Zimbabwe, he who rules

Subject: Zimbabwe, he who rules.

Watching an Aljazera interview between the political opponents in Zimbabwe one is struck by a number of things. Firstly the antithesis tween the parties and what they stand for went well beyond the frustration normally associated when political opinions clash. It goes beyond the class prejudice we see in this country instead it's a matter, on the governments side, as to whether the opposition should exist at all that the oppositions views boarder on treason, hence throw em in jail.

This is of course the breeding ground of dictatorship, as was evidenced in the person of Robert Mugabe. He was an ideologue and his hatred of initially his colonial masters first the British and then the Ian Smith government was the main plank of his rhetoric. He saw most things through the perspective of white oppression and black subservience and once in power he would have no truck with anyone who opposed him or his ideological surety. Tribal leaders, white farmers, overseas governments who ever questioned his ideology were cast onto the same pot and seen as vermin.

After so many years of slowly dismantling the country in the furtherance of his hatred of white rule, of fathering unheard of levels of inflation and widespread famine the old demigod  had run his course and was ousted by Emerson Mnangagwa one of his hard line right hand men who promised change and a move to a more consultative government. It was thought at the time that he was too close to the Mugabe regime and that the skills of repression were too familiar to put aside, and so it would seem with the opposition being brutally routed by the police and the army.

The television program was an attempted discussion between people who represent the governments opposition party, the MDC Alliance and a member of the Government, the Minister for Communications.

As with all these programs one comes to them with ones own prejudice but I was sincerely impressed with the people who spoke on behalf of the MDC (as I do with the Democratic Alliance in South Africa) whilst at the same time, astounded at the petulance of the Minister.

Clearly he had a message to put across, "that all criticism of ZANU PF was simply scurrilous nonsense" put out by treasonous activists. His demeanour was of a man who was used to being listened too but had little time for listening.  His overweight omniscience brought to mind so many of the continents political elite, a tribal patriarch used to getting his way. He guffawed at the ideas and criticism from his opponents, he admonished the presenter of the program for allowing such criticism, he behaved like a person who having has been presented opinions he dislikes cries 'fake news'.

The parallels with Trump are too hard to ignore and no doubt the result of a complicated childhood with too much on offer, neither men countenance being told they are wrong, both narcissistic with that classical idolised self image in which 'other people' are relevant only if they agree with you.

At the fear of generalising the image of the Politician in Africa, it all seems to depend if you  are on the winning side since, rarely deposed at elections, the money and the benefits of being in power are remain distributed within the government. Large cars, overseas bank accounts, flashy suites and a writ to do, much as they wish sets them aside whilst the opposition project a much more somber sight frustratingly waiting their turn.

One exception to the rule and as much a protest against what I describe, is the EFF (the Economic Freedom Fighters) with their red overalls worn on the benches of parliament.

Their leader, the charismatic rebel rouser Julian Malema, in front of the television camera resorts to type with crisp white shirts but the parties contrivance of the ubiquitous overall worn by males tending the gardens or mine workers descending into the pit, signals the parties Marxist leanings and an alliance with the poor.

Perhaps our Labour Party in the UK missed a trick and could take a leaf out of their book by wearing the flat cap.