When people in Egypt kicked out Mubarak they hoped the Muslim Brotherhood was the change they needed. The word ‘change’ fueled the protests and the revolution was won. The same happened in Tunisia – Ben Ali was chucked out because change was needed. One year later the Muslim Brothers in Egypt are faced with a 48-hour decree to meet people’s demands, or resign. Defiantly, President Morsi is claiming he was democratically elected so he will serve until the end of his term. This might correct according to the constitution of Egypt but if the people no longer want him, why would Mr Morsi hang on to power. The military is playing hero and has issued a decree for President Morsi to meet the people’s demands or be frog marched out of the presidential palace. Egypt expected change in the year that Morsi has been in office but his government has failed the test. In order to safe guard the revolution from being stolen by the Muslim brothers in broad daylight, Egyptians are back in Tahrir Square for a second revolution.

I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when I read that Dumiso Dabengwa, a man who I, along many others, respect a lot, said he had invited Welshman Ncube to lead Zapu!

Zapu of course being a project that has not hidden that its existence is informed by politics of the marginalization of Matebeleland by Zanu PF since independence in 1980.

It is one of those outfits which while having legitimate concerns about how Matebeleland has been treated by Zanu PF bigoted hegemony in the past 33 years, it has failed to sell this dream of self-determination to likewise embittered Mthwakazians.

The massive inroads Welshman Ncube’s MDC has made in the region and indeed across the country is just but testimony that regional parties still have a long way to go as far as stirring national loyalties are concerned.

And that’s exactly why Ncube has vehemently dismissed all claims that his is a regional party (he was referred by Mr. Prime Minister rather unflatteringly as a “village politician”) and will not contest for any lesser position other than President of the Republic of Zimbabwe.

So when Dabengwa is quoted as inviting Ncube to join forces with Zapu it raises questions about how politicians seek to participate and sneak into national politics and what constituencies they purport represent.

It has become an increasingly manifest trait that while being aware of their waning political fortunes, or indeed their irrelevance to national discourse, some have seen it fit to ride on the backs of what are seen as popular political movements, and a guy like Simba Makoni quickly comes to mind.

He was himself endorsed by Zapu during the 2008 elections, but their relationship is not being mentioned this year, and the two, Mavambo and Zapu, are instead aligning themselves to parties that have established themselves as formidable challengers to the two-party politics Zimbabwe has come to know.

It is curious then how these parties seek to participate in moving the country forward especially at this juncture where everyone is seeing this as yet another opportunity to end Zanu PF presence on Zimbabwe’s political landscape.

A contribution from a Kubatana member:

Reform traditional leadership. I think one of the key reforms necessary for a sustainable election in our country is traditional leadership reform. Most rural districts in the country are not free to exercise their rights due to the influence of traditional leaders. They execute their duties partisanly & are in political party structures which is unconstitutional.This raises suspicion from people of credibility of elections. The government & civic groups must engage traditional leaders & massively educate them about their role in the community & avoid being horse ridden by political parties.

Check out a recipe for free and fair elections published on Kalabash – from the streets to the web. Ingredients include:

4 tablespoons of dignity
A pinch of pride in Zimbabwe and the people outside of party politics
Half a cup of democratic processes
A splashing of reflection on the last decade
An ounce of foresight

Zimbabwe is now split between politicians who are either puppets of the West or East. Anyone who has been preaching the gospel of democracy and good governance is being labeled a puppet of the West. But still we have the new friends who are exploiting our brothers and sisters, our environment and breaking laws left, right and center while using illegal permits. Who is issuing these licenses? These are now the puppets of the East who sacrifice the country for self benefit.

The function of a civil resistance is to provoke response and we will provoke until they respond or change the law. – Gandhi