Comments on: Zimbabwean soldiers in the DRC will only be about protecting Junta interests http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/archives/2579 This is Zimbabwe is Sokwanele's pro-democracy activist blog. It provides grassroots news and views from Zimbabwe. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:20:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Ben http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/archives/2579/comment-page-1#comment-272369 Ben Sat, 15 Nov 2008 15:39:07 +0000 http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/?p=2579#comment-272369 <a href='#comment-272363' rel="nofollow">@mkaranga</a> - Hi Mkaranga, My name really is Ben - I'm not sure that'd be much of an alias if I were trying to be sneaky about anything. I'm an American who lived in Mutare for a year, and care deeply for my friends there, who I stay in touch with. I follow the news from Zimbabwe, and think about how I might respond were I in their place. I respect that you seem to know a lot more than I do about the facts on the ground and the people involved in Zimbabwean politics, but you're wrong to peg me as a ZANU stooge. My sympathies actually lay with the MDC, but my primary dream would be a generally improved life for the great majority of Zimbabweans, who are currently suffering. I think it's really too bad that we can't have an open discussion about the best way forward, recognizing the reality that Mugabe controls all the means of enforcing his refusal to allow a peaceful transition of power. What do you suggest the MDC do about its lack of control of the military or police, and its lack of influence on the part of the politbureau?<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('272369','Ben'); return false;">Reply to this comment</a> --- <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('272369','Ben','<a href=\'#comment-272363\' rel=\"nofollow\">@mkaranga<\/a> - \r\n\r\nHi Mkaranga, \r\n\r\nMy name really is Ben - I\'m not sure that\'d be much of an alias if I were trying to be sneaky about anything. I\'m an American who lived in Mutare for a year, and care deeply for my friends there, who I stay in touch with. I follow the news from Zimbabwe, and think about how I might respond were I in their place.\r\n\r\nI respect that you seem to know a lot more than I do about the facts on the ground and the people involved in Zimbabwean politics, but you\'re wrong to peg me as a ZANU stooge. My sympathies actually lay with the MDC, but my primary dream would be a generally improved life for the great majority of Zimbabweans, who are currently suffering.\r\n\r\nI think it\'s really too bad that we can\'t have an open discussion about the best way forward, recognizing the reality that Mugabe controls all the means of enforcing his refusal to allow a peaceful transition of power.\r\n\r\nWhat do you suggest the MDC do about its lack of control of the military or police, and its lack of influence on the part of the politbureau?'); return false;">Quote from this comment</a></div> @mkaranga –

Hi Mkaranga,

My name really is Ben – I’m not sure that’d be much of an alias if I were trying to be sneaky about anything. I’m an American who lived in Mutare for a year, and care deeply for my friends there, who I stay in touch with. I follow the news from Zimbabwe, and think about how I might respond were I in their place.

I respect that you seem to know a lot more than I do about the facts on the ground and the people involved in Zimbabwean politics, but you’re wrong to peg me as a ZANU stooge. My sympathies actually lay with the MDC, but my primary dream would be a generally improved life for the great majority of Zimbabweans, who are currently suffering.

I think it’s really too bad that we can’t have an open discussion about the best way forward, recognizing the reality that Mugabe controls all the means of enforcing his refusal to allow a peaceful transition of power.

What do you suggest the MDC do about its lack of control of the military or police, and its lack of influence on the part of the politbureau?

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]]> By: mkaranga http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/archives/2579/comment-page-1#comment-272363 mkaranga Sat, 15 Nov 2008 00:57:03 +0000 http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/?p=2579#comment-272363 Ben, or whoever you are, you waste peoples' time by writing a confused and totally misguided piece which completely distorts the situation in Zimbabwe. You sound to be an uneducated ZANU(PF) member trying to be analyst by propounding rubbish. There is no need for us to give answers to your foolish beliefs and give you serious notice. Do you really believe when the army goes to Congo, Chiwenga et al will all literally follow and be removed from the situation back home? Be serious comrade because all the other points you mention do not deserve comment as you are either naive or trying to be mischeveaous or both.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('272363','mkaranga'); return false;">Reply to this comment</a> --- <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('272363','mkaranga','Ben, or whoever you are, you waste peoples\' time by writing a confused and totally misguided piece which completely distorts the situation in Zimbabwe. You sound to be an uneducated ZANU(PF) member trying to be analyst by propounding rubbish. There is no need for us to give answers to your foolish beliefs and give you serious notice. Do you really believe when the army goes to Congo, Chiwenga et al will all literally follow and be removed from the situation back home? Be serious comrade because all the other points you mention do not deserve comment as you are either naive or trying to be mischeveaous or both.'); return false;">Quote from this comment</a></div> Ben, or whoever you are, you waste peoples’ time by writing a confused and totally misguided piece which completely distorts the situation in Zimbabwe. You sound to be an uneducated ZANU(PF) member trying to be analyst by propounding rubbish. There is no need for us to give answers to your foolish beliefs and give you serious notice. Do you really believe when the army goes to Congo, Chiwenga et al will all literally follow and be removed from the situation back home? Be serious comrade because all the other points you mention do not deserve comment as you are either naive or trying to be mischeveaous or both.
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]]> By: Ben http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/archives/2579/comment-page-1#comment-272354 Ben Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:45:47 +0000 http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/?p=2579#comment-272354 Good? I see five obstacles to a transition to a more democratic government: 1. Mugabe himself refusing to give up power 2. The politbureau covering their own interests 3. The MDC being more idealistic than pragmatic 4. The police 5. The military Perhaps if the military gets sent out of the country, this could represent an opportunity to remove one of these obstacles. Mugabe doing so could be a signal that another is politically manageable. The police may be controlled through clever use of funding tools (control of the reserve bank). Mugabe has always been able to handle the politbureau. That just leaves the MDC itself. I'd suggest the MDC look to join the GNU, and with the necessary constitutional changes, look closely at the rules for succession. If it were constitutionally required that the Prime Minister and President are always from different parties, and that the Prime Minister, appointed by the parliamentarians from the non presidential party, become president on event of the president being unable to govern, Mugabe would have a reason to fear the MDC. The MDC, meanwhile, would be taking the risks that Morgan might not be prime minister, and that if they did gain the presidency, the new prime minister would have to be ZANU PF. Just some brainstorming...<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('272354','Ben'); return false;">Reply to this comment</a> --- <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('272354','Ben','Good?\r\n\r\nI see five obstacles to a transition to a more democratic government:\r\n\r\n1. Mugabe himself refusing to give up power\r\n2. The politbureau covering their own interests\r\n3. The MDC being more idealistic than pragmatic\r\n4. The police\r\n5. The military\r\n\r\nPerhaps if the military gets sent out of the country, this could represent an opportunity to remove one of these obstacles. Mugabe doing so could be a signal that another is politically manageable. The police may be controlled through clever use of funding tools (control of the reserve bank). Mugabe has always been able to handle the politbureau. That just leaves the MDC itself.\r\n\r\nI\'d suggest the MDC look to join the GNU, and with the necessary constitutional changes, look closely at the rules for succession. If it were constitutionally required that the Prime Minister and President are always from different parties, and that the Prime Minister, appointed by the parliamentarians from the non presidential party, become president on event of the president being unable to govern, Mugabe would have a reason to fear the MDC. The MDC, meanwhile, would be taking the risks that Morgan might not be prime minister, and that if they did gain the presidency, the new prime minister would have to be ZANU PF.\r\n\r\nJust some brainstorming...'); return false;">Quote from this comment</a></div> Good?

I see five obstacles to a transition to a more democratic government:

1. Mugabe himself refusing to give up power
2. The politbureau covering their own interests
3. The MDC being more idealistic than pragmatic
4. The police
5. The military

Perhaps if the military gets sent out of the country, this could represent an opportunity to remove one of these obstacles. Mugabe doing so could be a signal that another is politically manageable. The police may be controlled through clever use of funding tools (control of the reserve bank). Mugabe has always been able to handle the politbureau. That just leaves the MDC itself.

I’d suggest the MDC look to join the GNU, and with the necessary constitutional changes, look closely at the rules for succession. If it were constitutionally required that the Prime Minister and President are always from different parties, and that the Prime Minister, appointed by the parliamentarians from the non presidential party, become president on event of the president being unable to govern, Mugabe would have a reason to fear the MDC. The MDC, meanwhile, would be taking the risks that Morgan might not be prime minister, and that if they did gain the presidency, the new prime minister would have to be ZANU PF.

Just some brainstorming…

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