The MDC election boycott in a nutshell

The MDC is primarily an opportunistic party. Several disparate and ideologically opposed groups thought they had seen an easy stroll into power.

In the MDC you had avowed socialists like Munyaradzi Gwisai getting into bed with avowed capitalists like Eddie Cross. You had trade unionists dancing with industrialists. There was no core ideology or motivation. There was no fundamental collective set of principles.

After the victory of trade unionist Chiluba in Zambia everyone thought if they threw a trade union sheepskin over whatever contraption they had, they could saunter into power. There was no deep personal conviction by most members. All of the groups concerned got together merely because they thought getting rid of Mugabe was a shortcut to achieving their individual aims.

I am convinced that a large number of people in these groups also privately saw the opportunity to control, and hence dip their hands into, lots of cash. That is why anyone who gets close to the top, is not prepared to back down.

Excuse the pun but no pig at the trough steps away to let others eat. If it is forced away it tries to drag a portion of the trough with it. That explains the numerous splits in the MDC.

When there was lots of cash circulating in the opposition, there was a lot to spare for things like elections. Now that most of the financial backers have pulled away and there is little cash, why waste some of it on elections instead of just pocketing it. As far as I am concerned that is the fundamental motive behind the election boycott. The rest of what is being said is just suitable justifications.

Besides that fact that you do not need an electronic voters roll to hold a reasonably credible election, election time is also a good opportunity to market yourself. In simple marketing terms it is called keeping the customers mindshare by maintaining brand presence. It allso helps to keep your supporters motivated.

Any other route is nothing but a gamble that Zanu-PF will make more blunders and drive support away from itself. Zanu-PF blunders, especially with the economy, is what has kept the MDC alive. Otherwise they would have collapsed a long time ago.

The MDC and other opposition groups are boycotting elections simply because they do not want to spend money on them. It also shows that most opposition leaders do not have sufficient personal conviction and motivation to soldier on despite difficulties.