Morgan Tsvangirai: time to wash the nets?

The MDC will likely continue without him, this time, we hear in pursuit of a more violent streak.

It was never his own project, despite the MDC being surnamed of him.

Tsvangirai should admit to his honest self that he is past his sell-by date in the MDC scheme of things.

In trouble...Tsvangirai

Tichaona Zindoga

It is time to wash the nets for Captain Morgan Tsvangirai.

It is to be hoped that the above figure will not conjure up further images of the washing of dirty linen, which Tsvangirai is not unassociated with.

In fact, at the moment there is a lot of dirty MDC-T party linen being washed in public effecting to the ouster of Tsvangirai with Elton Mangoma boldly telling his leader that the time is up.

The temptation is to dwell on the sordid details of current MDC-T politics.

They may wait.

What is important, though, may be considering how the man could weigh his options in light of the tumult he is facing.

The one advice has been proffered above: time to wash up the nets, which means the day is done for the captain.

In soccer he could be hanging his boots.

But the advice here is not motivated by the same inspiration that Mangoma and his power hungry friends against Morgan may have.

Or for a stronger MDC-T party, whose brand of politics being Western sponsored as it has been over the years, and shall continue in the foreseeable future with or without Tsvangirai.

The MDC, with or without the “T” at the end, remains a poisoned and poisonous brand couched in the politics of treachery and deceit.

It precipitated the suffering of Zimbabweans as MDC-T handlers squeezed the economy of the country to make it scream.

It did scream.

Scream to high heavens.

The MDC-T profited from it.

It is what they had hoped.

The economic malaise, which Nelson Chamisa helpfully told us would ensure dead bodies to be stepped onto the way to State House, reaped power for the MDC-T  as they entered into Government.

The plan was “to take power from within”.

July 31, 2013, failed them.

Now the house is burning.

The West is taking the initiative and hatching new leadership.

Tsvangirai is marooned.

Nay, moribund.

The MDC will likely continue without him, this time, we hear in pursuit of a more violent streak.

It was never his own project, despite the MDC being surnamed of him.

Tsvangirai should admit to his honest self that he is past his sell-by date in the MDC scheme of things.

One can see that he senses this reality but is indecisive – as usual.

Take his “State of the nation” performance, for example.

This writer was humbly there.

Tsvangirai was not looking good.

This can be explained in two parts.

In six months post July 31, Tsvangirai has an extra wrinkle on the face, and the skin tone and hair are greyer, and this can be observed by those of us not favoured with daily intercourses (no pun intended) with him.

He was looking restless in the initial stages where he was delivering the prepared speech and tried to boost his confidence by misplaced gesticulations and grins that at one point should have been embarrassing.

Equally unfortunate was his attempt at lightening the atmosphere with a quip on the captive crowd of party activists that had been stuffed into the venue.

But he called them “unruly”.

Perhaps he lacked a better word.

On the other hand, it is this crowd that came and rescued his day.

Tsvangirai began to relax, show some rare moments of brilliance when he fielded questions and comments and solidarity messages from the crowd.

It calmed his nerves.

He had the impression that he had the people on his side, especially when he said he would not step down from MDC leadership as demanded by some quarters.

He needed that.

He needs that at a time that his Western pivot is giving.

There were Western diplomats, as usual, and a number of white faces at the venue but their demeanour did not suggest having had any inspiration.

They did not take down notes as vigorously and as religiously as they used to do.

They did not smile.

They did not congratulate themselves for their preferences.

He is no longer such a pet.

His “Proposals on the way forward” were not earth shattering.

Perhaps because they were no Egypt.

In and of themselves they were nothing new.

They could be said to be daft, too, especially when one considers that he thinks that an election is due and hopes that he will outsmart Zanu-PF in negotiations for another inclusive Government.

It is all too improbable.

Equipped with a mind that cooks this kind of things, which does not help anyone from himself, his handlers and the nation at large, he could better look at other options.

The one will be to leave this troubled ship where he does not have the favour of the majestic Western compass.

That way he will have his US$3 million, every cent of it, as we read that he has been promised.

It is one quick way to have such a cool figure, especially if you happen to be a product past its sell-by date.

It is also one way to become a Nelson Mandela, especially of the MDC party.

That too, has been put forward.

It must have been Elias Mudzuri who said that.

Tsvangirai loves Nelson Mandela.

In real life he can never be.

The mock role should pacify him.

It may come with some “Elders” or “Imminent Persons” opportunities, too.

The other option that Tsvangirai has to pursue is to break from the Western project of the MDC and form his own homegrown party.

Tsvangirai has some considerable numbers.

He enjoys grassroot support that many, even those that are eyeing his post, can never muster.

He can potentially wipe away this poisoned MDC.

Tsvangirai will win a lot of goodwill from Zimbabweans that are especially opposed to politics of puppetry and treachery.

In the case that he forms his own outfit, he may not be endowed with infinite resources but he may yet become a credible politician, if he breaks clean.

Tsvangirai was once a Zanu-PF man, an official, too.

He needs not “go back home”, as Zanu-PF would welcome him in the unlikely event he decides on it.

Opposition will be good.

Opposition is good.

Opposition is helpful when it is grounded on nationally beneficial politics.

Tsvangirai has the gravitas.

He has a couple of people, at least on the surface of it, around him that will have some numbers.

He may also use his experience to realize the Western countries are no real friends.

They are enemy.

He needs to think of working for the country.

That way he may get what has eluded him in the last 15 years.

This piece began by suggesting Tsvangirai should wash his nets.

The imagery comes from the Bible, actually.

Here is what Luke 5 verses 1-4 says: “He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them, and were washing their nets. And (Jesus) got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And He sat down and began teaching the multitudes from the boat. And when He had finished speaking, (Jesus) said to Simon, 'Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.' "

If Tsvangirai leaves the MDC boat today and wash his nets, he may be readying for a bigger catch.

He is entitled to it as a politician and man.

If only he can be puppet no longer.