Tinotenda Mutasa
Wise sages observed that sometimes a person can cut off his nose to spite his face with obvious dire consequences. The MDC is behaving in much the same manner, inciting violent protests to score cheap political points. Needless to say, protests hurt none the most except the ordinary citizen on the ground, including the protestors themselves and their families and friends.
MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa, recently told his party’s supporters that they should embark on more protests to “shutdown Harare”. Chamisa’s simpleton reasoning is that if a sizeable number of people protest in the street and cause enough violence, President Mnangagwa would step down. For someone who is a lawyer by profession, Chamisa consistently betrays a lack of common sense.
What benefit would it bring to the common man in Bikita for people to abscond work, which by the way, is a punishable offence in most places of work. How will the economy thrive if business is brought to a grinding halt whenever some misguided element feels like it? If for example, every single working person in the country decided not to go to work tomorrow, will that make President Mnangagwa and the entire Zanu PF resign the next day? Ludicrous isn’t it? So why should people be encouraged to risk their professional careers because some opposition and civil society cry-babies are desperately seeking attention? Who would benefit most from the shutdown being called for by the MDC?
The last protest, which was erroneously reported as “successful” did not dislodge Government, no officials resigned, none were jailed, no changes to the Constitution were made and President Mnangagwa remained constitutionally in power. In other words, things remained as they were, except perhaps for a few workers who were reprimanded by their bosses for having heeded the calls.
It is important for any sane individual to first weigh the impact to him/her and his family of these so-called stayaways, boycotts and shutdowns. Will participating in these shenanigans add any value? Change anything? Put bread on the table? Or are people just being used to make some unscrupulous people’s dreams come true. History has shown that those who benefit most from such protest action are the instigators and their handlers and sponsors whilst the ordinary man who is encouraged to break the law, remains to face the consequences alone.
The youth have a saying, kunoshota kumba kwako, which roughly translated, means, the loss will be to your family.
