The Sunday News
Khumbulani Vodloza Sibanda
When the European Union (EU) Parliament resolved to propose the imposition of sanctions against President Emmerson Mnangagwa and other people in his administration to the EU foreign affairs ministers, the opposition, especially the MDC Alliance, was very excited.
This is because it takes anyone who takes aim at President Mnangagwa to be hailed hero by the novice political supporters and activists.
During the countdown to the EU foreign ministers’ meeting most anti-Zanu PF and anti-Government elements were rubbing their hands in glee and anticipation as they were certain that President Mnangagwa and others would be slapped with sanctions.
Their reasons for bringing out celebration drums had nothing to do with the EU’s objective for imposing them – to prod the President and Government to address alleged human rights abuse issues around the deployment of the army to assist the police in restoring and maintaining peace and order in the country. Put differently, the threats were merely instruments of diplomacy in the relations between Zimbabwe and the European bloc. The reason for the opposition member’s joy was their mistaken, baseless and childish belief that the EU was going to fix President Mnangagwa for them for denying the MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa power by outpolling him.
To the shallow-minded opposition the expected sanctions meant a personal fight between the bloc and President Mnangagwa which would advance their regime change agenda. To the opposition the spectre of EU sanctions meant an imminent punishment for President Mnangagwa for snatching away the poll victory which they, in their conceit and misplaced self-confidence, thought was already in the bag. What with Chamisa already telling election campaign rally attendees that he was already practising inspecting guards of honour in anticipation of being the next President after the 30 July 2018 polls?
In the run up to the EU Parliament’s decision not to visit sanctions upon the President and other senior Government officials, avowed anti-Zanu-PF elements such as a senior journalist and former editor were already excitedly compiling lists of people that he and other like-minded people wished added to the EU sanctions list. The list included the President, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, the Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Professor Mthuli Ncube and the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Kirsty Coventry.Even the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) leader, Professor Lovemore Madhuku was also added to the list.
Progressive businesspeople who refused to join the opposition mob mentality and routinely provide the alternative voices such as Trevor Ncube and Shingi Munyeza had their names thrown into the sanctions list for exercising their constitutional right to express themselves. Their sin: praising President Mnangagwa when credit is due and agreeing to be part of his Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) which, to the opposition, was tantamount to endorsing him at a time that Chamisa is trying in vain to sell the charge that President Mnangagwa allegedly stole the 2018 Presidential vote, although the opposition failed in the Constitutional Court to prove the baseless charges.
Even the popular musician Jah Prayzah (real name Mukudzeyi Mukombe) of Mdhara achauya and Kutonga kwaro fame was not spared for freely expressing himself through his natural talent — music.
Although the EU had not commissioned the opposition to help with identifying people to include on its anticipated sanctions list, people like the mentioned journalist tried to agenda-set the matter by broaching the idea of a list using his twitter handle.
The basis: anyone who seems to be disagreeing with Zanu-PF and Government is easily concluded as the opposition’s ally. This is the reason why the MDC Alliance was angered to the high heavens by the South Africa-based Zimbabwean billionaire, Strive Masiyiwa last year when he added his voice to the growing calls for the removal of sanctions. Senior MDC Alliance members such the Kuwadzana legislator, Chalton Hwende showed the world the insides of his warped brain by suggesting sanctions of his own against Masiyiwa — boycotting Econet Wireless products and services.
Yes, Masiyiwa was not happy with the way that the previous administration treated him during his two-year battle for an operating licence in the late 1990s but, like any normal person, he chose not to tether himself to the past forever at a time that the country and the world are moving on.
The MDC Alliance, other like-minded organisations and individuals seem not to learn anything from history.
The Masiyiwa incident is less than six months old but they choose to ignore it and assume that the EU was on their side. They were left with egg on their faces when the EU decided not to impose sanctions on the President and other senior party and Government officials. Much to their chagrin, this is also coming hard on the heels of Sadc calling on the removal of sanctions on Zimbabwe.
The EU demonstrated to the MDC Alliance and company how far they still were from maturing politically. The bloc showed them that they were yet to grow into politicians as opposed to the frustrated violent activists that they showed themselves to be during the 14 to 16 January riots which they ironically termed a stay away.
The EU most obviously disagreed with the way the Zimbabwean Government dealt with the so-called stay away but chose engagement rather than confrontation. This further put the opposition and its friends in their place as immature political players who looted and destroyed the businesses of the people who they aspire to rule some day.
A look at some of the people who were suggested as deserving places on the sanctions list is indicative of the opposition supporters’ lack of understanding of local politics.
Why would any Zimbabwean worth the citizenship of this country include the name of Minister Coventry or Prof Ncube on the proposed list unless they are driven by grudge-nursing rather than real and rational reasons? The opposition nurses grudges with anyone who works with people who they perceive as enemies. Put differently, everyone should side with the opposition despite his or her own right to association or face its irrational wrath which manifests itself in wishing the two ministers and Jah Prayzah sanctioned.
For as long as the opposition and its sidekicks do not grow politically, they will consign themselves to a life of permanent frustration with electoral losses and perceived betrayal by people or countries they had no understanding or agreements with in the first place. The opposition will continue to throw tantrums like a baby for as long as it refuses to accept the reality of its electoral loss, move on and join other Zimbabweans and the world in moving the country forward.
