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SHOULD WE WORRY?
by
Cde. Mosibudi Mangena
09 August 2008
There are murmurs in many quarters, including among
AZAPO members and sympathizers, concerning signs that
the gloss on our democracy, and therefore our country,
is fading fast. Some say we have cause to worry, while
others say nay, we should be alarmed and another group
believes we should press panic buttons.
It is observed that the promise we held as one of the
beacons of hope on the continent in terms of our
democratic constitution, supporting institutions and
legal arrangements, is receding; that the efforts made
by many in the last fourteen years to entrench
democratic processes and practices in our country are
being undermined by others in pursuit of dishonourable
goals.
Those expressing concern about the fast deteriorating
state of our democracy point to the following
developments:
• The embarrassing shenanigans at the SABC and the
attempts by parliament to control the public broadcaster
in an intimidatory manner
• A section of the police service breaking the law by
blockading roads and engaging another section of the
police in a shooting skirmish that left the country
shocked , and to date, no arrests or disciplinary
measures have been instituted
• The determination to reconfigure the law enforcement
agencies even against the fierce opposition of the
citizens
• The frequent attacks on the judiciary in a manner that
suggests intimidation or erosion of it’s dignity and
integrity
• The apparent developing tendency to shout down
dissenting views
• The timid and servile manner in which the Human Rights
Commission (HRC) handled the several public utterances
about “killing” and “eliminating” people
• The frequent cases of corruption published in the
media relating to the public sector
• The frightening spectacle of soldiers marching in full
uniform in the streets demanding more pay.
These concerned South Africans contend that all these
point to a gradual and cumulative undermining of state
institutions that might have dire consequences if not
arrested.
Those of us who spent years in exile in Zimbabwe can
attest to the development of similar tendencies in that
country.
Shortly after independence, Zimbabweans enjoyed a
vibrant political environment in which political
discourse took place on radio, TV, the university and
other such public fora. Zimbabweans of all shades of
opinion walked tall, secure in the knowledge that they
were truly free in their own country. Even us, foreign
nationals staying there, were free to attend and
participate in some of those rigorous ideological and
theoretical debates. Of course direct party political
discussions were left to Zimbabweans.
But gradually, the political space reduced in inverse
proportion as intolerance on the part of the ruling
party increased. The party, state and people were
conflated. Criticism of the party became synonymous with
counter-revolution and therefore enmity to the people of
Zimbabwe.
Incidents of corruption increased in tandem with the
party and government taking the masses for granted. The
attitude seemed to be that it did not matter what the
party or government did or did not do, the people will
always give their support. After all, ZANU-PF is the
revolutionary party that brought liberation to Zimbabwe.
Who can forget that? The party was destined and entitled
to rule Zimbabwe forever. Nothing else was conceivable.
We all know how dearly the ordinary masses paid for this
mindset.
However, the masses lost interest in the democratic
process. The numbers of voters turning out during
elections steadily declined, but still ZANU-PF
maintained its majority in parliament and in local
councils.
I was among the Black Consciousness exiles who lived in
Zimbabwe and supported ZANU-PF unflinchingly and
unstintingly. The ZANU-PF revolutionary credentials
represented all the values and characteristics we
aspired to in our own struggle.
That explains why some of us are shocked and saddened by
what has come to pass in Zimbabwe.
The proud and heroic people of Zimbabwe; who fought so
magnificently for their freedom, are now reduced to
extreme poverty and tottering on the brink of failed
statehood. Millions of them have fled their country to
seek survival in other lands. Instead of progressing
towards prosperity and therefore an improved quality of
life of the people, the country is fast sliding into an
economic wasteland.
This terrible political, economic and governance
situation has opened the way for outside interference in
Zimbabwe, with some contemplating regime change in that
country, a scenario that could have disastrous
consequences for the entire Southern African region.
You need only cast an eye on what is happening in Iraq
and it’s neighbours to understand what our region in
southern Africa would become if those spoiling for a
fight against Zimbabwe get their way.
Some South Africans say, correctly, that we would be
amazingly stupid if we did not learn the bitter lessons
of our brothers and sisters beyond our northern border.
One of these lessons is that everyone, including
revolutionaries and struggle heroes, make mistakes.
It is also important to realize that the transformation
from a liberation movement waging armed struggle to a
ruling party also changes the actors involved. Some do
manage to remain true to the ideals of service to the
people, while others are corrupted, both morally and
materially, by the trappings of political power and the
exposure to enormous state resources falling under their
control. The metamorphosis from “comrade” to
“honourable” does, in some cases, produce dangerously
defective characters.
When the political space narrowed in Zimbabwe, many
citizens disengaged, either from open political
discourse or from the voting processes. Probably they
did so in order not to attract the
“counter-revolutionary” label to themselves or they
could simply not bring themselves to criticise their
erstwhile heroes. Maybe others thought it was a
temporary aberration that would be corrected by time.
How wrong did they turn out to be!
Nobody knows what would have happened if Zimbabweans had
been more diligent and cohesive in their critique of
governance issues in their country. What we do know with
certainty is that they are in deep trouble.
Comparisons between South Africa and Zimbabwe at this
point in time seem so unjust and unreal. After all, the
South African constitutional and legal regime is much
more robust. The institutions supporting democracy are a
lot more extensive and comprehensive in South Africa
than in Zimbabwe. The size and diversity of our civil
society network is certainly much better than theirs.
Add to that the vibrancy and variety of South African
media to appreciate the degree of difference between the
two countries.
A crucial point to keep in mind is that South Africa is
a precious heritage for all of us, young and old, poor
and rich, urban and rural. Our democracy is the fair
mechanism that regulates our common citizenship and
protects us against the possible excesses of those in
power.
For democracy to work, the various organs and
institutions of state such as the army, police, courts,
parliament and the executive must work properly. Without
functioning state institutions, we have at best nothing,
and at worst, chaos and mayhem. Somalia is the best
example of what happens when organs of state collapse
almost completely. You have a lawless society where the
rule of the jungle takes over.
That’s why these institutions should be nurtured and
supported by all of us. None among us should
deliberately undermine the functioning, integrity and
dignity of these institutions and organs of state.
To assess where we are in South Africa, to check whether
we should be merely concerned or alarmed or press panic
buttons, we have organized a symposium at the University
of Johannesburg to enable us to talk about the state of
our democracy.
Instead of murmurings in a diffused manner, we hope the
symposium will give us an opportunity to reflect in a
rational and calm manner. We hope the occasion will
contribute to a culture of debate on national issues in
this country.
Many of us have followed and identified with the
tribulations, struggles and heroism of the people of
Zimbabwe. But we should also learn from their mistakes.
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