Who the hell is Simba Makoni?
Not only am I unconvinced, I’m highly sceptical. Watching, listening to and analysing Simba Makoni, I can’t help but notice that the man’s arrogance is tempered by a nagging lack of enthusiasm.
He seems to expect, nay deserve support for being the first high-ranking party figure to openly defy and challenge Uncle. “First” is, to borrow from American political commentary, an Untruth, but moving on. He’s trying to sell himself as an Independent-thinking, high-minded man of the people.
A few issues though. Where has he been all this time? I recall a few years ago (I stand to be corrected) when Uncle sacked him from Cabinet, there were murmurs of a heroic stand, an historic Simba Makoni breakaway fracturing the Party in two. That didn’t materialise, and I can’t be convinced that he’s been trying to change it from the Inside. Until now, of course. He’s made his Heroic Stand. oh-kay.
Just how far away is he, ideologically and policy-wise, from traditional Party positions? Because, ruinous policies aside, and not even counting the state of the economy, is it too far-fetched to posit that he’s been Inside all through this? From 1980, as I’ve heard it. So what’s changed now? What is he offering us, except the same old?
As far as “alleged” human-rights abuses by Uncle, what is his position on this? Besides dodging the question on eTv’s 3rd Degree last night, I don’t hear him speaking on issues of such national importance as the Gukurahundi “massacres” of the 1980s. What’s his position?
Also, for his famed ability to form a united government from both Zanu-PF and MDC ranks, is it unfair to point out that elements from the Party might actually be implicated not just in these famed “abuses”, but in corrupt practices and rampant profiteering, which have helped to put our country where it is now? Is that what we want?
Maybe it’s just me. I guess I’ve grown immune to charismatic charlatans and oily tricksters; snake-oil salesmen whose mandate is either to advance shady Grand Schemes (like vote-splitting or false legitimisation), or take advantage of perceived Moderacy to further their own agendas and cement their positions in Zimbabwe’s future, while conveniently masking their pasts in a system that has failed (and failed dismally) to consider the dreams and aspirations of all Zimbabweans, the Borrowdale Class aside.
Besides, how the fuck do you launch a campaign website (indeed ANY website) with so much coming soon in important policy sections. That hints at incompetence. Evidence here, here and here.
We’ll see who the April Fool is. Hey, it could be me.
