Regime enablers vs Change agents

Weekend Reflections with Sabhuku Nhopi: Regime enablers vs Change agents

The late Dr. Alex T. Magaisa has arrived today (25 June 2022) in Zimbabwe back from exile in UK, where he succumbed to a heart ailment. Since his passing, on the 5^th June 2022, several people have mourned him in various way from those in Zanu pf and those in the opposition. Some like renown journalist Hopewell Chin’ono gave a befitting eulogy at his memorial service held recently in Harare where he painted a future where all Zimbabweans ought to rally behind ‘Mukomana’ for the country to have some semblance of normalcy in our lifetime.

As the Gandamasungo Mountain in Wedza is going to witness yet another momentous burial of the former Law Lecturer at Kent University, many will be left wondering who then will carry over the legacy of Dr Magaisa as he takes a wealth of knowledge on law and politics deep down to the lonely belly of the earth. This Weekend Reflections series can never claim to fit in the shoes of the popular Big Saturday Read writer but draws inspiration from the vast knowledge left by the real hero of the nation. In this first write up, I will take you through the difference between regime enablers and change agents.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines an ‘enabler’ as “one that enables another to achieve an end.” People who join ‘New Dispensation’ under Zanu pf do so for various reasons although some used to be change agents before. Some were enablers through and through yet they masqueraded as change agents yet some still were genuine change agents. Change agents are people who support genuine change from repressive rule to democracy. The list of people who crossed the floor from opposition to Zanu pf is very long which include the likes of Obert Gutu and Lilian Timveous. Others do not directly or openly support the ruling party yet their actions imply their support for instance UFI leader Prophet E. Makandiwa has not shown directly that he is a card carrying member of Zanu pf but the fact that President Mnangagwa chooses to visit his church is enough testimony that his message resonates with the President and his entourage which includes the Vice President Chiwenga. If it was not so, the President should visit seemingly dissenting voices such as the Jesus Revelation Ministries led by vocal government critic Apostle T.F. Chiwenga.

That being said, there are two choices that Zimbabweans are faced with right now. Its either being a regime enabler or being a change agent. These two have advantages and disadvantages.

 Advantages of Regime Enablers

Being a regime enabler has so many advantages but can’t go without disadvantages these include:-

·         An enabler has a higher chance that the law will be more lenient to them than a change agent. E.g. Killers of Mboneni Ncube are still out roaming the streets looking for their next victim and Henrietta Rushwaya caught attempting to smuggle gold at the R.G. Mugabe International Airport is free while Job Sikhala is in prison for fighting for justice for murdered Moreblessing Ali and people like Hopewell Chin’ono and Fadzai Mahere are out on bail over spurious charges.

·         An enabler stands a good chance of being selected for government posts than a change agent even if that selection is against the law. For example, Obert Gutu was never selected to be part of any commission, a thing which he did after joining Zanu pf. The current CJ Luke Malaba is warming that bench wrongfully as the 2013 constitution rules his appointment illegal. He is there just because he is a regime enabler. If his decisions start to be in favour of the opposition, he won’t last his 5 year term.  

·         Acres of media space especially in the state media like the Herald, Chronicle and ZBC.

·         Enablers gets government tenders easily than Change agents. Some of the inside information on tenders are circulated first among comrades before they go to the public sometimes for formality. The regime enablers get easy access to tenders even when they cannot deliver, in which case the law will turn a blind eye on their incompetence. The regime uses this to hold the enablers at ransom so that they will not think of betraying it.

·         Enablers have access to loans and other benefits like foreign trips. We all saw how the foreign trips to Dubai and Scotland were staffed with regime enablers. We also saw many regime enablers even from the Mugabe era have up to this day still not paid the loans they got under the farm mechanisation program. The issue of money is such a big issue with the regime such that they would create a surrogate enabler to divert finances from the real change agents to regime enablers.

·         Enablers enjoy life now and have lots of privileges from the state including state protection and intelligence or even state funding for certain projects.

Disadvantages of being a regime enabler

·         Negative public perception wherever the person goes. We all saw how Mwonzora’s representative was rejected at the Workers Day celebrations. When people perceive that this person is the one causing your suffering, they will not appreciate your presence.

·         Some regime enablers are now under sanctions from the international community such as the those under ZIDERA. That list is a subset of regime enablers.

·         In the future when the party they enabled is no longer in power, the probability of that person to ever be accepted by the public with trust is less. An example is former regime enabler Prof Jonathan Moyo. He was part of the regime which enacted the AIPPA and POSA repressive laws and oversaw the disappearance of Itai Dzamara among others, yet when things changed, it became very difficult for people to believe he has reformed.

·         Constant risk of being targeted by the regime if you go slightly out of line e.g. Energy Mutodi.

·         In areas where rigging is not obviously possible such as in most urban areas, enablers who run for political office suffer humiliation through electoral defeats which is why most regime big wigs tend to contest at rural areas where their winning chances are higher.

·         Enablers are not part of the future of the country as they have spent their present enjoying at the expense of the future generations. This is problematic in that the present passes yet the future remains and there is nothing so painful as belonging to the past and doing all you can to also want to stay relevant in the future.

·         All regime enablers will be judged harshly by history. Imagine Abel Muzorewa, Morrison Nyathi were all Smith regime enablers and now, no matter what their descendants can do to change the narrative they can’t change the fact that their enabling delayed the liberation struggle.

 

 

 

Advantages of being a Change Agent

·         One of the biggest advantages are that the change agents have clear conscience in most things they do because they are politically correct and wish the best for the country.

·         You belong to the future and history will judge you favourably even if you die before the country reaches the promised land. People such as Dr Alex Magaisa, Itai Dzamara, Patson Dzamara, Dewah Mavinga, Learnmore Jongwe, Dr. Morgan Tsvangirai, Mboneni Ncube, Moreblessing Ali will always remain heroes of the liberation war for the democratisation of Zimbabwe post-independence.

·         Nothing is constant but change. In Zambia, current president Hakainde Hichilema had been in the trenches of opposition for more than 20 years and he got the presidency. Change agents no matter how long the journey can be, one thing for sure is change will eventually come and they will remain on the right side of things.

·         Change agents who run for political office at whichever level especially in urban areas tend to win on the popularity of their leader even if they didn’t invest much in campaigning because people like change.

Disadvantages of being a change agent

·         Constant run ins with the law enforcement agents including jail terms and or bail on charges that rarely hold water vapour.

·         Risk of being murdered e.g. Mboneni Ncube, abducted e.g. Itai and Patson Dzamara or maimed such as Moreblessing Ali.

·         Little or no positive media coverage from the state media.

·         Business interests constantly harassed by the state.

·         Some may die before they reach Canaan which why some former change agents cross the floor to protect their business interest.

Conclusion

This discussion highlighted the difference between a regime enabler and a change agent. It also laid out the advantages and disadvantages for both. Zimbabwe, the choice is yours to choose between being a regime enabler and enjoy the benefits now and suffer later of be a change agent where you suffer now and enjoy later.

Sabhuku Nhopi is a political commentator you can find him on sabhukunhopi@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @Sabhuku Nhopi or like or Subscribe to his music on his Youtube channel @Sabhuku Nhopi.