Zimbabwe unity deal doomed

More than a month after the signing of the so called unity deal which was hailed as a first step in the delicate transition from Mugabe dictatorship to a new democratic Zimbabwe, the marriage of convenience foisted upon the people of Zimbabwe by SADC at the instigation of former South African president, Thabo Mbeki, the whole euphoria of expectation has evaporated. This is not surprising for those who know the behavior of the dictator, Robert Mugabe who clearly lost the March 29 free and fair election only to impose himself on the people of Zimbabwe through the discredited one man so called runoff of June 27. The current squabbling over ministerial posts has made clear one point: the deal is simply doomed!

It is clear that Mugabe wants to maintain his stranglehold on power at all costs despite the fact that the geriatric octogenarian has failed and his time is up. By unilaterally grabbing all powerful ministries such as Defense, National Security, Foreign Affairs, Local Government, Information, Youth and Woman Affairs as well as Home Affairs, Mugabe wants to reduce the winning opposition MDC to mere junior partners in the vain hope that targeted sanctions imposed on him and his coterie of ZANU PF bootlickers will be removed. Mugabe wants to have his cake and eat it but this will simply not fly.

Despite the crumbling of the national economy and the social fabric as epitomized by a record 231 million percent inflation, 95% unemployment, closure of all schools and universities since teachers have rejected slave wages, the crumbling of the public health sector, collapse of water and the sewer system in urban areas spawning massive diseases like cholera and the serious shortage of food across the whole country where more than 5 million Zimbabweans are surviving on wild fruits after Mugabe ‘s disastrous land grabbing exercise that destroyed agriculture, Mugabe is still in denial to the obvious fact that his time is up for he has no solution to all the above problems.

One would have expected that the spectacular fall of Zimbabwe would have made Mugabe realize that the unity government is the only way to give him a dignified exit. For the problems confronting Zimbabwe which are deepening every day just need a single spark to ignite the whole country which can lead to a bloody transition from Mugabe if he continues to be defiant. Mugabe is clearly out of touch and still thinks that he has a role to play after 28 years at the helm when his generation like Kaunda, Nyerere, Mandela, Chissano, Nujoma, Masire and Banda just to mention a few in Southern Africa has quit letting a new generation take their respective countries forward.

Mugabe’s stubbornness in the current power sharing deal where he wants to use the MDC for mere political window dressing whilst he calls the shots must be rejected at all costs by all progressive people in SADC, African Union and the whole progressive world. Now that his most fervent supporter, Thabo Mbeki was shown the door in South Africa, all progress loving Zimbabweans look forward to the new South African government to act decisively on Mugabe and lead the whole SADC in telling him that he lost the elections and if he continues to defy the region, then they are going to reject and isolate him
That is the only strategy that can save Zimbabwe for Mugabe has always boasted that Africa is solidly behind him. Africa must now isolate Mugabe for he has tarnished the African brand.

At home, the opposition must now take decisive action and seriously reflect as to whether it is worth it to continue endless talks with Mugabe when through his actions he is clearly showing contempt to the party that won the mandate from the people in March who are in control of the House of Assembly. The MDC must now give Mugabe an ultimatum and clearly pull out of the useless talks if they can not get any power to start rebuilding Zimbabwe.

There is also need for those progressive reformist elements in ZANU PF and the security forces to overcome fear and tell Mugabe that he can not destroy the country and their party when he simply has to throw in the towel and allow a new generation of leaders to take charge in his own party not only because he has failed but also because of his advanced age that clearly makes him incapable of reading the mood of the people on the ground.

If the SADC and African Union continue to treat Mugabe with kid gloves, then the so called unity government is doomed. Either Mugabe plays ball or he must be ostracized. The whole world must stand shoulder by shoulder with the people of Zimbabwe and send a powerful message to Mugabe that he either accepts a dignified exit by allowing the unity government to work or the world will act to kick him out if that is the price the democracy loving Zimbabweans have to pay for a new beginning .Mugabe has taken the people for granted for too long and the earlier the people tell him in no uncertain terms that he does not own Zimbabwe but the people do, the better for the future of the young Zimbabwean generation.