SPECIAL REPORT - CLARIFYING ISSUES WITH MDC By Itai Dzamara It has become very pertinent that l address the matter of our mission, the MDC and a lot of misconceptions. Let it be clear that l have nothing to beat about the bush for, and have no regrets at all about my now clear position and vision. In fact, l am extremely pleased by progress my little efforts have made, towards raising awareness about the national crisis and mobilising for action. I repeat, l am encouraged by the little progress and am inspired to go all the way. Now, the MDC. I respect Morgan Tsvangirai and the role he has played during the 15 years of his fight for democrary in our nation. I also respect the MDC as arguably the biggest party in Zimbabwe today, and have consistently asserted that, at the risk of being disliked by some who choose for truth to be concealed under their attitudes of loathe or antagonism. But, there are demons that need to be exorcised in the MDC, and l have always written about even before l left journalism. I shall tackle them in the context of the things flying around regarding my initiative, under the banner of Occupy Africa Unity Square (OAUS). I never intended nor desired for the MDC to endorse, totally embrace nor hijack my initiative, l have said this before and l mean it. I aimed at Zimbabweans, in their individual capacity to join and participate in my mission, and that is exactly what has been happening. We have six political parties represented in our team so far, including the MDC. Several senior MDC leaders have openly come out to endorse our efforts and pledged to actively participate along the way. On the other hand, others in the top hierarchy have even stopped talking to me since l started the mission and l respect that. I have no worries at all about that. There is, in that context, the nonsense of debates and sentiments being thrown around, suggesting that the MDC has snubbed me and my initiative or that l had to beg someone to play my role. That is a product of mischief, ignorance and misunderstanding of realities by some within the MDC. The MDC didnt have to snub or take over my initiative. It didnt even have to practically join as a party. Its members had to do that, in their individual and independent capacity and that is what has been happening. Yes, they could use their structures and channels to engage and mobilise for participating under the OAUS banner, but having to do so within the laid down framework - of us involving people of all political interests and background and even those outside political organisations. The waste of time in the MDC debating this matter the wrong way and propagating serious misconceptions, is partly a result of a wrong big brother attitude and mentality among some in the party right from the top leadership. That attitude makes some still fool themselves into believing that the MDC can and should go it alone about the national struggle for a better Zimbabwe. It even gets to a point of being very stupid arrogance. I have seen it cost the MDC and the nation. I have said from the beginning of initiating my idea that, the very urgent national task at hand requires a collective and collaborative approach. By that, l mean, without any doubt, that all of us have to play our roles. That may not necessarily mean all of us joining OAUS, but all of us playing our roles, even variously. That takes me to the point that, instead of some big heads in the MDC fooling themselves and wasting time about debating purported snubbing of OAUS by their party, they should be looking inwards. They should be asking why the MDC has not, and continues not to play its role. Lets take off the gloves and face some truths. The MDC has not effectively played its role for close to two years now, since the time it went into a deep slumber and allowed Zanu PF to barbarically derail the GNU reformation agenda, into a sham election of last year and towards the obtaining national disaster. The MDC had many people looking up to it after last years elections were rigged, but for a whole 12 months, it huffed and puffed without doing a single thing about it. In fact, the MDC is only known during this period for being a useless partner in a parliament that is being used to entrench the Zanu PF dictatorship. Therefore, instead of pontificating and pretending that Itai Dzamara has been snubbed by the MDC, the objective question should be about the role of the MDC in the nation. How does the MDC have to make news or score points for me or OAUS, when it is in the quagmire of failing to play its glaring and very blatant roles, even none to do with my little vision and efforts? So, let me put it on the record, l have no problem even if the entire MDC leadership doesnt talk to me nor totally stays away from OAUS. But, l keep challenging them to stop the hypocrisy and lying and step up to play their role, for the betterment of Zimbabwe. Or, if they are no longer interested nor capable, the MDC leadership must not waste the time and hope of many people who support the party. They must step away and leave for new leaders to take over the movement. Yes, to put it bluntly, the MDC has been failing to play its role effectively and must face that, rather than waste time on trivia or massaging peoples egos without any meaning. The MDC leadership must get off some high horses and face the truth as well as simply play the role that the movement was formed for. The national challenge at hand is way too big for the stupid preoccupation with personalities or narrow imaginations about glory or fame. Upon which, let me reiterate again, that this is not about Itai Dzamara or Morgan Tsvangirai, Tendai Biti, Simba Makoni and so forth. It is about combining our efforts towards making a difference and changing Zimbabwe for the better. I repeat also, that the ballot box will come, for the contests. This before us now, is not a contest but a huge challenge requiring our collaboration. In conclusion, and for the sake of dispelling the other version of misconception, l put it on the record, that l am sure my vision is well on course, even in its little way. I have found that many are available, who are willing to participate and we are going. I have plenty of options available and before me, which l shall continue to implement as time and circumstances require. OAUS has taken its place and we are encouraged to continue pushing to make a contribution to the national issue, even if it is a little way. That shall require collective and collaborative contribution by all players, including the MDC, which has to come out of its shell and play its role, even without endorsing OAUS. I have many friends in the MDC right from the top leadership and shall continue urging them to either do what they were elected for, or take the honest position of leaving to go and enjoy whatever comfort zones they may be in. Others can take over, surely. Or, the MDC may choose to present the nation with the option of having to look elsewhere for the role it is supposed to play, which l have always said would be a huge loss of all the investment put into into the movement for 14 years.
Posted on: Wed, 19 Nov 2014 06:42:58 +0000