Tsvanctions, the dearth of leadership

Herald Features Writer (03/02/10)

Imported or exported democracy does not actually bring the best results for any country, no matter how hard the exporters or importers force it on the people.

The same applies to leaders created by foreign forces through the imported and exported “democratic” processes.

Such leaders are just not there for the people but are there to do the will of their masters. Of course, the gullible among a country’s population will always believe in these leaders and follow them blindly, like a fly following a corpse into a grave.

Sadly, a fly that has no advisor follows a corpse into the grave and gets buried with it.

MDC-T leader and Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai is a friend of the West and despite spirited efforts by those close to him to free him, he has continued to cling to Western powers.

The biggest issue of the inclusive Government at the moment are the illegal economic sanctions imposed by Britain with the support of the United States of America and European Union, to prop up MDC-T and hoist Tsvangirai into power.

Behind the smokescreen of alleged human rights abuses, democracy, good governance and accountability, has always stood Tsvangirai smiling hand in glove with the former colonisers and telling them to keep the sanctions.

Today, while having one foot in the inclusive Government, the rest of his body, mind and soul are still with his masters. He still stands there, dancing to the tune of his masters at the expense of Zimbabweans.

Last week, an opportunity presented itself in Davos, Switzerland, for Tsvangirai to call for the total removal of the sanctions that have dehumanised the people of Zimbabwe and reduced them to beggars and cheap labourers in other countries, but he did not take it.

In negation of the spirit of the GPA he signed in September 2008 which calls for the unconditional lifting of all forms of sanctions against Zimbabwe, Tsvangirai chose to echo British foreign and Commonwealth secretary David Miliband’s statement in saying “some sanctions” be removed not all of them.

Miliband had earlier said the sanctions could only be lifted in a “calibrated” manner on receiving a request from the MDC.

It is now certain that this is the route the sanctions debate is going to take.

The World Economic Forum presented the greatest opportunity for Tsvangirai to call for the total removal of the sanctions, especially that it was being held shortly before the EU meeting to review Zimbabwe’s sanctions, slated for later this month.

Instead of using the stage that was given to him to address the hundreds of economists and political leaders present at Davos, Tsvangirai shied from the sanctions issue and was only able to make reference of the burning issue to reporters at the sidelines of the event.

But the biggest question remains: When will Tsvangirai be himself? One wonders what goes on in the MDC-T, when it comes to real issues that affect the people of Zimbabwe.

Surely, while Tsvangirai does not feel the impact of the sanctions himself, and neither do his ministers, Member of Parliament and Senators who earn an extra US$7 000 per month outside Government salaries they must know how the ordinary people have suffered.

Tsvangirai wants to maintain sanctions so that our children continue to fail to access basic necessities such as education, good health care and food and still wants to run this country?

What is the justification to maintain sanctions except his hunger for power based on his Western masters’ malice against President Mugabe?

What a shame for a man pretending to be the vanguard of the interests of the people of Zimbabwe.

A colleague, Jerry Moyo aptly described what we saw of the premier in Davos.

He rapped the premier for “cowardice” in failing to stand up to Britain and US, tell them in their face that sanctions are no longer necessary as their effects are seen everywhere even in MDC controlled ministries.

Moyo said Tsvangirai had displayed that he was a “timid” character and was trying to put on a brave face in calling for the partial lifting of sanctions.

“You see, Tsvangirai is just trying to act bold and trying to show the world that he is in control,” Moyo said.

“Yet his not being resolute shows that he is at best timid and at worst this is just a false cover to contain the condemnation the sanctions have drawn worldwide,” he said.

He said that being in Government, Tsvangirai ought to know that the system does not work in parts but as a whole.

Thus the idea that certain companies would be removed from the sanctions list while others remained sanctioned smacked of wanton double standards and hypocrisy.

There is no way Government would effectively work while some of its arms were illegally tied.

On this score, Tsvangirai’s sanctions proposal rings ever so hollow.

If anything it cements his status as the West’s cat’s paw.