“Those who can’t stomach the defeat, you can commit suicide,” said President Robert Mugabe in obvious reference to the MDC-T after Zanu PF won, however disputably, the July 31 elections.
Report Conway Tutani
Indeed, there were sufficient grounds to dispute this. But whether the rectification of the deficiencies would have overturned the result is another matter; in fact, it’s doubtful, highly so. It’s now clear with the wisdom of hindsight that Zanu PF — to their immense credit — did their homework and rolled back their defeat in 2008, when — to their eternal discredit — they refused to step down for the MDC-T victors in a virtual coup.
Indeed, to the victors go the spoils as seen in Mugabe appointing an all-Zanu PF Cabinet this week. It was his prerogative, his privilege. No one can take that from him.
The term “spoils” means goods or benefits taken from the loser in a competition, election or military victory. In politics, a spoils system — also known as patronage system — is a practice where a political party, after winning an election, gives government jobs to its voters and top officials as a reward for working towards victory, and as an incentive to keep working for the party — as opposed to a merit system, where offices are awarded on the basis of some measure of merit, independent of political activity. The appointment of Tendai Savanhu as Lands and Rural Resettlement deputy minister leans heavily on the reward side as opposed to merit after he finally delivered the hitherto stubborn Mbare to the party, a real political breakthrough.
By the way, the phenomenon of the spoils system came to the fore in the United States in 1828 after the Democratic Party won the election and moved in fast to place their people in government jobs. Those over-eager to label the raising of this issue pertaining to Zimbabwe as driven by a colonial mentality ought to be reminded that this has a historical precedent and affects all political systems, but the difference is in extent.
Jonathan Moyo’s return as Media minister can also be seen in that light of his gaining from spoils. He lost his parliamentary seat, but has been rewarded for largely masterminding the Zanu PF victory despite Mugabe’s avowal that losers would not be accommodated in Cabinet.
But Moyo ought to rein himself in and not be after retribution and purging.
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Journalistic colleagues in the State media are now afraid, very afraid, that Moyo is now their boss again, especially so because of his intrusive micro-management tendencies of the past where he was literally breathing down their necks, putting their jobs on the line, as happened in 2003 when senior editors were summarily dismissed under his watch. Likewise, in the private media there is trepidation that Moyo could also wield an axe through legislation to cripple their operations.
Nevertheless, it is hoped that lessons have been learnt from the past. And that there is now appreciation that differences are good for democracy and progress as opposed to debilitating and stultifying unanimity and complete compliance.
The media needs to speak the truth to power, but within bounds of decency.
One re-appointed minister could be another beneficiary of the spoils system. This is an individual who has been fingered in corruption directly linked to his portfolio, but he somehow survives again and again.
Said Mugabe this week, admitting that corruption is a scourge in government: “People . . . say so-and-so is corrupt, without proving it. People are clever these days; they would say we took loans to acquire these properties. So how do you prove they stole? So the onus to prove this is on you the people that deal with them in these corrupt activities to come and tell me. We cannot victimise people because there is an appearance of a person prospering.”
But, Mr President, only months ago, serious charges were suddenly brought up against Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) officials after they instituted investigations against some ministers, over corruption.
High Court judge Justice Charles Hungwe was suddenly placed under probe over his professional conduct after he had issued warrants to ZACC to search the offices of the ministers.
These are but two examples showing that there could be a sordid web of power, greed, corruption and cover-up.
So, it’s grossly unfair to place the burden of proof on the powerless ordinary person.
The subject of corruption is not coming up for open discussion as much as it should going by the extent and escalation of the scourge. What message is being sent? That expression of political loyalty and homage exceeds all? This can’t be right – not at all.
It’s not as if Mugabe doesn’t have alternatives or options. What’s needed is political will. The grounds to act are there and Mugabe has the requisite power to do that as Executive President. For starters, he can set up an independent commission of inquiry to show that there is nothing to hide.
Indeed, no one can deny you the spoils of victory, Mr President, but neither should you deny the nation justice and fairness which are within your hands to deliver.
You need to curb the burning, acquisitive ambitions of greedy ministers. You are well placed to do that conclusively and decisively.
The spoils system has largely been done away because of its propensity for corrupting or installing already corrupt public officials in addition to elevating and retaining the lazy and incompetent.
Not to say that most of your ministers fall into that category of rotten apples, but just a reminder, Mr President, that like the losers should stomach defeat, you ought not to shirk from your responsibility to take action when it is due and proper.
