ZVAKWANA

Zvakwana-Sokwanele

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

ZANU-PF

Robert G. Mugabe is the president of Zimbabwe and has been since its independence in 1980. Part of the ZANU-PF (Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front) political party, Mugabe helped fight for freedom from the repressive, white-minority regime that had declared themselves a republic in 1965, led by Ian Smith.

ZANU-PF describes itself as the political party that brought about freedom from the colonists who had imposed a racist, imperialist rule. While the ZANU-PF's doctrine for freedom rings true of what Zimbabwean's want, opposition groups such as the MDC and Zvakwana and the international press insist that ZANU-PF has become more of a dictatorship than the democratic government they claim to be. The design of the ZANU-PF government hardly resembles a dictatorship. It is made up of a president, two vice-presidents and a National Chairman, in what they call “a four-man "Presidency of Comrades”. There are five ‘organs’ or committees, some made up of up to 150 people, with sub-committees and councils beneath them that make up Mugabe’s government, making it seem like possibilities for dictator rule would be much slimmer.

“It is not a dictatorship; far from it. In fact, to the contrary, it is ultra democratic. The vicious campaign launched in the international press earlier this year, which characterized President Mugabe as a dictator was both wrong and mischievous. Given the structures of ZANU-PF described briefly above, it is not possible for any one man to set up a dictatorship. It is ironic that a Party that campaigned for and brought democracy to this land should be accused of dictatorship by the same people who practiced racism and minority rule before independence, and killed and brutalized our indigenous people by the thousands.” (This quotation is taken from the ZANU-PF website.)

Mugabe is applauded on their website for success in returning land to black Zimbabweans that was stolen from them by the colonists before 1980, when Zimbabwe was still called Rhodesia.

With Mugabe as president came promises: promises of schools, of better salaries, of returning land, of improving clinics and hospitals and of bettering roads. In various speeches Mugabe has given, at the Heroes Day of Commemoration and the Earth Summit, he speaks of claiming freedom from the colonists and identifying as individual human beings and not as objects to be used for other’s benefits. His speeches are well worded and convincing.

But some of what Mugabe says crosses a line, when later in his speech he demands Zimbabweans to demonstrate their commitment to their country, calling it their ‘duty’ to do so. This demand has a dictatorial ring to it.

If Mugabe really did follow through with all the promises he has campaigned with over the last 25 years, why is it necessary for a resistance group, representing a large majority of Zimbabweans, to form because they feel their voices are being suppressed by the current government. What is the truth? While Mugabe reassures his people and the world that everything is being done to get food to his people, claiming that no Zimbabwean is starving, there are countless reports that government food is only channeled to ZANU-PF supporters. Mugabe ordered the World Food Program to cut off all assistance in food donations; this seems a thoughtless act for a country that has so many thousands of its people starving.

Why do people continue to vote for Mugabe is his government has been so awful? Many Zimbabwean's vote for the ZANU-PF party out of fear because of the political violence that Zimbabwean's were victims of in the past, to the fear that their food supply would be cut off if they dared to vote for anyone besides Mugabe. There are also Zimbabweans who did get land returned to them, and who sincerely believe that Robert Mugabe has been a successful president.

Is a government to be trusted who claims only 9% of their country is unemployed, when other statistics show unemployment at 70%? Who should be believed?

It should not be forgotten that while Zimbabwe had the highest rate of literacy in Africa in 2000, at 90%, they also had the highest rate of AIDS infection in the world.

With the ZANU-PF, the question remains as to whether they have actually held to their promises and will continue to improve Zimbabwe’s conditions, or whether they are actually draining Zimbabwe of all its resources and not giving anything back to the people.

Created by Caitlin Sloan