Countdown 2018.....

THE past few weeks have been exciting on the Zimbabwean political landscape. New faces have entered the cryptic world of politics in Zim. The interesting part, with Fadzai Mahere and Dr Nkosana Moyo’s entrance has been the criticism from some sectors of the country. 

The opposition MDC-T has been quick to denounce these new political aspirants. What boggles the mind further is that while the usual critical voices from the ruling elite have been at loggerheads, none has questioned the new political entrants. I have viewed the ruling Zanu PF’s silence as probably because there is too much mess in its own house to criticise the newest edition of political challenges. I won’t dwell much on the ruling party’s struggles as The Herald has been at lengths to legitimise them at the expense of the nutty professor.

The most surprising and disappointing action has been within the MDC-T. So many people have posted on social media stating that the emergence of Nkosana Moyo would split the votes against Robert Mugabe in the forthcoming elections. Other opposing voices have stated that Moyo was never part of the struggle and cannot come and claim the opposition vote. He has been labelled a ‘coward’ for having left Mugabe’s cabinet and faxing a resignation letter from SA. 

I have read such criticism on social media and wondered how different our MDC-T is from Zanu PF. Just as much as Zanu PF claims to be the sole proprietors of Zimbabwe by virtue of taking part in the liberation struggle, the MDC-T seems to also claim ownership of the opposition struggle against Robert Mugabe. Not only is this absurd from MDC-T but this is the same evil that we have been fighting against Zanu PF and rather obnoxious to hear it from MDC-T loyalists. 

This is the same party that calls itself “Movement for Democratic Change” yet it fears opening the democratic space to other politicians. Democracy can only be achieved when the electorate can choose from a variety of aspiring candidates. So fellow opposition parties should welcome such parties’ existence after all that is the only way we can move to democracy. As for the split of votes argument they should just relax for no one can claim ownership of anyone’s vote by their existence. That argument is flawed to its lowest tentacles.

I come from a generation that yearns for a dawn of a new Zimbabwe. Whether that new country evolves from a new party or new candidate who will partake in next year’s election, it does not matter but a new Zimbabwe is long overdue. I will vote on the best candidate possible one who will state on how best to deal with the issues that affect us the most.

The political space is a marketplace of ideas and especially in Zimbabwe where the population is largely young, bring on those ideas to the forefront, old and new and allow us to choose. Being in any struggle from time immemorial will not guarantee you my vote, what matters most now is how best you will change our plight. Signing out GenerationX18