The MDC-T seems afraid of having President Mugabe and PM Tsvangirai under one roof because it impales the myth of President Mugabe being a perpetrator of violence, principally against PM Tsvangirai.
The likes of Mwonzora would rather President Mugabe and PM Tsvangirai drink tea privately, out of the view of the majority, so that propaganda around them holds and washes.
By Tichaona Zindoga
A few years ago, it was hard to imagine President Mugabe and MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai under one roof.
On the one hand was a revolutionary par excellence who fought colonialism for the benefit of the majority black people of Zimbabwe while on the other was a man perceived to be on a mission to reverse the gains of the liberation struggle.
Yet despite these differences, or because of them, the two protagonists came together to form what is now known as the inclusive Government which also includes the other MDC faction.
The inclusive Government has given rise to interaction and tea-drinking moments among the principals, which many a wannabe national leader would die for.
This state of affairs has been a huge paradox: while the leaders drink tea and perhaps discuss their personal matters, their supporters have not found such a common ground.
There have been numerous incidents of inter-party violence countrywide, although the incidents have not been as bad as sometimes portrayed by some parties and the media.
It is said some sections within political parties have been supportive, funding even, violent elements and activities.
This is despite principals’ call for an end to violence.
For the specific reason of inculcating within top party officials the spirit of shunning violence, the parties last November convened an anti-violence indaba.
The historic indaba brought the three parties’ national executives (MDCs) and Zanu-PF’s central committee.
President Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and MDC leader Professor Welshman Ncube addressed the indaba.
For some reason, one could conclude that this was but an extended version of principals drinking tea in their official moments.
This is because no plebian of the village and ghetto were present.
That the parties have decided to broaden the table to include the grassroots is something as commendable and marvelous – if it comes to pass.
It has been confirmed that the three parties will hold joint rallies and educate citizens on the need to tolerate each other.
The fantastic idea here is to see people of different persuasions agreeing to disagree and disagreeing without being disagreeable.
This is very utopian.
Will we see this in the praxis of Zimbabwe’s polarized politics?
This is a brave new world.
It is a mature world: a world in which political parties sell ideas on whose strength they should access or retain office.
In turn, recipients thereof, for onward transmission have to bank on the ideas’ cogency to win converts to their side or strengthen existing belief in their cause.
President Mugabe said as much at the November indaba.
Did he not as well say something about turning swords into ploughshares reminding one of the great reconciliation at Independence?
In fact, he said, if he could let Rhodesian strongman Ian Smith, who was responsible for the deaths of about 50 000 blacks of this country, he surely could coexist with the Tsvangirais of this world.
What is now important is to see these meetings come to fruition.
It is on this one point that one gets worried, especially if you read the statements attributed to MDC-T spokesperson, Douglas Mwonzora.
Mwonzora was concerned about “what capacity the principals will be addressing the people”, “what order they will speak”, and “the message and how it is going to be communicated” during the rallies.
"However,” said Mwonzora, “the substance of the principals' proposed campaign must address the question of selective application of the law by law enforcement agents."
It is not unjustified for one to get the feeling that Mr Mwonzora and the MDC-T are already trying to throw the spanners into the envisaged joint rallies by trying to set the agenda of the meetings.
The history of the parties has shown that negotiations among parties over a minor thing like the agenda can take long, sometimes unduly.
If the parties and principals did it in November, what will be the difference?
Do the statements by Mr Mwonzora not qualify for the genus of positions held by the so-called hardliners?
If the conditions set by Mwonzora are not met it follows that the meetings will not take place or MDC-T will boycott the meetings.
MDC-T is not new to boycotts.
One gets the feeling that the party is not really interested in the anti-violence interactions.
MDC-T is in the habit of playing victim of political violence.
Logically, a party that wants to see a poisoned atmosphere bettered would jump at the very opportunity to help the situation.
This is perhaps less to do with showing the victim status than to show genuine commitment to ending the acrimony.
If the super victim develops cold feet at the moment of reckoning, it raises more questions than answers.
Granted, the joint rallies are not going to be mass trials but a platform for building mutual respect so that senseless violence will not occur in the future.
A party that ostensibly abhors violence as to make it a precondition for a “free and fair” poll should naturally be unequivocal about the prospect of anti-violence rallies.
There are observations that flow from Mwonzora’s arguments.
First, the MDC-T seems afraid of having President Mugabe and PM Tsvangirai under one roof because it impales the myth of President Mugabe being a perpetrator of violence, principally against PM Tsvangirai.
The likes of Mwonzora would rather President Mugabe and PM Tsvangirai drink tea privately, out of the view of the majority, so that propaganda around them holds and washes.
Secondly, it can be deciphered from Mwonzora’s conditions that he wants his boss to speak last and and carry the word of the day.
Thirdly, and connected with the second, Mwonzora seems to want the messages delivered his party’s way – the accusatory way.
All this indicates that the MDC-T is likely to approach the matter with an open mouth and shut mind, a well-worn accusation against the party.
The party will try to seek political mileage out of a matter of national interest, that is, which transcends party lines.
We saw it November, as Tsvangirai took it to the podium on his blame horse, only for a mature President Mugabe to pour water on the needless high temperature.
After all is said and done, it is to be hoped that interactions will continue and spread to live television and let leaders argue over policy and what future they want for Zimbabwe.
The voters will be so informed.
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