Ideas, Personalities and Politics in Zimbabwe: Time to make the choice Nqobizitha Mlilo
Not that it is necessary, but because of what Jeremy Cronin calls “…the politics of politics…,” lets say the obvious first. Those who have led and prosecuted the cause for a democratic Zimbabwe, in particular, from the later part of the 1990s need to be saluted and commended. They squared-up against one of the most ruthless and yet sophisticated dictatorships of modern times. Against a background of what Prof Adam Habid refers to as the ‘’…manipulation of the human rights discourse in Zimbabwe…’’ and the changing complexities of African politics, the terrain was anything but predictable. But the flattery and excuses end there. We must now enter a real discussion about our politics. The starting point is that it does not appear as if those who led the demands for a new national path from the later part of the 1990s, especially those that gathered for the National Working People’s Convention, properly understood what it is they were doing. A discussion with them on what the strategic and tactical objectives were will give you as many answers as the number of people you speak to. It cannot be surprising that our politics has degenerated to the present level. It is a politics whose centre has not been known, is not known or perhaps more honestly, it a politics with no centre. In the first instance therefore, we must seek an understanding what it is that we are doing and why. There is too much to be lost if we continue unsure of our footing and hesitating. It bears emphasis that it is time for real discussions. Any political environment has three natural ingredients; the concrete material conditions of a given political space, ideas and personalities. Using these as a premise of discussion, there are two submissions from which to start the discussion. The first one is that the current thinking and framework is unable to create a democratic Zimbabwe. Secondly, and therefore, this thinking, not out of choice but necessity, has to change and if it is necessary, change with the personalities. Ideas drive politics. It is evident that those who are tasked with the responsibility of leading the journey to a democratic state have either exhausted their (ideas) intellect or need to be forced to change their understanding of our political economy. Their ideas have become antiquated and out of sync with the present objective political reality. Things have to change. It is self evident that, if a change in the ideas is incompatible with the current personalities, then it is time to talk about succession. The generation that follows immediately after the current generation of leadership, must now enter the political scene as a strata. It means the current generation of leadership has nothing more to offer other than giving an historical account to what has happened in the past ten years or so. On the other hand, if the ideas (read the current thinking) can be changed and the personalities are able to carry the new thinking, they have to totally abandon their prejudice and baggage of politics of the past. Having reorganized either ideas and personalities or both, three important things need to happen. Firstly, the politics of those leading the democratic demand needs to be based on a thorough and on-going understanding of African politics. There is need to identify with the aspirations of African people and their institutions. In simple terms, and secondly, a clear and unambiguous anti-imperialist disposition is cardinal. This means embracing the values that underpinned the struggle against colonialism. Thirdly, a commitment, not to liberal and vague rights rhetoric, but a demand for and a commitment to social justice for all. It is my heart felt wish that there be no sacred beings in our politics. Everyone must be taken for who they are; mortal beings who find common ground by virtue of supposed commitment to a democratic Zimbabwe. We can not afford to be apologetic in public and yet in our whispers we all acknowledge that things have gone wrong. I was a communist and a Pan Africanist slightly before conception; as such I take pride in independence of thought and the battle of ideas. No idea is sacred to be debated, no-one messianic to be contradicted. How I wish we could all be so. It can not be disputed with any degree of seriousness that our politics has become uninspiring. Things have to change. We should be honest with ourselves and each other. The earlier, the better. We would rather debate what has to change, than refuse to acknowledge that there is a need for a drastic change. published on www.dfzim.com -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. 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Ideas Personalities and Politics in Zimbabwe.doc
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