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afrol News / The Standard, 2 February - Zimbabwe's pro-democracy opposition is awaking to buds of internal democratic dialogue. Loud voices are heard, MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai is too weak to lead Zimbabweans into the anti-Mugabe mass action everybody is waiting for. Mr Tsvangirai answers he is "not the commander of an army," and masses must organise themselves. Editor Bornwell Chakaodza of Zimbabwe's independent weekly 'The Standard' last week broke the pro-opposition silence on personal capacities of Mr Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). In an editorial headlined: 'MDC leadership cowardly and aloof ... Time to look south for lessons in liberation,' the influential editor sparked a debate around the question more and more Zimbabweans ask themselves: "When are we finally going to overthrow President Mugabe's dictatorship?" - Zimbabweans need focused leadership and they need heroes, Mr Chakaodza pointed out in his editorial. Looking for lessons on how to win the popular fight against the regime of President Robert Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party, the editor pointed at South Africa. There, the ANC "learnt fast that the struggle needed to be kept in the townships where it had overwhelming support," Mr Chakaodza brought to the attention of the MDC leadership. In today's edition of 'The Standard', opposition leader Tsvangirai answers the critique. Admitting that he was under tremendous pressure to organise some form of mass action, Mr Tsvangirai said criticism levelled against him mainly in the independent press, had not been justified. - The calls for mass action are a sign of desperation but it is not like going for a picnic, Mr Tsvangirai told 'The Standard'. "We are leading at the front but we do not want something which is uncoordinated and unstructured. I am not the commander of an army, I am only a leader of an opposition party. The Zimbabwean crisis is not a Tsvangirai issue but the concern of all Zimbabweans. People must organise themselves to reclaim their power. When the people are ready to act, they will do so and we will back them up," the MDC leader added. He added: "What people must understand is that we are in a struggle which must be long and which cannot be accomplished 10 months after the disputed elections. People do not learn from their history. How long did it take us to execute the liberation struggle against the Ian Smith regime? You can't just say mass action now, mass action now. It won't work."
Many oppositional Zimbabweans - who followed the swift mass action organised in Madagascar by now-President Marc Ravalomanana with great interest - do not agree with Mr Tsvangirai. Although the MDC is the undisputed democratic government alternative in the country, many new groups and organisations are emerging to fill the gap between popular impatience and MDC restraint. For example, the new group Zvakwana Sokwanele ("Enough is enough") is following the Argentinean example, organising its "Make a noise for freedom" campaign. Every night at 8 pm supporters in parts of Harare come out onto the streets to whistle and bang their pots protesting against the hunger they are suffering as a result of the Mugabe regime. "By doing this at 8 pm it also means that they are boycotting the ZBC's Propaganda News Hour," Zvakwana Sokwanele says. Civil society has organised in the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), grouping human rights organisations, churches, trade unions, women's groups, professionals and individuals. The Assembly, which mainly demands a new and "popular constitution", is trying to organise mass action, such as strikes, stayaways and demonstrations. With their call for a new constitution, the NCA however seems to have failed to address the principal needs of Zimbabweans. Zimbabweans at large still hope the MDC and Mr Tsvangirai will lead them in mass action, as the party leader had indicated before the elections. Having given their majority vote to the MDC, people are increasingly disappointed about the many forceful words but lack of action from the party leader. Meanwhile, Harare's MDC mayor Eng. Elias Mudzuri is heading towards increased fame and popularity for his efforts to resist government attacks against him. Mr Mudzuri continues to speak out and organise Harare residents' meetings, defying police action and arrest. "All I wait for now is for the MDC to make moves to replace Tsvangirai with Mudzuri, who seems infinitely more energetic and inspiring," Denford Magora writes in a letter to the editor of 'The Standard'. Editor Chakaodza's call for a debate on how to continue the struggle against the Mugabe regime generally met positive response among his readership. "Keep up the good fight, Mr Editor," said Mr Magora from Harare, adding that one should not be made to believe that "criticism of [the MDC's] leadership is a betrayal of ourselves and therefore of the country." Mr Tsvangirai had no automatic right to head the MDC, he pointed out. Also R.E.S. Cook from Harare applauded the editor's "timely wake up call" to the MDC: "There is still a large residue of public goodwill for Morgan Tsvangirai, but that will soon disappear if he is not seen to be leading from the front. Mudzuri and other MDC mayors are under attack - physically as well as politically - as are Sikhala and other MDC MPs. If Tsvangirai is perceived as hiding behind these and other MDC stalwarts, then he will render himself irrelevant to the people's struggle for a better Zimbabwe," R. Cook's letter to 'The Standard' reads. Meanwhile, the MDC national executive council met yesterday in Harare to discuss, amongst many other issues, mass action. Paul Themba Nyathi, the MDC spokesman, told 'The Standard' a number of the executive members felt that the party should be prepared to engage in mass action. Added Mr Nyathi: "The economic situation gripping the nation is such that Zimbabweans should brace themselves for a strategy of national survival which will involve mass stayaways. The MDC will mobilise the people of Zimbabwe to take action against the illegitimate government. It will in due course announce the new course of action." Mr Tsvangirai himself will have to go to court tomorrow to face treason charges, together with Welshman Ncube, the MDC Secretary-General, and other senior MDC officials.
Article based on 'The Standard' through Misanet, and afrol archives.
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