Dear Friends,
As I celebrated the commencement of another new year last night with my family I spent some time reflecting over the events of the past year and in particular I thought of the wonderful start to last year I had waking up early in the Matopos (we saw in 2000 camping with friends in the bush) on a gloriously fresh New Year’s day. I was aware of the major battles that faced Zimbabwe on that day but had little inkling of the dramatic events that would unfold in the course of the year. It is useful to look back on the 1st January 2000; for in doing so we are all reminded of just what has been achieved this past year despite the chaotic and grave situation facing Zimbabwe today and, more importantly, we are given hope for this coming year. I have always said that Zimbabwe will only prosper and reach her true potential when democracy is established and entrenched; the achievement of democracy is not an event but a painful and laborious process. As we look back on last year we can see that some major steps in that process were taken and the process will continue this year because the process is inevitable and unstoppable.
Ponder the following facts:
- On the 1st January 2000 (yesterday) we were in the midst of fighting against the foisting on Zimbabwe of a new undemocratic Constitution which would have entrenched Mugabe’s power even further. We were up against a $50 million propaganda campaign conducted by some cunning academics who gave the exercise the pretence of objectivity. On the 1st January 2001 (today) that draft Constitution has been consigned to the dustbin of history.
- Yesterday ZANU(PF) had 117 elected members of Parliament and the opposition only 3. Today ZANU(PF) has 62 (40 of which are shortly to be challenged in Court) and the opposition have 57 (a further seat is up for grabs soon).
- Yesterday Parliament was a rubber stamp for the Politburo, an institution designed to present a facade of democracy. Today Parliament is a vibrant institution, a place the dinosaurs in the Politburo hate to visit.
- Yesterday Mugabe and his henchmen had the odd skirmish with the Judiciary but were able to maintain the belief held internationally that the courts were respected and the rule of law upheld. Today that facade has been blown away and Mugabe et al have declared open war on the Judiciary. An indelible stain on ZANU(PF)’s reputation has so been created.
- Yesterday big business, and many in the farming community, entertained the naive belief that ultimately they could do business with ZANU(PF) and that democracy was not the sine qua non of development and long term stability. Today these sectors are finally listening to those who have preached democracy so long and are asking what they can do to help.
- Yesterday the international community did not understand the depth of depravity of Mugabe and his henchmen and accordingly did not appreciate that for so long as they remained in power there could never be long term stability and good development prospects for Zimbabwe and Southern Africa. Today they understand full well and now too are doing what they can to help.
- Yesterday leaders in the region believed that Mugabe could be persuaded to do the right thing in the best interests of Zimbabwe and the region. Today they understand that he is only interested in one thing: his own political survival and doesn’t care a damn for Zimbabwe, its people or its neighbours. In the past year we have seen Mugabe publicly criticised by African icons: Archbishop Desmond Tutu described him as a caricature of all that was bad in African politics and Nelson Mandela called on Mugabe to step down from office.
- Yesterday our businesses were surviving, but struggling and on a slow but sure slide down into oblivion so long as ZANU(PF)’s policies continued unchecked. Today many businesses are barely alive but at least now there is help awaiting in the form of an alternative government with the right policies and an international community which is anxious to assist when the time is right.
- Yesterday ZANU(PF) was confident that it could rely on the army to sustain its grip on power and the opposition had no assurance that a democratic transition would be honoured by the military. Today morale in the army is at its lowest ebb (with troops not being fully paid in the Congo and some of our troops having had the humiliation of retreat into Zambia) and ZANU(PF) has to rely on a rag tag force of semi geriatric war veterans to stay in power.
- Yesterday Mugabe was confident that he would be able to withdraw our troops from Congo quickly and with honour. Today the peace accord is in disarray and the UN is adamant that it will not deploy a peace force unless all foreign armies are removed first, which is the ultimate Catch 22 for Mugabe.
- Yesterday there was no alternative government and most were resigned to making do with what they had, ZANU(PF). Today there is a very viable alternative government waiting in the wings and eager to put things right quickly.
- Yesterday Mugabe had reasonably high approval ratings and Morgan Tsvangirai was relatively unknown in the rural areas. Today Mugabe enjoys 4% support in Harare, 13% countrywide, whereas Morgan Tsvangirai is now a household name countrywide, including the rural areas and enjoys massive support.
- Yesterday the Presidential election seemed light years away. Today it is just round the corner.
- Yesterday ZANU(PF) was relatively united and the likes of Eddison Zvobgo, Cyril Ndebele and Michael Mataure gave the party wisdom and respectability. Today ZANU(PF) is more divided than ever and has to rely on Chenjerai Hitler Hunzvi, Border Gezi and Professor Jonathan Moyo for wisdom and respectability as it plans to fight the Presidential election.
- Yesterday many Zimbabweans did not even know of the MDC let alone whether it was united behind its multi ethnic and multi racial leadership. Today the world knows that men and women, Ndebele and Shona, black and white are united behind the leadership of Morgan Tsvangirai and Gibson Sibanda and the MDC is not only a force to be reckoned with but is more united than ever.
- Yesterday brutes like Obert Mpofu and Emmerson Mnangagwa were MPs and many wondered whether Zimbabweans would be brave enough to vote out men of their ilk. Today the lions of Bubi-Umguza and Kwe Kwe, Jacob Thabane and Blessings Chebundo respectively, take Mpofu and Mnangagwa’s seats in Parliament and embody the bravery of the vast majority of Zimbabweans who have shown that they will vote for democracy in the face of massive intimidation.
- Yesterday the 70% of Zimbabweans who live in the rural areas were largely unaware of the alternative provided by the MDC and the thinking of the majority of townsfolk because of ZANU(PF)’s tight control of broadcasting. Today those same rural folk are aware and are demonstrating their support for this alternative by attending rural rallies and meetings at venues as far flung as Brunapeg and Buhera in their thousands.
- Yesterday we enjoyed the warmth and fellowship of many dear friends, loved ones and colleagues such as Patrick Nabanyama and David Stevens. Today, in remembering that they are no longer with us and the cruel way they were taken from us, we are all the more determined to strive this year to ensure that their deaths in the fight for democracy will not be in vain.
Friends, I could go on. The point is that although this year has been traumatic massive strides have been made towards our goal of making Zimbabwe a more humane and democratic society. All the events described above have happened in just one year. Despite all the wicked actions perpetrated by evil men, despite all the vast resources used by those evil men against those struggling for freedom, despite all the propaganda, despite all the destruction wrought against innocent people, the fact remains that those evil men are weaker, greatly weaker, than they were a year ago. Those same evil men will continue to plot but rest assured they also will continue to weaken. In fact in this past year Mugabe’s back and ZANU(PF)’s back have been broken. They are still politically alive and lashing out but they will never be the same force again. All we have to do is to remain resolute and to take heed of these wonderful words of Lord Alfred Tennyson:
” Tho’ much is taken, much abides, and tho’
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven: that which we are, we are:
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”
Yours sincerely,
David Coltart