Opinion

Copac draft versus Kariba draft

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/

Zimbabwe is probably the most exciting country to live in at this point in 
time. There is no end to the fun and games, especially on the political 
front. Never before have we seen Zanu (PF), the former liberation movement, 
so disunited, disparaged and desperate than we see it now.
22.05.1206:32pm
by John Makumbe

The fights that used to take place within that party behind closed doors are 
now coming out in the open. The push has finally come to the shove; it is 
not a nice picture. Media reports indicate that the succession dilemma has 
now been openly discussed in the politburo, complete with naming and 
shaming. This is a clear sign that the once formidable political party has 
now reached such a level of disintegration that even President Mugabe is 
shocked and frightened.

The cut-throat competition pertaining to the elections of district 
coordinating committee officials is a case in point, as the two major 
factions in Zanu (PF) compete/fight for grassroots support. Naturally, the 
national political commissar has been asked to clean up the mess as soon as 
possible. This, as we all know, is the time when the job of the national 
commissar becomes a high-risk undertaking.

Read more: Copac draft versus Kariba draft

Mugabe must walk the talk on call against violence

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/

Sunday, 11 March 2012 12:07

President Mugabe’s ongoing cry against violence is a good new-start for a 
nation which has seen needless extra-judicial shedding of blood. But these 
calls come to naught if he personally does not act against the perpetrators 
who seem to enjoy impunity.

Of late the president has used every opportunity coming his way to denounce 
violence. This is the sensible thing to do for violence is the savage’s 
resort, when reason flies out. No serious nation can allow violence to 
circumscribe its narrative.

Why should there be violence when diversity is an inherent facet of any 
society? That natural diversity dictates citizens have the right to support 
different political persuasions under the protection of the constitution. 
Diversity of opinion is an inalienable right and to try to suppress it is to 
work against the rule of law.

Zimbabwe’s liberation war was premised on the need to give every citizen the 
vote and the war did not prescribe which political party that vote would go 
to. Combatants did not go to war for a particular political grouping; 
patriots go to war for substantive ideals.

Read more: Mugabe must walk the talk on call against violence

Eddie Cross: Can we do it?

http://www.swradioafrica.com

Eddie Cross
Harare, 17th February 2012

I think one of the greatest challenges I face in my day to day labors is a 
thing called Afro Pessimism. I find it in the old Rhodies who inhabit the 
region and who justifiably claim that Ian Smith was right when he said we 
were not ready to govern ourselves. They point to the awful track record of 
every State that has come to independence and been subsequently governed by 
some sort of regime drawn from the indigenous peoples of the continent. 
There is no gainsaying that the record is abysmal.
I come across it in many young Africans (of all shades and backgrounds) with 
some experience of the developed world and who look at Africa and ask if it 
can really be fixed? The most shameful group are those who fought for 
independence, believed in their new freedoms and the power to do things 
their way, only to find that behind that cardboard front that the liberation 
Parties presented to the world was a collection of greedy, self opinionated 
and power hungry monsters who simply used their freedom and power to rape 
and pillage.

Read more: Eddie Cross: Can we do it?

OPINION: The terrifying prospect of election-stealing in Africa

by Cameron Duodu     Tuesday 09 November 2010

THERE is no political event more dangerous than a general election. Even in what are called the ‘mature democracies’, elections bring out hidden weaknesses in a nation’s structure that can be stretched to breaking point, and if wise counsels do not prevail, no one can predict what might happen.??

The best example of this sort of situation is the US presidential election of November 2000. The result was extremely close – George W. Bush, the Republican candidate, beat his Democratic opponent, Al Gore, by only 0.5 per cent of the votes – 48.4 against 47.9 per cent!?? Such a close vote always brings allegations of hanky-panky.

Read more: OPINION: The terrifying prospect of election-stealing in Africa