Mercedes Sayagues
During this week’s Heroes’ Day and Defence Forces’ National Day public holidays, Zimbabweans took a break from their harsh daily realities, but the politics did not stop. As they boarded buses to go home, the talk was about the newest challenge to the ruling party, Zanu-PF.
Last weekend, trade union leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s candidacy for president in 2000 took a big step forward when the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions launched the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). The MDC is right on target in perceiving the need for a broad-based movement to challenge President Robert Mugabe.
A new party linked to the trade unions has long been in the pipeline. Workers are hurting from inflation, shrinking purchasing power and repression. The MDC will probably perform well in next year’s election. Tsvangirai and Sibanda are gifted speakers, popular and untouched by corruption. The unions have a nationwide, disciplined membership.
Workers went home on this holiday, and spread the word. The 2000 election campaign has effectively started. The MDC’s manifesto should be ready by August 21 and the new party launched by September. The new party’s biggest challenge – and hope – lies in knotting strategic alliances with Zimbabwe’s fragmented opposition.
“With all the thinking people who believe the government has failed the Zimbabwean people, especially the working class, we can put up a formidable front to remove corrupt leaders and fulfil the struggle to liberate Zimbabwe,” says Sibanda.
The other top challenger appears to be Zapu 2000, the reincarnation of the old Zapu. It has successfully run primaries in Bulawayo and Victoria Falls in the run-up to local elections.
Independent MP Margaret Dongo has lost her national profile, although she still has strong support in Harare. Her party recently split.
The intelligence services may be behind that split, as they are in the current battle for the soul and the chequebook of human rights monitor Zimrights. A new chair took over, allegedly in rigged elections, and has sown chaos and dissent among the members of the well-respected group.
Sowing dissent is a more sophisticated approach than the one tried with the trade unions. In 1997, Tsvangirai was bludgeoned on the head by assailants. The blunt message, however, failed: the unions did not shut up and will contest the elections in 2000.