THE Zimbabwe Independent (December 2) carried an article by Qhubani Moyo entitled “Tsvangirai his own worst enemy”, which carried some informative excerpts, especially on the need for public officials to be aware of public scrutiny. Said Moyo: “I believe any Zimbabwean aspiring for any public office should be subjected to scrutiny to ensure citizens make informed decisions when they elect public officials. It’s a basic tenet of democracy. Leaders must always be subjected to a healthy dose of criticism, not because their critics hate them or have any personal vendetta against them, but for the greater public good. It is amazing and in fact ironic to see people claiming to be fighting for democracy, yet they harbour extreme dislike for democractic practice.”

Ironically ever since professor Welshman Ncube (pictured) took over the leadership of that faction, Moyo has been using the media to castigate other political players. Being an official of a party that says it is an alternative to the MDC-T and Zanu PF, Moyo seems unaware that he is also under public scrutiny. Moyo’s argument is correct but only when said by a political analyst or coming from a more neutral source. I fear that he may be under the illusion that what he is doing gives mileage to his party.  The opposite could be true unless his party happens to be another Zanu PF project to seek to neutralise MDC-T’s dominance in Matabeleland, as has been alleged by others.

Just like in a game of soccer, a player from one camp cannot become an unsolicited advisor to the opposing team. Moyo’s attacks encourage unnecessary animosity among supporters of opposing political factions, which would naturally deteriorate into political violence. Politicians should learn to concentrate only on projecting what they offer and leave the public to make their own choices.

Tsvangirai may indeed have committed serious boobs in his political career. However, as long as Moyo and his boss resort to being his unsolicited advisors, they will not connect with the electorate. I just hope that the party will take heed of this free counsel. Castigating players from opposing camps does not make a strong party; it only gives the impression that the organisation is bankrupt in ideas, hence the biblical exhortation, “Judge not, lest you be judged”.

Andrew Masuku,
Harare.

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