Africa's Loss

R.I.P. HIS EXCELLENCY DR. LEVY PATRICK MWANAWASE

Movement for Democratic Change, North America Province (M.D.C.-N.A.P.) learns with profound sorrow the loss of a truly dedicated ally in our struggle for democracy in Zimbabwe. To the people of the Republic of Zambia our neighbor, you must know that your loss is ours too. To the widow and children we pray that you will have the courage to go through what we all know is a tough time. Losing a loved one is the most trying time in life and we can offer words of comfort and remain with lots of questions and a few answers. We pray for the family and ask God to give you as much comfort during this period. The late President, Mwanawase was the first to acknowledge our plight in fighting against the regime of Robert Mugabe going against the rubber stamping S.A.D.C. organ which has never seen anything wrong with how Mugabe has ruined the bread basket of Africa. For now we mourn the great leader who was and always will be endeared in our hearts for standing up to remind the world that we had a crisis in Zimbabwe. It is so true that good people do not last long. For the next seven days we will be there in mourning him and we also hope that whoever comes to fill in his shoes shall not forget our fight for Democracy in Zimbabwe.

When do we start to appreciate?

When do we start to appreciate?

We, in MDC are at a time when we should appreciate those that have given the MDC support both morally and deed. Botswana government has stood up and rather be viewed as an island than support or rubber stamp the organ known as SADC. By boycotting the SADC summit in South Africa as a protest for the presence of a non-democratic regime in Zimbabwe and Swaziland they have now shown that they mean what they preach.

It is sad that another upcoming leader, Levy Mwanawasa, the Zambian leader, fell sick and we wish him a speedy recovery. We in MDC have fallen silent instead, chose to watch from the sidelines as they keep fighting on our behalf. We must learn to show solidarity and always acknowledge this great nation of Botswana for this is no small a matter because it gives us a genuine ally for the future.

We are a government in waiting and one thing that makes it easy is, when we get to govern, is to have friendly neighbors. Our focus now is the need to work in getting the same from Mozambique as we know that, as South Africa changes leadership we already have another ally. On the same note we need to salute Cosatu for their brave show of solidarity.

As I see it we are in great shape right now but the biggest problem we have is to keep quiet even though we are the beneficiaries. How long shall these governments and workers continue to fight for us and we watch in silence? We should be ashamed of our approach as of right now. I hope we relook at this so seriously and change our approach.

Kenya has also shown support for the MDC which means our stature in the region is growing. The UN and some Western powers are also sympathetic to our cause and we need to maintain that support. The challenge here is to us especially in the Diaspora who have access to news readily to keep up on who our friends and enemies are.

We applaud the efforts of Ban ki Moon and the United Nations and hope that the pressure from the Security Council shall soon compel the military junta in Zimbabwe to allow NGO's to distribute humanitarian assistance to the needy immediately.

Arthur Mutambara and his sellout breakaway faction

I write to you as the Secretary General of NAP to express disappointment at the silence our Publicity Dept. is functioning as of now.To actually go and placate information from the different tabloids is not the issue.Some of these articles need rebuttal and some need corrections which means some kind of commentary not just post an article already posted.This brings me to a matter which should have and still can be a hot topic...Arthur Mutambara and his sellout breakaway faction.We have watched in horror as the true colors for the Mutambara faction really stand for.Gabriel Chaibva was suspended for attending a function to recognize the inauguration of Mugabe after his one man election and applauded this man for doing the right thing as then he claimed he was now working together with the real MDC and as I look at it he was positioning himself closer to President Tsvangirai to be given something in return when he gets in power.Now Mugabe dangled a carrot at this political chancer he made a U-turn and now sings ZANU-PF songs better than Cde,Chinx Chingaira,now recognizing the sham election eating from the same table and sitting at Mugabe's right hand.Is this not a political joker. Gabriel Chaibva knew exactly which side his boss' bread was buttered and he was punished for rushing before the master which might have meant he was to eat crumbs while his junior would have been recognized ahead of him.It is time to ask real questions about this guy.First he knew hw had no chance in the Presidential elections and had to hide behind Simba Makoni, that failed.He personally failed in the bid to win a seat in Chitungwiza.A re-run of the elections was looming and he made the President promises that he was behind him but clearly events on the ground suggested he was in the middle,so when the President withdrew from the race he again had betted wrong. Now one man election of Mugabe gives him another opportunity and he takes it.Do we not see confusion in this man? Where does he fit to be made the deciding factor in these talks? He might lead the MDC faction but might not control the MP's he is betting on who really knows? I wish those MP's rise up and say they just used MDC to ascend ZANU-PF into power or why do we not provoke them to say out their minds? We can end this Mutambara nonsense if we start to pay attention. I think we are keeping being passive on all these issues as if we have someone to do it for us or do we?