Grabbing the bull by the horns

Dr Obert Moses Mpofu

COWARDICE is never an option.

Those who stand tall will always be remembered by history.

Zimbabwe was relatively unknown before the Fast-Track Land Reform Programme.

What we did through taking back our land had never been done before. It was a world first.

Against all the odds, people made the bold decision to do what was needful. With the same spirit that led us to fight for our independence, we took back our land.

It is never an easy path to walk. It takes great courage. But sometimes courage is all that it takes.

I have been following very closely events in the region, as well as developments around the former liberation movements of Southern Africa.

There are several elections in the region and the enemy is smelling blood. We need to be wary.

There seems to be a growing trend of meddling in the affairs of sovereign countries.

Our detractors have made our business their business.

First, they tried to destroy Zimbabwe by weaponising illegal sanctions. However, that did not succeed.

Then came the so-called “human rights movement”, where hordes of non-governmental organisations were sponsored to try and come up with all manner of tricks to dislodge the ZANU PF Government. But all that failed.

Now, they are pushing the same agenda in the region. And elections provide them with the perfect opportunity to try and reverse the gains of our independence.

In my previous article, I did warn about the dangerous times ahead. So, we need to take the bull by the horn.

For example, if we are not invited to observe their democratic processes and elections, why should we open the door for them to do the same here?

We are now at a point where we are realising that there is not much benefit to play by their rules. There is nothing more profitable to our detractors than a divided Africa.

This is all that our detractors ever dream of.

Our region is seemingly under siege.

The new weapon of choice are the tainted elections. I have come to realise that there are many ways through which electoral outcomes can be manipulated.

We saw it in the harmonised elections that were held in Zimbabwe in August last year.

But in spite of all the machinations and shenanigans, President Mnangagwa led the colossal people’s party to victory.

Our victory was so consequential that the opposition, CCC, bowed out of the political arena. Its leader and his lieutenants are now scattered in the wilderness of political oblivion.

Such is the fate of those who betray the people’s cause.

Upon the foundation of this victory, the ZANU PF-led Government is doing exactly what it was tasked by the electorate to do, which is to take Zimbabwe into an era of prosperity.

The foundations are already laid through the great works of His Excellency, our President and First Secretary, Dr ED Mnangagwa.

We will take the bull by the horns.

Be wary and watchful of our detractors as we deliver victory for our people.

Dr Obert Moses Mpofu is an academic and the Secretary-General of ZANU PF. He writes in his own capacity.