Zimbabwe’s opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai may have meant well calling on Kenya to seek first hand experience in Grand Coalition Government negotiations and formation. However, the MDC leader would be better advised that the dynamics in the two countries are very different. The similarities and differences almost balance each other albeit on grand different premises.
For starters, Tsvangirai must accept the fact that Mugabe exhibited utmost civility in ALLOWING win the first round of Zimbabwe election in March. But he must not have been naive to imagine that Bob would just sit back and wish him well like that with so much at stake. Mugabe only did the most logical thing in bettering Kibaki’s script by mating MAXIMUM and unrestrained IMPUNITY that automatically pushed poor out of the run off in June.
You see Kibaki is not Mugabe. Here in Kenya we tally votes in advance and swear in pronto unlike coward Bob who made history with his patience by counting votes for a whole month. Poor Tsvangirai also appears ignorant to the fact that Mbeki is not Annan save for the striking physical resemblance. He lost the plot by playing by the rules which allowed Mugabe to assume the reigns of power and hence negotiate from unequal premise. But again may be MDC would have better imported ODM gang if only for Zanu-PF’s bludgeoning.
Grand impunity perfected
That said, similarities galore between the Zimbabwe and Kenya political predicaments. Already Mugabe is destined to convene parliament in breach of SADC’s MOU. That must make our rush to name half the cabinet familiar. Add that to the fact that Arthur Mutambara of the breakaway MDC is waiting on the wings salivating to fill the void should Morgan continue to play hard ball. And for the records Simba Makoni is still around for Bob's attention.
Poor Tsvangirai is in very unenviable position. He is sandwiched between the political hell and the dark blue sea. He must be alive to the fact that the executive power he is demanding remains a very emotive and hot issue even in our six-month old GCG. Meanwhile Bob must be laughing all the way to Grace’s belly secure in the knowledge that he is in good company within our continent. Surely we are mere tenants on these geographical entities we can our countries. Our countries have their owners lest we forget.
«
Expand/Collapse
You Missed This
-
Kibaki is not Mugabe, So Tsvangirai Move on Posted: August 21st, 2008, 7:06pm EDT