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NewsDay

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Tsvangirai disclosure: The implications

Opinion & Analysis
There is a tradition, culture or principle that one should not take advantage of the other person’s compromised position. Put differently, it means don’t attack somebody at his weakest point. Dogs understand this principle very well. When a female and a male dog are mating, they are left alone; other dogs do not attack them.

There is a tradition, culture or principle that one should not take advantage of the other person’s compromised position. Put differently, it means don’t attack somebody at his weakest point. Dogs understand this principle very well. When a female and a male dog are mating, they are left alone; other dogs do not attack them.

Moses Mahlangu

Morgan-Tsvangirai-cancer

In political circles, a leader’s lifestyle and condition is wrapped up in secrecy. It would appear that the MDC-T family is a different crop of politicians. Thokozani Khupe went public about her cancerous condition and so has Morgan Tsvangirai. What are the implications of these disclosures politically, economically and traditionally or even to the stability of the party?

Traditionally, political leadership is neither a chieftainship, nor a monarchy. Hence, under normal circumstances there should be no secrecy surrounding their life patterns. Equally, a politically stable party is expected to have a clear succession plan such that leadership replacement or renewal should not be an issue.

From an economic perspective, disclosures on political leaders’ ins and outgoings tend to distabilise the economic markets. A good example was when South African President Jacob Zuma tampered with the Ministry of Finance portfolio, the rand immediately responded by declining in value.

When almost everyone was uncomfortable about President Robert Mugabe’s frequent visits to Singapore or Malaysia for medication, Tsvangirai responded: “What do you want the old man to do? He must be treated.” This was a great response from an opposition leader.

Maybe, it is in recognition and acknowledgment of such a magnanimous gesture from an unexpected source which led Mugabe to allow Tsvangirai to remain at the Highlands house for this long.

This time around, Zimbabweans must rally behind Tsvangirai. From a health point of view, such solidarity will add more days to the struggling man. Even his enemies are hereby implored from a biblical perspective to bury the hatchet and join hands in prayer for the MDC-T and its leadership and mostly for the beloved Zimbabwe, which is currently going through parukodoya (a dip tank cattle inlet).

Cattle don’t like being driven into a crush pen, but because of whipping and the inflicted pain, they eventually jump into the dip tank.

Zimbabweans are going through such a crush pen experience with no light at the end of the tunnel.

The best that the MDC-T family can do at the moment is to relish the good and courageous moments they have had with their leader. Barry Black, commenting on biblical Elijah’s experience during the three-and-a-half years of drought, says despite the fact that Elijah’s brook dried up, he was comforted by the fact that he had the brook in the first place. It is hoped that MDC-T, as a party and a family, will cherish the exploits they have had together up until this point.

Next, comes the labour movement which gave birth to the party. Great days of stayaways and unparalleled trade union activism will remain a beacon of hope. To Tsvangirai himself, reminiscing on these great exploits both in the labour movement and politics will spare him more years. Recovery or no recovery is in God’s hands. His family is encouraged to draw closer to each other now than ever before. Love conquers even diseases. A happy heart does better than medicine, while an angry one dries up even bones. (Proverbs 17 vs 22).

Finally, Zimbabweans of all creeds and ethnicity should remember that life is so short to be spent in denigrating each other. Let’s love one another like God does.

l Moses Tsimukeni Mahlangu writes in his own capacity and can be reached on [email protected] for comments