Enough is Enough » Dreaming of Nepal: A Criticism Zimbabwe’s Democratization Mechanism (Part 1)

Dreaming of Nepal: A Criticism Zimbabwe’s Democratization Mechanism (Part 1)

As I sit here looking at my computer screen I’m dreaming of Nepal. I so badly want the reality they are experiencing to be mine . I want to be able cower my despot into democracy too!

Right on cue, Paramendra Bhagat a native of Nepal pointed me to his blog where he has discussed the “Democracy Spreading Mechanism.” You can see where this leading right? This got me thinking; just how well are we doing according to the 21st century democracy revolution standards set by our Nepali brotherhood?

This post is the first in an eight part series where I’m going to present a criticism of Zimbabwe’’s democracy movement according to the principles set out by Paramendra in the aforementioned post. If you haven’t already done so, you’ll need to read the post. Paramendra arranges key components of the democratization mechanism into three categories; domestic, diaspora, and international community. Since this is a “A Criticism Zimbabwe’s Democratization Mechanisms,” this series will evaluate Zimbabwe by points in the first two categories only. Besides, we all know how “well” the internation community is doing at keeping up their end of the bargain–no need to beat down the dead donkey we call that muchekadzafa–cutting the dead.

The first value is,

“Organize one or more political parties locally. Keep its components open as well as clandestine to maximize the safety of the members.”

Our grade: “C” at best. While the MDC is the main the opposition party and they’ve gotten off to an amazing start, they’ve failed dismally at becoming the galvanizing agent of the opposition movement. For starters, the world is no stranger to the MDC Senate Debacle which has resulted in a discombulating existence of two MDC’s in Zimbabwe. Zimbabweans had a hard enough time determining if Tsvangirai alone was the real McCoy, now they have to decipher between him and Mutambara, give me a break.

But the senate debacle is only a recent wrinkle on the MDC’s rap sheet. Their biggest shortcoming is an astounding inability to connect to and articulate the lay man’s perspective in their struggle for relevance on the Zimbabwe’s political agenda. I along with many others called them out on this a long time ago. Read this;

Somehow, after the MDC debuted as a political party, Tsvangirai’s leadership began to distance itself from the realities and hardships faced by the proletariat. Change became his party’s clarion call. As early as the run up to the 2002 presidential elections, MDC began to emphasize the need for regime change louder than they articulated wishes of the masses.

As long as ordinary Zimbabweans don’t hear the MDC championing their cause, for food security, employment and sustained economic growth, MDC can rest assured all the sympathies for them will come from a small minority. And that spells doom for them unless they change the mainstay of their platform and it’s not too late to do that yet.

The MDC has failed to become a “local” party. To my grandma in rural Chivi, my friend James in rural Mt. Darwin, and all other Zimbabweans outside the nation’s elite urban experience MDC is just struggling for relevance over “there”; in the excecutive and legislative branches of government, in short, in Harare and no further. To become “locally relevant” MDC must adapt their mandate so that it derives its impetus and fulfillment beyond the esoteric confines of the nations established political framerwork. MDC must become a people’s party, they must bring politics and power to the people. Zimbabweans from Chisumbanje to Binga should resonate with what the MDC is saying. All Zimbabweans must be invited to the struggle for legitimate leadership. That’s what democracy is about.

Technorati Tags: Zimbabwe, MDC, Democratization

9 Comments so far
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Hi. I am so glad you linked to two of my posts. I think there is much we can learn from each other. Plus the Democracy Spreading Mechanism is not something hard and fast. It is open source. It can and should be modified to fit the local conditions. In solidarity.

I was just wondering, do you have people from your country in New York City who are dedicated to the democracy cause? Mabye they can get more involved.

Zimpundit: Zimbabwe

Let me know if there’s any way I can help

MARY C. JOYCE
digital democracy for the developing world:
www.Demologue.com (website)
www.InternationalDemoBlog.blogspot.com (blog)

Thanks all, I appreciate the feedback. My head is spinning in a hundred different directions about the different ways we could benefit from you all. At the top of my priorities right now is setting up a project that can and will galvanize Zimbabweans in the diaspora. There’s a lot of them out there, in my mind, they hold the key to what needs to get done. I will keep thinking though. Ideas are most welcome here and via comments.

[…] Zimbabwe: As Nepal celebrated their revolution’s success, envious Zimbabwean observers still trapped on the outside of democratic success couldn’t hide their aspirations for the same in Zimbabwe. Nepal’s revolution got Zimpundit dreaming, “As I sit here looking at my computer screen I’m dreaming of Nepal. I so badly want the reality they are experiencing to be mine . I want to be able cower my despot into democracy too!” Said Eddie Cross, “Just been watching the celebrations in Nepal following the King’s decision to give in to popular demands that he restore the democratic structures in that country. It is very moving to see this massive commitment by simple, ordinary people in a very poor country demanding that they no longer be treated as feudal slaves to a totalitarian regime but be granted the democratic right to choose their own government.” Eddie is convinced Zimbabwe is showing signs that she is readying for a revolution of her own […]

[…] As promised, this is the second of eight posts that critique Zimbabwe’s democratization mechanization inspired by Paremendra Bhagat’s Democracy Spreading Mechanism […]

[…] Despite many breaking news stories in Zimbabwe I want to continue to address the proverbial big picture in a bid to retain some perspective about where we are as a nation. This is the third installation of my “Dreaming of Nepal” series where I’m taking principles that undergirded Nepal’s succesfull non-violent protest and evaluating them Zimbabwe through them. Read the first two here and here. […]

[…] Dreaming of Nepal: A Criticism of Zimbabwe’s Democratization Mechanism (Part 3) Despite many breaking news stories in Zimbabwe I want to continue to address the proverbial big picture in a bid to retain some perspective about where we are as a nation. This is the third installation of my “Dreaming of Nepal” series where I’m taking principles that undergirded Nepal’s succesfull non-violent protest and evaluating them Zimbabwe through them. Read the first two here and here. The third step in building towards succesful non violent protest is,Let there be a build up of protest rallies in many villages and towns to culminate in one decisive protest rally in the capital city. (Take Over Tundikhel) Depending on the local conditions, you might face a military crackdown, or the regime might fall, or you might have to declare the formation of a parallel government that the international community must come forth and recognize. Our grade: “C-.” Owing mainly to Zimbabwe’s political heritage which has confined politics and political power mainly in Harare and some of the other bigger towns and cities, the protest movement has been essentially been centralized in Harare and Bulawayo. Even in 1998, when Tsvangirai ground the country to a complete halt, peripheral cities recorded only marginal involvement in the protest. Another way of seeing this is as manifestation of the exclusive nature of Zimbabwean politics; only the rich, powerful and educated feel empowered enough to exert themselves politically. So if you’re not rich, powerful, highly educated, or resident in one of Zimbabwe’s urban centers you have very little political recourse. Tragically, as a third world country most of Zimbabwe’s citizens are in one these four disadvantaged groups. Not that poor rural people deserve isolation from political involvement; it’s not like they don’t know what’s best for them or that they cannot think for themselves. In Zimbabwe what is wrong with the country is as plain as daylight and people everywhere know this. The fact is none of Zimbabwe’s political movements can do what it takes to restore the country without the involving rural people. Nepal’s success derived not only from efficient planning in high places, but most importantly from the simple involvement of villagers from some of the most remote parts of the world. (more…)Technorati Tags: Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe+Democracy, MDC, WOZA, ZimbaweSituation, ZimbabweCrisis […]

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Dreaming of Nepal: A Criticism Zimbabwe’s Democratization Mechanism (Part 1)

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