ugnet_: Workers tired of stay-aways achieving nothing

[Mitayo Potosi]

Last Updated: Friday, 13 December 2002
Workers tired of stay-aways achieving nothing

By Tim Chigodo
ZIMBABWEAN workers are tired of stay-aways and demonstrations called by
organisations attempting to justify the receipt of funds they get from donors.

Their refusal to participate in work stoppages backed by the National
Constitutional Assembly and the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, all
appendages of the Movement for Democratic Change, has created sharp divisions
between the opposition groups themselves and their supporters.

It is no longer a secret that opposition groups in the country are sponsoring
violence and thuggery to cause mayhem in the country and in the process, further
damage to the economy.

After failing in its attempts to remove President Mugabe and his Government from
power, the West is now disenchanted with the work of the opposition groups.

Coffers of the MDC, NCA, ZCTU and other European-sponsored groups are
drying up. This has broken the affinity among the organisations.

Now they are blaming each other for not doing a good job for their masters. They
are seeing the demise of the MDC.

The failed stay-away and a protest march by the so called human rights lawyers is
also a big disappointment to the organisers and the imperialist forces which
finance them to create problems in their country in an effort to perpetuate
colonialism.

Dr Lovemore Madhuku, the chairman of NCA has not hidden his anger at the
deteriorating support his organisation is now getting from the West. He has
accused his sponsors of making false promises.

With the venom of a cobra, the NCA boss this week castigated the international
community for letting him and his colleagues down. Dr Madhuku said they had
celebrated when the United States passed the Zimbabwe Democracy Bill which
sought to punish Zimbabwe for acquiring land from the white commercial farmers
for redistribution to landless peasants.

"Civil organisations have received nothing since that piece of paper became law,"
he said angrily when he addressed a meeting attended by less than 200 people.

The meeting had been organised by the Mass Opinion Public Institute (Mopi),
another opposition group led by a critic of the Government and University of
Zimbabwe lecturer, Professor Masipula Sithole.

The NCA leader said his organisation had not received any money since the
enactment of the Zimbabwe Democracy Bill. He advised his followers not to expect
anything from the Americans and Europeans.

Other critics of the Government, Mr Brian Kagoro of Crisis in Zimbabwe and Mr
Charles Mangongera of Mopi, addressed the meeting. There was total confusion
when most speakers attacked the opposition groups of being irrelevant.

They blamed the MDC had failed to achieve its intended purpose of removing
President Mugabe from power and that the movement was collapsing.

Dr Madhuku said it was no longer necessary to talk about President Mugabe�s
legitimacy or illegitimacy. Cde Mugabe beat the MDC leader, Mr Morgan
Tsvangirai by more than 400 000 votes during the Presidential election in March
this year.

Observers say the opposition faces total disintegration that may force it into
oblivion.

The recent expulsion of Highfield Member of Parliament, Mr Munyaradzi Gwisai,
has added more confusion to the opposition. The intolerance of a diversity of
views by the party�s leadership has without doubt, spelt out its demise.

Analysts say the dismissal of Mr Gwisai has ruffled feathers within the rank and
file of the party and sent a clear message to all the people that the MDC and Mr
Tsvangirai, do not accommodate views different from theirs. The democracy that
they have talked about so much is non-existent in the party.

Zanu-PF secretary for information and publicity, Cde Nathan Shamuyarira, said the
latest events in the MDC were interesting and pertinent.

"We are intrigued and happy that the MDC has now publicly shown that it is not a
party for the workers and peasants," he said.

Cde Shamuyarira said the observation made by Mr Gwisai that the MDC has
neglected the workers and students who supported the party by virtue of being
members of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions was very pertinent.

"The MDC has no ideological direction," Cde Shamuyarira said.

Although the expelled legislator has supported the land reform programme, his
party failed to come up with a policy on land.

"MDC leaders could not open their mouths because they were hamstrung by
Britain and white commercial farmers who supported the party financially," the
ruling party�s information and publicity chief said.

Any party that ignores the workers and peasants will not last long.

"They are important voices and not that of the Europeans and white commercial
farmers," Cde Shamuyarira said.

Political commentator and publisher, Dr Ibbo Mandaza, said the events taking
place in the MDC were symptoms of the collapse of the party. He said Mr Gwisai�s
expulsion was inevitable considering the long standing rift between the legislator
and his party leadership over ideology and policies.

"Unlike Zanu-PF, which has everyone in one camp, the MDC has elements in
different camps. There are many young turks in the MDC who do not agree with
the party�s policies," Dr Mandaza said.

The legislator and his superiors have, for a long time been at variance over
ideology.

Mr Gwisai is a member of the International Socialist Organisation and pursues
socialist ideology while the MDC, which sponsored him during elections,
promotes capitalist policies.

Observers say the worst sin that the MP committed was to come out in full
support of the Government�s land reform programme. He also slated his party for
ignoring the workers who formed the core of the ZCTU which was later turned into
a political party by Mr Tsvangirai without consulting them.

The party�s reliance on foreign support and continued articulation of imperialist
policies has hastened the MDC�s downfall. The party destroyed itself by pursuing
an anti-people programme, observers say.

Mr Tsvangirai, has never supported the land reform programme that seeks to
empower Zimbabweans economically through equitable land redistribution. He has
called Zimbabweans who have overwhelmingly endorsed the fast track land
resettlement exercise "scavengers."

Most people took exception to Mr Tsvangirai�s utterances which they viewed as
those of his white masters and not from a Zimbabwean.

Analysts derided the MDC leader for insulting the electorate.

The MDC is facing serious trouble that not even its foreign supporters who have
in the past tried to clandestinely patch up differences within the movement can do
anything about it now. It will be a tall order to put together the disintegrating
British-sponsored party.

As things stand at the moment, the cracks in the MDC have widened and threaten
its future as an opposition party in this country.

The failure of the MDC to attract local support was long foreseen when the party
continued embracing foreign policies. The opposition made a mistake of thinking
that because of the economic hardships in the country, people would abandon the
ruling party and support it.

Mr Tsvangirai has been blaming the Government for the current problems some of
which are the result of drought which has affected the entire Southern African
region. He has, however, offered no solution to redress the economic hardships
faced by the people.



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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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