How will history judge Morgan Tsvangirai and the MDC?

The quality of products coming out of the production line of trade unions has often been very questionable; we have been overwhelmed by defective products the likes of Zwelinzima Vavi, Gwede Mantashe and other trade unionists of suspect politics.

This is not inspiring any confidence that even the barest minimum requirements of the SABS quality assurance are met, but — as with everything else in life — we do get occasional surprises of awe-inspiring quality, the Ramaphosas and Motlanthes.

When we look across the Limpopo, we also notice what the trade unions in Zimbabwe have produced: Morgan Tsvangirai. If the quality of politics of men were to be judged by the manner in which they pleased the eye, Tsvangirai, I’m afraid, is hopeless. Not only is he not a man to whom you can ascribe good looks, but his politics also leave much to be desired. Is Zimbabwe really short of good leaders?

The tyranny that has befell the Zimbabweans calls for extraordinary human will on part of Zimbabweans themselves to bring about lasting change. It has become apparent that Zimbabweans are timid or have been so severely traumatised by the tyrannical regime of Robert Mugabe that they seem incapable of liberating themselves. History is littered with instances of men of robust constitution, charged with revolutionary zeal, rising up against despotic regimes, unseating them and liberating the masses. Where violent overthrow of an illegitimate and tyrannical regime is out of the question, as was the case in South Africa, constructive engagement is necessary. We have only witnessed destructive utterances.

Upon Tsvangirai’s shoulders rest the hopes of millions of suffering ordinary people, but unfortunately he does not appear to have that will to bring about the change for which his Movement for Democratic Change exists. What we have witnessed thus far is continuous whingeing and pointing of fingers at those he accuse of not advancing his course.

Campaigning for election is not enough to unseat the despotic regime of Mad Bob when it is clear that he will not relinquish power any time soon. Events following the March 29 elections and the subsequent run-off indicate that Tsvangirai and his MDC do not have a plan B; or maybe they have, that plan being to wait for the puppet master from the UK to pull the strings and give rhythm and momentum to the Zimbabwean drama.

Unlike Mahatma Gandhi, who succeeded with his civil disobedience as a form of non-violent resistance, the Zimbabweans appear incapable of even honouring calls for stay-aways, perhaps fearing more brutal crackdowns by Zanu-PF lunatics. But for how long can you sit back and take the beating from a bully without attempting a counter-punch or at least biting the bully’s ear off, when you’re being clubbed to death anyway?

Tsvangirai is not providing the kind of leadership required to liberate the Zimbabweans from Mugabe’s lunacy. I cannot imagine black South Africans during the height of apartheid surrendering their political destiny to the leadership (or lack thereof) of a person of Tsvangirai’s quality. Zimbabweans deserve better and certainly Tsvangirai is not the person to lead them during their struggle for liberation. I am beginning to suspect that Zimbabweans may be voting against Mugabe and not necessarily for Tsvangirai. Already there is a faction within the MDC, which is telling of the quality of Tsvangirai’s leadership.

It is sad to see millions of Zimbabweans continue to suffer while those in leadership are dictated to by their egos rather than the plight of their followers. I doubt whether Tsvangirai and Mugabe can proclaim with absolute certainty to have immediate experience of what ordinary Zimbabweans are going through and the manner in which they are affected by their hesitation to form a government together and address the problems facing their country. I do not think they have the willingness to place themselves in the situation of ordinary Zimbabweans and conceive enduring the same torments. Until that happens on the part of either party, there can be no lasting solution to the problems in that country.