I rarely discuss individuals, however, single long post won’t hurt for today. The ascension to power by Emerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe has a lot to teach Raila, Kizza Besigye and Morgan Tsivangirai. The truth is that these men are unlikely to become presidents because of one thing: same old strategies. Tsivangirai has won elections twice but never sworn in, while Mnangagwa was sworn in without any election and with massive approvals and admiration world over,yet it was a coup. It’s called strategy.
First, Mnangagwa’s case reminds these guys that power is taken and not given. Raila’s thinking that being a nice statesman will earn him the presidency is a huge folly. The west may praise you, they will give you donations, they will give you forums to address them and they will even declare you a Nobel prize winner for the struggle for democracy. But in the 21st century America and allies simply don’t install leaders in Africa anymore. Therefore, the queer thinking of Raila that impressing the west will make them intervene is not only misguided but will not bear anything. Emerson Mnangagwa himself is blamed for the massacre of over 20,000 Zimbabweans during the Gukurahundi purge orchestrated by the Zimbabwean military from early 1983 to late 1984. Well, I am not advocating for, neither do I approve ending of human life in any form, I am simply saying being pure will not help anyone become president here in Africa.Presidency isn’t priesthood, George Bush, Clinton and Obama Administrations killed more civilians than terrosrists. Back home, Omar Bashir, Museveni, Milton Obote,Idi Amin were not dfemoctats but still got international approvals….and even the soft spoken Nyerere invaded Uganda! The people Raila is struggling against are his juniors who have been accused of rape, genocide and all the ignoble things on earth. He either becomes a priest or takes power. It’s apparent Raila has remained in the liberation politics of 1980s and 1990s when alignment with world powers determined who became the president.
Second is the tired line of demonstrations and dialogue. The thinking that by the calling demonstrations he will gain sympathy by the deaths of his supporters is not helping. People will continue dying in his name for nothing. While thinking that “ Dialogues” (whatever that means) will make him ascend to power, Raila is likely to watch as Ruto become president, Gideon Moi become president and the young jomo become president: as he calls for mass action. Mass action isn’t bad, but it is a strategy that has been tried against Moi, Kibaki and Uhuru without fail. Dialogue too has been tried against Moi, Kibaki and Uhuru again with failures. Mnangagwa did not dialogue, he called the military head while in South Africa and within hours he was sworn in. The tendency of Raila to offend the security agencies especially the military is again not helpful. You cannot attack the military and dream of being a president of any country. Even Donald trump praises the American military and veterans every day. As for the boycotts, my only comment is that 90% of NASA supporters pay rent monthly to Kikuyus, pay daily fares to kikuyus, are driven to town by jubilee drivers. Selective boycott isn’t boycott at all.
