The Sunday News
Khumbulani Vodloza Sibanda
The MDC has set Saturday, 28 September 2019 as the day that they wish to commemorate its 20th anniversary. When the party was formed way back in 1999 its leadership promised to turn the country’s economic fortunes around and improve the working conditions of workers as well as advocating for higher wages.
Fast forward the above promises to 2019, nothing has materialised save for a trail of failures, demonstrations and unleashing orgies of violence against innocent Zimbabweans. Despite the MDC being part of the Government of National Unity (GNU), that party has got nowhere near the levers of power and has nothing to show for its 20 years of existence.
2003 infamous final push
After failing to win the 2000 parliamentary and 2002 Presidential elections, the MDC mooted a plan to overthrow a constitutionally-elected Government. The late MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai and his party planned the infamous “final push”, but alas the country’s vigilant security apparatus foiled the plans.
This was preceded by Tsvangirai’s attempt to assassinate the then President, the late Robert Mugabe with the assistance of an American company, Dickens and Madison fronted by one Ari Ben Menashe in order to catapult himself to power. Although Tsvangirai was acquitted, the matter demonstrated the extent to which the MDC was prepared to break the law in order to get into power.
2007 bombing of police stations
Under the leadership of Piniel Denga, the MDC was accused of unleashing an orgy of violence against the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP). As a way of undermining the police services, the MDC went on a rampage bombing police stations in Harare and Mutare. These attacks on law enforcement agencies were meant to instil fear so that they would not arrest MDC offenders. The MDC has perfected this strategy since the year 2000 when they burnt Chinhoyi Provincial Magistrates Court in order to destroy dockets which contained their cases of violence. The 2007 bombing of police stations was also meant to destroy all dockets and evidence of cases against MDC members which were still pending at the courts.
2007 “prayer meeting”
The MDC has perfected personification of the biblical wolves in sheep’s clothing metaphor. In 2007 as part of its wider anti-Government protests, the MDC together with other opposition political parties organised the so-called “prayer meeting” at Zimbabwe Grounds in Harare’s Highfield high density suburb. This was no prayer meeting at all, but an unfolding demonstration. MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa then decided to enrol for a theological degree so that he could easily blend with the Christian community in a bid to lure them to his political side. The results of the venture are yet to materialise.
2016 NERA demonstrations
On 26 August 2016, the MDC together with other like-minded opposition parties under the banner of the National Electoral Reforms Agenda (NERA) tried once more to overthrow Government through demonstrations. This demonstration was very costly to the business community as the demonstrators went on a looting rampage across the Harare Central Business District. Both Police and ZBC vehicles were torched in the ensuing destruction.
Poor service delivery
Since taking over urban local authorities, the MDC went on to run down service delivery and dismantling everything in the process. The country’s urban areas in 2008 experienced a cholera outbreak because the MDC-dominated local authorities were failing to purchase water treatment chemicals and making clean drinking water available to all residents. The councillors prioritised self-enrichment at the expense of serving residents.
If one takes a casual stroll around residential areas of most urban areas, one will be greeted by smelly rivers of raw sewerage flowing everywhere. Heaps of uncollected garbage with swarms of flies have become the order of the day. Even the northern suburbs of Borrowdale, Mt Pleasant, Greendale and Eastlea, among others are now a pale shadow of their former glory, thanks to poor service delivery by the MDC-run councils.
Calling for extension of sanctions
In a country that is being crippled by economic challenges, the MDC did the unthinkable. That party called for an extension of sanctions imposed on Harare by the US in 2001. In response to the MDC’s begging, US President Donald Trump extended the sanctions under Executive Order Number 13288. To date, the Government of Zimbabwe estimates that the country lost about US$98 billion due to the illegally imposed sanctions.
A trail of lies
Chamisa while campaigning for the 2018 Presidential race told lies that the Trump administration had promised them US$15 billion to rebuild the economy in the event that they won the election. It only took BBC World News Hard Talk presenter, Stephen John Sackur’s grilling of Chamisa and replaying the campaign video that the exposed Chamisa’s mouth went dry. He could neither defend the shameless lie nor find answers to several other questions in which he had made blatant lies.
After the 2018 elections which Chamisa dismally lost, the MDC leader went on to spread lies that he had garnered 2,6 million votes. Even before the Constitutional Court full bench, Chamisa’s lead lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu failed to prove that his client had scored such votes.
Following the passing on of former President Robert Mugabe, Chamisa attempted to grab the limelight again by spreading false hoods.
“Zanu-PF cannot claim Mr Mugabe because Mugabe was no longer a member of Zanu-PF; he was expelled. He (Mugabe) had not yet fully joined the MDC but he had supported and endorsed the MDC particularly my candidature as a viable alternative for the country,” said Chamisa.
These are lies, Mugabe was never expelled from Zanu-PF, he was only recalled as the First Secretary of the Party and from the State Presidency. There is no evidence to show that the National Hero intended to join the MDC. Chamisa was simply saying this in a bid to strengthen his party in the eyes of people.
Chamisa trying to publicly capture the elders
For his love of publicity, Chamisa tried to get a ride in the visiting Elders’ vehicle only to be told to use his own car. Chamisa loves attention and grabs it at the drop of a hat. He wanted to feel as a very important person who gets a ride in The Elders’ car, but alas the Elders would have none of that. He was put in his place by one of the Elders, Graca Machel.
Conclusion
After 20 years of existence, the MDC does not have anything to show for their existence. The 20 years were characterised by empty speeches, threats, violence, destruction, looting and poor service in local authorities, protests, ideological directionlessness, frustration, anger, cluelessness, power-hunger, candidate imposition, childish antics, factionalism and electoral rejection. That is hardly anything to bring out celebration drums out for.
