Off lines in the sand - political confrontation in Zimbabwe

Back in the days when fun was fun, donkeys still had horns, rivers were still flowing uphill, the hammer had not yet struck the ground, and I was a cow herdboy in the dusty plains of Manyene, we had a way of starting fights between two people.

We would seek a sandy patch and make four mounts about the size of breasts. We would take two antagonists and to each point out two mounds, "These are your mother's breasts. If anybody kicks them you must fight back."

In Shona culture and, I believe in most other African cultures, insulting one's mother is considered particularly objectionable. You can hurl all kinds of epithets against the individual and be met with unflinching stoicism but the moment you mention their mother all hell would break loose.

In order to show that they were not a coward somebody had to kick the mother's breasts of the rival. If your mother's breasts were kicked, you had to fight for your honour.

That was kid's play, activities meant to pass time while watching scrawny cattle swishing tails and virtually licking the soil in attempts to find bits of grass in the barren overcrowded 'native reserves'. Many bloody noses, swollen eyes and grudges for maybe days would result, but it was all soon forgotten as other rivals emerged and waned with time.

When we used to play our game, we had little but stubborn guys would kick the mother's breasts of older and bigger guys, or who always fought loosing battles when their 'mother's breasts' were kicked by older guys.

In those heady days when I was herding cows, the fights over 'mother's breasts' were instigated by those of us who enjoyed the spectacle of others pointlessly hammering each other. Some of us would run long distances to go fetch sand if there was no sand at the particular spot we wanted the fight to take place. We would gladly take off our shirts and use them as improvised sacks to ferry the sand for the 'breasts'.

In Zimbabwean politics, it seems we are headed for a round of games in the sand. Recently Eddie Cross told us that the MDC have drawn a line in the sand, (Why didn't he make them mounds in the sand and call them breasts. Sounds more interesting). Apparently they are daring Zanu-PF to kick the MDC's 'mother's breasts'. They are promising to visit untold woe on Zanu-PF if it doesn't respect their 'mother's breasts' or line in the sand.

The stage is being set for a no surrender contest. The language of confrontation is already being spun. In the days of my herding cows, there were always little guys who would kick the 'mother's breasts' of much bigger guys in the hope that a elder brother or cousin would join the fight on their side.

The MDC are in the position of these little guys. They are choosing confrontational language when they know very well that there is nothing they can do if Zanu-PF decides to call their bluff, except hope that outsiders will intervene on their behalf.

In the current arrangement, Zanu-PF have the capacity to do whatever they like. They are keeping the MDC as their sheepskin - the covering that gives them legitimacy. There is little chance of the MDC drawing any line in the sand that Zanu-PF are not capable of obliterating in a flash.

Therefore I do not think for the MDC to be making ultimatums is the appropriate strategy for them. They need to be seriously thinking about how to achieve a willing giver willing taker transition in Zimbabwe. Without willingness on the part of Zanu-PF members especially those in the military, there is very little chance that a stable and peaceful transition will be possible.

There MDC's attempts to force a humiliating capitulation out of Zanu-PF haven't worked in the past and are unlikely to work in the near future. Claims by Eddie Cross that the MDC have 'drawn a line in the sand' and will 'dictate the outcome' while not totally luaghable amount to a little more than bravado.

Any strategy which is hinged around the MDC facing down Zanu-PF is unlikely to yield the results that the MDC wants.

Jupiter Punungwe
proud of my Strong Rural Background (I was born, bred and will die a farmer)