February 2008 Newsletter to Bulawayo South Constituents

February 2008 Newsletter to Bulawayo South Constituents

Dear Friends,

Harold Wilson once said that “a week is a long time in politics” and it certainly is. Since I last wrote to you in January there have been dramatic and unforeseen political events that have taken place in Zimbabwe.

The gerrymandering of Bulawayo South

In the run up to the elections Bulawayo South Constituency has been completely changed in the delimitation exercise. The old Bulawayo South Constituency has been divided up into 3 new House of Assembly constituencies and is almost unrecognizable. Wards 24, 25 and 26 – the high density working class areas of Nketa and Emgwanin – have been formed into a new constituency called Nketa. Ward 6 – Bellevue, Newton West, Barham Green and Belmont – has been combined with Ward 21 – the high density Sizinda/Tshabalala area of the old neighbouring Nkulumane constituency to form the new Bulawayo South constituency. Finally Ward 5 – Hillside, Hillcrest, Burnside, Four Winds – has been combined with Wards 1 and 2, the city centre and North End, to form a new long narrow constituency called Bulawayo Central that stretches from Burnside in the south some 40 kilometers to the airport in the north! This is truly Zanu PF gerrymandering at its worst.

After winning the party vote in terms of the MDC constitution to contest the old Bulawayo South Constituency I was given the right to choose which new constituency to stand in. I chose to stand in Nketa as that is where the bulk of my project work has been done. Having made that decision the leadership of the MDC decided that I needed to move to the Senate as we do not have any lawyers there at present and in the new Parliament we want to bolster the work we do there. As a result I will be standing in the new Senatorial seat of Khumalo which is a massive constituency covering more than half the area of Bulawayo – it covers the entire area east of the Matopos Road, Lobengula Street in the city centre and the Victoria Falls Road. Like the Bulawayo Central House of Assembly seat it stretches from the southern boundary of Bulawayo to the airport in the north. The decision of the leadership was conveyed to the MDC Bulawayo South District committee on Friday the 8th February. I was deeply touched by the tears shed in that meeting as the people I have worked with during the last 8 years expressed their sorrow that we would no longer be working together. In response I have undertaken to form an Nketa Development Trust and will continue to work on developmental projects in the Nketa House of Assembly constituency.

Hugely energetic primary elections (for example there were none less than 7 candidates who contested the primaries for the new Nketa seat) conducted by our structures have selected the following superb team to represent the MDC in the area formerly known as Bulawayo South:

Nketa House of Assembly constituency/Emgwanin Senatorial seat

Senator – Senator Rita Ndlovu – the incumbent Senator
MP – Stanlord Ndlovu – a manager of CABS and the chairman of the old Bulawayo South District Committee
Councillor Ward 24 – Clr Litshe H. Keswa – the incumbent councilor
Councillor Ward 25 – Robert Donga
Councillor Ward 26 – Benjamin Moyo

Bulawayo South House of Assembly constituency/Mzilikazi Senatorial seat

Senator – Senator Sibangalizwe Msipa – also an incumbent Senator
MP – Jethro William Mpofu – a bright young man who has been heavily involved in civic work for over a decade
Councillor Ward 6 – Jennifer Bent – a hard working member of the MDC for the last 8 years

Bulawayo Central House of Assembly constituency/Khumalo Senatorial seat

Senator – David Coltart
MP – Japhet Gwanje Ndabeni Ncube – the feisty Mayor of Bulawayo who stood up to ZINWA
Councillor Ward 5 – Dr. Gary Ferguson – a well known and much loved medical practitioner.

We have a great team and I urge you to all vote for each one of them all.

The collapse of the MDC coalition talks with the MDC (Tsvangirai)

In my January newsletter I wrote that I was “confident that agreement (regarding a coalition) would be reached shortly”. My optimism was misplaced and on Sunday the 3rd February news broke that the talks had broken down. My optimism was based on the hard work we had done since August 2006 to reach agreement and the knowledge that the two management committees of both formations had reached agreement to form a coalition by mid January this year. A detailed written agreement was drawn up and all that remained was for National Councils of both formations to ratify the agreement. Our National Council ratified the agreement on the 2nd February. Tragically Morgan Tsvangirai was unable to reign in power hungry elements in his formation, mostly from Matabeleland, and as a result the original principles agreed to were reneged upon by the MDC Tsvangirai (MT) formation. The leadership of the MDC (MT) had argued that they enjoyed the overwhelming support of the people of Matabeleland – a claim already undermined this past weekend with the failure of the MDC (MT) to nominate councillors in tens of wards throughout Matabeleland, ironically including Ward 6.

The news of the failure to form a coalition was deeply saddening. I have always believed that the best way to beat the Mugabe regime was through a united opposition. It was astonishing to hear that the collapse of the talks was greeted favourably by many in the leadership of the MDC (MT) formation. For example on the 4th February a prominent MDC (MT) National Executive member sent out an e mail stating, and I quote, “The decision was received favourably across the country.” Another senior leader of the MDC (MT) told me that after the coalition agreement talks collapsed many of his colleagues were “euphoric”. The same e mail mentioned above described the depression felt by us in the MDC – it said, and I quote, “There was a profound sense of gloom at the hotel where the Mutambara group was caucusing yesterday in Harare.” There was indeed gloom because we understood along with the rest of the nation how irresponsible the actions of the MDC (MT) were in failing to agree to a united opposition to confront the Mugabe regime.

With the benefit of hindsight it appears that there was simply no desire to form a coalition with us amongst certain elements of the leadership of the MDC (MT), especially amongst its Matabeleland leadership. That feeling is reinforced by the recent revelation that the MDC (MT) has in fact entered into a pact with Jonathan Moyo in Tsholotsho North Constituency. It is ironic that they are happy to enter into a pact with the former Zanu PF cabinet Minister partly responsible for the destruction of the Daily News but not with erstwhile colleagues. It is also hypocritical in the extreme for them to criticise Simba Makoni’s entry into opposition politics when they themselves are prepared to work with Jonathan Moyo. Objectively Jonathan Moyo did far more damage to the MDC whilst in Zanu PF than Simba Makoni ever did.

Simba Makoni

In a move that took us all by surprise Simba Makoni announced on the 5th February that he was going to stand as an Independent candidate in the Presidential election. Although there had been much press speculation about this many wondered whether Simba Makoni would have sufficient courage to take a stand against Robert Mugabe. If the announcement came as a surprise, so too did the reaction of the people in Bulawayo and in many places throughout the country to the announcement. I never realised the level of grassroots support for Simba Makoni until the day after his announcement when my phone started ringing. Since then I have been told by many people from all walks of life that they believe Simba Makoni provides the best way out of the mess that Zimbabwe finds itself in today. Responding to these developments the MDC National Council met in Harare on Sunday the 10th February and unanimously agreed to mandate the management committee to enter into coalition talks with Simba Makoni.

That has now resulted in Arthur Mutambara standing down from the Presidential election in the national interest and in broad agreement being reached with Simba Makoni that we will not contest Senatorial, House of Assembly and Council seats against each other. In short we have now agreed to support Simba Makoni’s candidacy for President. Ironically what we had hoped to achieve with the MDC (MT) – a coalition – we have now achieved with Simba Makoni. I should stress that we are standing as a separate political entity and those elected under the MDC will represent the people in Parliament as MDC members as they always have in the past. I and my colleagues, many of whom have long and consistent records of opposing the Mugabe regime, have no intention of changing course now at the eleventh hour, fifty ninth second, of his rule. We believe that in the context of the MDC (MT) formation refusing to form a coalition with us, and in the context of the remarkable reaction from the voting public to Simba Makoni’s announcement, this provides the best chance the nation has of ending the Mugabe regime’s rule.

We are reinforced in that belief by the events that unfolded in nomination courts countrywide which have revealed very serious deficiencies and ongoing divisions within the MDC (MT) formation. Aside from the failure to field councillors in many Wards throughout Matabeleland the emergence of the Kombayi/Matibenga faction within the MDC (MT), and the nomination of its own candidates in some 22 constituencies mainly in the Midlands (but also in Matabeleland North, Mashonaland West, Central and East, Harare and Masvingo Provinces) will seriously undermine Morgan Tsvangirai’s ability to attract the same support he enjoyed in Matabeleland and the Midlands in the 2002 Presidential elections. In 2002 Morgan Tsvangirai won the Presidential election narrowly by some 70000 votes because he enjoyed overwhelming support in urban areas and the rural areas of Matabeleland and Midlands. Unless he can maintain that support he will be hard pressed to win. The failure of the MDC coalition agreement and the serious divisions within the MDC (MT) formation may seriously undermine Morgan Tsvangirai’s support base. A successful campaign needs electricity, unity and optimism if it is to gather momentum and ultimately win countrywide; without that it will falter and lose.

Whilst most people I have spoken to in the last two weeks are enthusiastic about our decision some have raised one of two questions – some fear this is just another Zanu PF “trick”; others argue that in any event Simba Makoni does not deserve our support because of his past association with Zanu PF.

I do not think this is a trick. It is illogical for Mugabe to put forward a candidate who will take away much of his own vote. Mugabe must have known about the provision in the Electoral Act which states that a Presidential candidate has to get an absolute majority ( over 50%) to win the Presidential election. All that Simba Makoni has to do to deny Mugabe that clear majority is to take away just 10% of the vote Mugabe got from Zanu PF supporters in 2002. If Mugabe does not get a clear majority in the first round he then will have to face off again in rerun against the opposition candidate who came second. That rerun has to be within 21 days of the 29th March and will be a straight fight with no danger of the opposition vote being divided – Mugabe’s worst nightmare. It would just be sheer lunacy for Mugabe to have concocted a plan that could backfire so badly in this way. Also if it is a trick why did Mugabe delay the nomination day and then conduct a purge of all those he thought were supporting Makoni? If it is a trick why is there such deep consternation in Zanu PF about this development? If it is a trick why has Mugabe in the last few days spewed out such venom against Makoni calling him a prostitute and a frog?

But the most compelling argument why this is not a trick is the following. When the MDC coalition agreement collapsed on the 3rd February Robert Mugabe was presented with his best possible election environment – a united (on the surface at least) Zanu PF against a divided MDC. Why possibly would Mugabe destroy that by allowing his own party’s “unity” to be fragmented just two days later when Makoni’s bid was announced? It is just absurd to think that Mugabe would have consented to such a thing.

I do not think that a person’s past should automatically bar him from a role in government. I am more concerned about where he stands NOW and in the FUTURE. All of us have done things in the past we are not so happy about. Many of the current MDC leadership were members of Zanu PF during the Gukurahundi and did not speak out. There are others in the MDC (MT) leadership who are now critical of Simba Makoni who were given senior appointments by Mugabe during the Gukurahundi period and never spoke out publicly against what was happening. There are others who are now in senior leadership positions in the opposition who were either members of Zanu PF or who considered standing for Zanu PF right up to the 2000 referendum. But that is all in the PAST and I do not believe that anyone should be automatically disqualified because of positions they have held in the past. If a person shows genuine repentance – a turning away from the past – that person should be eligible for support.

The Bible – 2 Chronicles 7:14 – has some words of wisdom for the situation we face in Zimbabwe today:

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

I think we can see in Simba Makoni a person who has turned from the past and is prepared to turn his back on the evil perpetrated by Zanu PF. In all the research I have done into Gukurahundi there is no evidence whatsoever to show that he was in anyway involved in that crime against humanity. As far back as the early 1990s he expressed deep concern about Zanu PF policy but believed that he should work within to reform. Since then the factual record shows that Simba Makoni had the guts to stand up to Mugabe in 2002, has never taken a farm, has never been involved any corruption scandals and now has shown exceptional bravery in challenging Mugabe in the Presidential election. In the last year he has spoken out publicly and boldly against the regime’s abuses including the torture of opposition leaders last March. All who know him personally, diplomats included, state that he is a man of integrity. The respected Washington Post newspaper wrote on the 20th February 2008 that “Simba Makoni is viewed by U.S. officials as a smart, honest technocrat.”

I have been greatly encouraged by his recent statements and his policy positions on a whole range of issues including the need for a new democratic constitution and genuine reconciliation. His statement that he is more loyal to his country than he is to his party is noteworthy. In his manifesto Simba Makoni states that he wants to “address national issues that separate and divide us as a nation” and to “institute a process of national healing and reconciliation”. He also wants to “restore Zimbabwe’s standing within the international community”. These are acknowledgments that all is not well in our nation. But this is a national responsibility – we all have to “humble ourselves”. We all have to acknowledge mistakes that we have made. Now is certainly the time for us to reach out to moderates in Zanu PF who are more loyal to their nation than they are to their party. We must always remember that just as Democratic candidate Barack Obama in the United States knows that he cannot win the Presidential election in the US without attracting Republican and independent support, so too the opposition must recognise that it cannot win our elections unless we attract substantial numbers of Zanu PF supporters to vote for a new, democratic Zimbabwe.

As we go to vote, and if we want to heal our nation, we should ask ourselves the following 2 questions:

1. Who of Morgan Tsvangirai and Simba Makoni is most likely to defeat Robert Mugabe? We must always keep in mind that until Mugabe leaves office there will be no new dawn and healing in our land. That is the first and most important step we have to take. My view is that irrespective of Morgan Tsvangirai’s great qualities of courage and perseverance he has not managed to unite his own party, never mind the nation and to that extent will be hard pressed to attract substantial support right across the country. On the contrary in the short time since announcing his candidacy Simba Makoni has excited the electorate right across the political spectrum and will undoubtedly, if supported enthusiastically by us all, attract massive support from all quarters. In short he stands the best chance of beating Mugabe.

2. Who, after winning an election, will be the most competent to govern and to stabilise and grow our economy? There is no doubt in my mind that Morgan Tsvangirai will go down in history as one of the most important men who broke Zanu PF’s back; but that does not mean that he is now the best person to pull Zimbabwe out of its economic quagmire. Zimbabwe is in such deep trouble that it will take a collaborative effort from many patriotic Zimbabweans to restore her. Unfortunately Morgan Tsvangirai has not managed to build an effective and cohesive team during the 9 years he has been in leadership. In contrast a recent independent poll conducted in Zimbabwe found that most Zimbabweans view Simba Makoni as a level headed person who does have the skills to lead Zimbabwe out of its current mess. He also enjoys much respect in the diplomatic community.

Accordingly I urge you to vote for Simba Makoni for President and for your local MDC candidates in the Senatorial, House of Assembly and Council elections. I sense that there is a remarkable new mood in the country and despite the fact that the Mugabe regime will try to rig the result it will fail to do so. That is because, firstly, there is a tidal wave of feeling that it is time for Mugabe to go and, secondly, because for the first time ever those responsible for rigging the elections in the past are not united themselves. That will make it well nigh impossible for those trying to rig to get away with their criminal behaviour.

We each have a role to play in restoring pride to our land. The first and most important step is to make the effort to go and vote on the 29th March 2008 for leaders who have the desire, the integrity and ability to transform Zimbabwe. In closing, especially as this will be last newsletter to you as MP for Bulawayo South, thank you all for the support you have given me as your MP for the last 8 years.

Yours sincerely,

The Hon. David Coltart MP
Bulawayo South
25th February 2008