Sometimes our fate is written in our names. Never has this been truer for Morgan Tsvangirai, whose name means “sea dweller” and “the edge of sea”. Tsvangirai talked up a storm at the congress of his faction of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) as he tried to paddle his divided party to shore, warning the government of a “cold season of democratic resistance”.
“I promise … to use all available resources and will-power to see off the tyranny in Zimbabwe today; to assist in putting together the building blocks for a new Zimbabwe,” he exclaimed.
The obstacles are formidable, as evidenced by the government Security Minister Didymus Mutasa’s swift rebuke: “If they want a fight then we are more than ready to hit back harder.” Tsvangirai’s new secretary general, Tendai Biti, retorted that “armed conflict or violent means to take on the regime” are not being contemplated.
“We will form a united and popular front with other democratic forces in Zimbabwe, civil society, the churches, the unions, the student bodies and social movements. We have to create our own Nelson Mandelas. We are ready to be shot at, to be beaten up, and to be arrested. We will lead demon-strations from the front,” he said.
In a perceived swipe at the pro-Senate MDC camp, Biti said: “We will strive to work with all democratic forces that share our ideals. These ideals don’t mean working with the Zanu-PF government in a government of national unity.”
But Bhekinkosi Moyo, a researcher at the Africa Institute, believes that the opposition is at its “weakest now” and that its challenges have never been greater. “Given the strength of Zanu-PF now it is not likely they [MDC] will embark on street protests. Street protests could have happened in 2000. No one would follow them now.”
This view is shared by Heneri Dzinotyiwei, an analyst at the University of Zimbabwe. “The congress took place when enthusiasm is wearing thin. People no longer have confidence in the political process.” He said the “people of Zimbabwe” want leaders with “courage and conviction. Do they have it?” As if to respond, churches in Zimbabwe have initiated a new platform for unity— the Christian Alliance — an interdenominational grouping being convened by Reverend Levy Kadenge of the Methodist church.
“The people believe that the prophetic actions of the church have not been visible enough … We will get more pro-active, we will issue public statements and organise meetings … We will not be afraid to name names of those frustrating initiatives for change,” said Jonah Gokova, a member of the secretariat. Roman Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncube, a prominent government critic, has been their inspiration. “We are not creating a new agenda but working on what is already there. This confirms that what Ncube is doing [is not] in isolation.”
The alliance, which draws support from the National Pastors Conference, has already linked with the National Constitutional Assembly to press for a new constitution.