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1. In 2013, we were faced with a crisis as ZANU PF sought to rail-road the nation into an early election without reforms introduced by the constitution. @ProfMoyo has explained why ZANU PF was keen on an early election. We saw this strategy & tried to counter it
2. We wanted reforms to be implemented so we pushed hard on the diplomatic front to get SADC involved as we knew we had little hope in the courts. We had tried to get these judges removed. They had never forgiven us. So the court of diplomacy was better than the court of law.
3. Getting SADC to convene the Maputo Summit was a major scalp & Mugabe & ZANU PF didn’t like it one bit. They were getting increasingly aggressive towards SADC, raising the sovereignty card & forgetting it was SADC that had saved them in 2008 when it brokered the GNU.
4. So we sought to maximise our gains by making a strong case to SADC, which was playing the role of curator/godfather to our GNU. We prepared hard. I worked with @BitiTendai Jameson Timba, Elton Mangoma and others. It was these people who had worked hard to get the Summit.
5. We (with MT) flew commercial to Maputo via Jo’burg while Mugabe & his entourage flew Air Zim. Our trip was long as we had to spend a whole day waiting for a connection to Maputo. The plane to Maputo was small & the ride was extremely bumpy. We were packed like sardines.
6. MT was unpretentious. Handei tinosvika! he said with his trademark laugh. We had Chris Mutsvangwa on the same bumpy flight & he was very cordial towards MT & myself. He suggested that we could talk about it between ourselves without SADC. But it was already too late.
7. On Summit day everyone gathered at the venue. The situation was tense. We stayed at the hotel with MT, waiting to be called. Our team on the ground came to brief us. In such situations you have a team that scans the terrain & briefs you so you know & strategise.
8. It was then that we learnt something that came as a complete surprise. Our team had seen the list of delegates attending the Summit. There were lists for all parties involved: ZANU PF, MDC-T & MDC-N. Apparently, they had seen @ProfMadhuku name on the ZANU PF delegation list.
9. This was a shock, of course, because we always had @ProfMadhuku as a strong ally & a ZANU PF critic. What was his name doing on the ZANU PF list of delegates? And why? No one seemed to know and we thought ZANU PF was up to is usual divide and rule mischief.
10. However, @ProfMadhuku was nowhere to be seen in Maputo. We did not see him. But many were left wondering why ZANU PF had him listed as its delegate. It’s only now, after @ProfJNMoyo thread that the matter became of interest again. We can only hear from the parties themselves
11. I have written in the Maputo Summit in an old #BSR. But people don’t reador they forget. If you want another go or it’s your first time please make time for this #BSR from 3 years ago: bigsr.co.uk/single-post/20…’s-2013-elections
12. My view is youbread these different narratives as you would put together pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. That way you have a more complete picture. If you can’t open the link please search for these terms: “Magaisa Maputo Summit” on your search engine.
