If you were to think about it, I really don’t need the headline, do I? To any casual observer, the situation in Zimbabwe is dire - not only in normal, daily life (is there such a thing as ‘normal’ in Zimbabwe?), but also within the three political parties elected into office last year.

Let’s just have a look at them individually:

ZANU PF

Led by egoist and self-styled celebrity ‘world leader’ Robert Gabriel Mugabe who no longer has the majority in parliament - but that has not stopped him from making unilateral decisions, decided on policy without including either of the MDC factions, and continued with his rule as if nothing has changed.

Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe/ruined the country in 29 years of treachery, oppression and violence - and has surrounded himself with people that took part in the chimurenga (struggle) that brought him to power, and, more importantly, have been involved in crimes against humanity that have kept him in power.

o the Gukurahundi
o the land grab
o Operation Murambatsvina
o numerous rigged elections
o the arrest, torture and murder of political activists
o the abduction and murder of political activists

Mugabe is so secure in his own position, that his security chiefs refuse to salute the man elected into office as the Prime Minister - because, they say, he has no chimurenga credentials…

It is evident that Mugabe had no choice but to form a government with the MDC, but he has no intention of sharing power.

MDC (Tsvangirai)

Led by former Trade Union chief, Morgan Tsvangirai - a man who has been arrested repeatedly, beaten and hospitalised, and, in certain circles, it is believed, the target of at least two assassination attempts.

The MDC was rocked to the core in 2005 by a split which resulted in the two existing factions, and much tension is felt between the two.

Since taking office, Tsvangirai has been dealt two cruel blows with the death of his beloved Susan in a questionable motor vehicle accident and then his grandson, Sean, who drowned in the family swimming pool just a few days later.

Lately, Tsvangirai has been criticised from within his own party faction as being a little too sympathetic with Mugabe’s stance in the ‘unity’ government and some believe that this will result in a change at the top. Whether Tsvangirai remains in place is yet to be seen, but it must be emphasised that he has been able to gain and maintain an incredible following.

MDC (Mutambara)

Led by former student firebrand, Arthur Mutambara, who left his US based NASA job to lead the new faction of the MDC.

I have written many times of this man’s ability to sound like a young Mugabe, and his lack of man management - culminating very recently in the suspension of numerous MPs and representatives within his faction, accused of “conduct likely”…

I do note Mutambara’s lack of involvement in elections and rallying - to the point that he and his faction have hardly experienced any oppression, arrests, violence and murder perpetrated upon them by ZANU PF.

A questionable character, who struggles with the position gained by his parachuting in from the United States.

It should also be noted that Mutambara has no chimurenga credentials.

CONCLUSION

When three parties sign an agreement to form a coalition or ‘unity’ government - especially in a veritable cauldron that is Zimbabwean politics - there has to be a meeting of the minds of the leaders.

And in the political minefield that exists in Zimbabwe, more time is spent fighting for elbow room than fighting for a better life for the very people that voted them into the position of some standing.

When three parties cannot even agree to that which is written (even after ZANU PF’s Chinamasa attempted to rewrite the agreement on the QT), then the agreement is not worth the paper it is written on, and consequently, the intended unification is a failure before it even started.

A fresh election is what should now transpire, and without the political violence, without the political bias, providing Zimbabwe with a government that will not only provide a better standard of living for the people, but a government that can be trusted and relied upon.

Until that happens - very little will change in Zimbabwe.

Robb WJ Ellis
The Bearded Man