T IS THE ONLY OPPOSITION IN ZIMBABWE???
IF NOT WHATS YOUR OBSESSION WITH THEM????
They are the ones who are trying to act big in a small town. The rest at least have this sense of belonging to Zim which lacks in MDC-T. There is just something puppetry about them that I find very unfortunate. I would not mind Zapu coming into power any day, at least I know their roots not this westminister creation thrust onto our doorstep. Why do you think other African countries are ashamed to be seen supporting them?
They don’t support MDC-T?? they support ZANU PF??
Why then are they saying MDC -T and ZANU should all be in power??? Why can’t they just say mugabe rule if what yu saying is true??
Don’t you think they are trying to neutralise zanu’s grip on power gradually?? Zanu knows ZAPU will not get majority votes, So at the monent they are not worried about them. they are worried about the MDC, because they took most of their seats. NOT ZAPU.
In the same regard, Zanu may also be in the process of getting your party to worry about zanu and ignore Zapu. When you least expect it zapu will zap you. And guess who will loose the votes in Matland? Zanu is a weakling in Matland and its only MDC-T which stands to loose in the end.Heed this warning Baba Tee, We dont want to hear people saying ” Tabiyihwa” when its too late. Get a move on and take action that you consider the Matland people in your plans. They are very sophisticated voters you know.
The gospel according to Abel
P.S By the way where is vakuru chaivo, we miss chuckling courtesy of his statements?
ABEL
You dont get it do you???? As long as Zanu loses weather its to the mdc or zapu or NDO or NDU thats what we want. the more parties we have in paliament the better it is for zimbabwe.
Zanu has been taking advantage because noone diputed their choices in paliament. so if zapu wins in matebeleland you think the MDc will suffer??? PLEASE abel would you take a grip.
THE COMMON ENEMY IS MUGABE AND ZANU PF. ANYONE ELSE IS OK THATS WHY THE MDC DID NOT FILED IN THOLOTHO. THINK ABEL THINK
But if you are not carefull then votes will be split between mdc and zapu. guess who wins in that scenario? you got it right. so you have to be more carefull when dealing with zanu. so i think its you who doesn’t get it. imagine if mdc-m and mdc-t were one in march 2008 what would have happened? now with coming of zapu, its more splits for you but i know there are wishfull thinkers who say zapu is no challenge at all. its a different ball game now. after voting for Morgan in 2008 what did they get in return? not even a ministerial post from Matland. people had to complain for any politician to be elected from matland. now you think they will just give him their votes again? i doubt it.so Baba TEE YOO take a grip and study your country’s politics well. Wishfull thinking aside. Think BABA TEE think. This is not rocket science. Use your brain not emotions in these things otherwise you will be doing such analysis for the next quarter century.
Simply realising that the common enemy is Mugabe will not help you much if you are all splitting into multiple parties like amoeba. Remember how it happened in Kenya when the opposition would not unite against Moi. Its only when they vcame together that they achieved their goal. You instead of doing the same are introducing even more players into the field and you refuse to gang up wth others because you feel you are so special and dont need assistance from other parties. Muchadya izvozvo.
again you dont get it. ABEL. AS LONG AS ZANU HAS NO MAJORITY IN PALIAMENT, WE HAVE WON, YOU CAN GO AND SHOUT ON A MOUNTAIN TOP BUT YOU WILL COME DOWN STILL NOT HAVING MAJORITY THAT MEANS YOU CAN MANIPULATE THE LAW LIKE YOU USED TO.
MDC T OR M, ZAPU, NDONGA, NDO, NDU, ZUMU, WHAT EVER IT AS LONG AS ITS NOT ZANU I AM HAPPY. GET IT.
Since when has Zanu pf needed the law to do something. You are a very naive fellow I see. When they took over the farms was that according to the law? When they took Jestina Mukoko was that according to the law? Your naivety is breathtaking. I did not realise I was arguing with a moron here. Hanzi to amend law.hahahahaha very funny little man this. And MDC-T expects to get somewhere with this calibre of advisors?
Mr Editor, you might want to get your comments forms checked for security reasons.Please dont ask me why.
Thank you Abel….I Instituted a thorough security check last week..The only gap was closed. e.g. Proxies. Another check was instituted on “Double Posting”. i.e. people pretending to be someone else. That is secure. If you have any information to give me, you can give it in confidence by just inserting the word “editor”. Upper or lower case. the comment will not be displayed.
regards (Ed)