SUNDAY MAIL- OPINION
01/19/03
Succession lies: UK plot of divide and rule
By William G. Nhara
The issue of succession has once again generated immense heat and very little
light. I am convinced that there is nothing earth-shaking about leadership
succession, but it is the sensational manner it is being reported and the
characters reportedly involved in hatching the so-called "Mugabe exit plan" that
raises one’s eyebrows.
Imagine a script written in London, with Tony Blair, Morgan Tsvangirai, South
African agents, MI5, Colonel Dyke and the private media being the leading
characters, what would one get?
Succession is natural and ensures the regeneration of mankind and institutions.
Succession happens in our everyday life. We have succession in generations and
firms. Succession is good and inevitable if life is to go on.
The latest British media frenzy about President Mugabe going into exile in
Malaysia is the culmination of the British "divide and rule" tactic.
What is intriguing about the so-called "Mugabe exit plan" is that it involves a
man who has made profound contribution to Southern Africa and Zimbabwe in
particular.
I have been moved by the recent press escapades suggesting that efforts were
afoot to have President Mugabe negotiated out of power. These reports are
flabbergasting, confused and, as usual, have a political agenda. We are talking
of high politics and a field for the initiated. We are talking of a
democratically elected President who has served less than a year of his term of
office and one who is not indisposed, mentally ill or about to die. We are
talking of a President who is fully in control of his faculties.
The underlining intelligence in this plan is to have President Mugabe hand over
to a Zanu-PF personality, who will lead a so-called transitional government,
which will usher in Morgan Tsvangirai as the new president of Zimbabwe. Once
that is done, it is assumed all of Zimbabwe’s problems will be over. How
simplistic! This is destabilisation at its best. This has grave consequences for
the future of this country and the region as a whole. It touches on the nerve on
how Zimbabweans are being told they should treat their heads of state and
statesmen, that Zimbabweans should not benefit from their experience but should
have them out in exile. I find the whole scheme nauseating and contemptuous of
Zimbabweans as a people who cannot act on their own without British supervision.
It reflects how desperate the British have become in their vain attempt to
remove President Mugabe and the ignorance of their high commissioner,
journalists, analysts and policymakers about the real goings-on in Zimbabwe and
in Zanu-PF.
The developments in Zimbabwe have attracted so much attention within and outside
the sub-region. Over the past few weeks I have received two invitations from
outside Zimbabwe to deliver lectures on "A New Dispensation — Future Prospects
for Zimbabwe".
This could have been prompted by news that I was authoring a book on the future
of Zimbabwe after the reign of President Mugabe. The book is futuristic in
approach and deals with issues of power play — succession, the thinking of
Zimbabwe’s leading lights on the future, foreign relations, the economy, the
pulse of the nation — health, education, race relations, daily life in the
future and other related issues. The book seeks to learn from the future.
Now back to the issue at hand. The mooted exit plan is reported to have been
"precipitated by the mutual realisation among influential Zimbabwean and British
officials, with the mediation of the South African government, that they have
lost dismally from their current diplomatic stand-off. That a peaceful
settlement, which would lead to a normalisation of relations, would benefit the
two countries . . . According to a highly impeccable source involved in
brokering the deal, Mugabe will relinquish power on the strength of a proposed
succession plan that will see current Speaker of Parliament and Zanu-PF
secretary for administration, Emmerson Mnangagwa, taking over as head of state".
What I found intriguing in the report is the revelation by a national executive
member of the MDC that Dyke had been "chosen to talk to Tsvangirai because the
Zimbabwe Government, South Africa and Britain felt that a white person would
easily persuade the MDC president".
Morgan, grow up and have pride in your blackness. Self-pity will never help you.
You are black as the night. While Morgan Tsvangirai has acknowledged the
presence of the plan, President Mugabe has described it as "a nightmare in No.
10 Downing Street".
The plan has been roundly condemned by the Zanu-PF leadership.
Elsewhere, Col Dyke confirmed that he had met Tsvangirai in his private capacity
as a Zimbabwean citizen "to sound him out on a peaceful change of government". I
wonder what that means. Has the white man not overrated himself? Has he not
propelled himself into areas where the waters are too murky for a mountain
climber?
Col Dyke’s choice of words betrays his allegiances. If indeed the plan existed,
it is now out of the bag and its growth is now subject to speculation and
analysis from all camps. Such a plot will continue to thicken with all "juices"
being added. If its disclosure was a trial balloon, then the sponsors of the
plan have the answers.
The "plan" has been rejected and does not work. Zimbabweans do not need the
British or South Africans to be able to talk on matters of national importance
and which are bent on promoting national interests. In this case, one wonders
whose interests is the MDC supposed to promote.
I am convinced that the private media, in making such startling claims, are
promoting the interests of their own preferred candidates and at the same time
destroying the chances of those they dislike. I would dare say that the recent
acquisitions and developments within the so-called private media should be seen
in the light of the expected race for State House.
Have the so-called "democrats" finally acknowledged that they have failed to win
a democratic game and are now calling for the unconstitutional unseating of a
democratically elected head of state. When the African Union came up with its
stance against "unconstitutional changes of governments in Africa", they had
more in mind military coups and not machinations by foreigners in Africa. Africa
took a stand and its stand is based on international principles and covenants.
In response to the recent story in the Daily Mirror, I had likened the "plan" as
nothing short of a coup plot and should be treated as such. Since the MDC is
still pursuing its constitutional right to recourse to the courts, we should
have faith in the system and allow it to run full course. Why should the MDC
doubt when it has recently managed to have Zanu-PF’s victory in two Gokwe
constituencies nullified? This is democracy and it has its pros and cons, but we
should endeavour to respect it. This wheeling and dealing being called for by a
desperate Tsvangson is fraught with complications and could be short-sighted.
Africa is full of examples of attempts at succession. Mandela anointed Thabo
Mbeki as his heir apparent, Daniel arap Moi did the same with Uhuru Kenyatta.
Closer home, Masire under pressure from the West and the private sector, ensured
that Festus Mogae took over the reins of power as called for by De Beers and the
Americans. Joaquim Chissano had the South Africans to thank for having
assassinated Samora Machel. Chiluba gambled with Mwanawasa and paid the ultimate
political price. Thabo Mbeki went on to win the South African mandate to rule
that country. In Kenya Moi, who had bent all rules in Kanu, failed in his bid to
have Uhuru succeed him. In Africa and indeed the world over, examples abound of
rulers who create auspicious environs for their hand-picked individuals to
succeed them
President Mugabe, during an interview a year or so ago, indicated that nothing
stopped Zanu-PF from changing leadership and that he would one day retire and
only after he had seen the agrarian reform through. He indicated that he would
never impose a leader on the people but would follow the Zanu-PF constitution in
the process.
For his part, Vice-President Muzenda, as late as last month, indicated that
Zanu-PF would, when the time comes, consider the issue of new, younger leaders.
He said the preferred person should have been tried and tested.
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"Ivinicus factus sum veritabem diceus." ( I have become an enemy for speaking the truth ) St Paul!
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Mitayo Potosi
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