Here we go again

by Posted on

Zanu PF’s fifth congress kicks off in Harare this morning, and in honour of this momentum event (not my words) I have a couple of meaningless and totally unrelated quotes to share.

“In questions of power, then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution” – Thomas Jefferson

“Show me that age and country where the rights and liberties of the people were placed on the sole chance of their rulers being good men, without a consequent loss of liberty! I say that the loss of that dearest privilege has ever followed, with absolute certainty, every such mad attempt.” – Patrick Henry

“That knowing the strong bias of human nature to tyranny and despotism, we have nothing else in view but to provide for posterity against the wanton exercise of power, which cannot otherwise be done than by the formation of a fundamental constitution.” – Reverend Thomas Allen

Of course, these three were all American men, freedom nuts and noted scholars. Nothing to do with Zimbabwe.

Or Nazis, for that matter.

Published by Joe Black

7 Replies to “Here we go again”

  2. Morgan-the Messiah is actually a creation of people who haven’t been to an MDC meeting or rally. There are no sacred cows in the MDC, being a loose coalition at heart.

    Morgan is taken to task, you’d think he was a ward councillor or small fry. People don’t take shit, and since MDC is the only space they have where they can question their leaders without fear, they do it.

    Morgan the saviour? Maybe in de Kaap, not de Kambuzuma.

  3. You and BD really need to get off this “Im in Zim so my opinion is better” vibe.
    Validity of political analysis does not have a geographic factor dude; because by the same token any random middle-east bloke is justified in telling you to piss off with your anti-Israeli sentiment because you do not live in the middle east.
    Or to similarly rubbish your anti-US-war sentiment because you have never set foot in either Afghanistan or Iraq.

    So you apply those quotes to Bob and Zany but not to the MDC and MT? That denial, that “thats not the case here”, is the same thing that those quotes are warning about. That animal farm shit that is so well quoted in reference to Zany is exactly what is waiting to happen with this democratic loose coalition. Those quotes are useless if you shall apply them selectively.

  4. Ehm, question, when did I say those quotes do not apply to MDC and MT? Did I not go on about how MT is taken to task and held to account?

    What, are you just reading what you want to? Where did I state that those quotes should apply to ZPF and not to MDC?

    Stop projecting, dude.

    As for your location, that wasn’t my point. What I was saying, quite legitimately, was that anyone who witnesses these events knows what they truly are, not some fawning sheep-fests where people go for the pleasure of touching someone’s hand.

    If you’re so overly- and generally-sensitive to your location and how it pertains to home politics, don’t take issue with a very narrow statement meant to make a point, not to render your point meaningless.

  5. Ok, now that thats cleared up :-), a constitution did not help Zim because ours was a lousy settlement between rival political parties fighting for spoils. And then its regulating effect did not come into effect because it could be, and was, amended by the very people it is supposed to regulate.

    But yes, noone, NOONE, is immune to the effect of power.

  6. I am in Zim and my opinion is better. Sorry tried to get off it but it’s stuck to my arse like glue.

    First victim of Congress is the Tevin Campbell and Horace Brown gig. Kicked out of conference centre and settling for the lowly celebration centre – there goes the profit on ales.

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