DR MASIMBA MAVAZA |It is not a secret that in Zimbabwe all the serious opposition leaders come from Manicaland. These include Muzorewa, Tekere, Tsvangirai and Mutambara to mention but a few. There has never been any danger from any other region or province. Judging by history Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa is not a threat and the alarm bell sounding from Manicaland’s less sober woman (Mandi Chimene) was not a coincidence. The event at the Zanu PF headquarters was so shocking in its lack of respect and foolishness. Any straight thinking cadre will know that serious decisions are not made at a rally. We can therefore safely conclude that Mnangagwa emerged as a hero because silence pays. He could not have descended to the level of a self confessed druggie.
What happened was a clear tale of two factions.
A faction is a consequence of subgroup formation and conflicting subgroup identities and/or conflicting interests. These internal actors have been labeled as currents, fractions, factions, cliques, conflict groups, wings, interest groups, tendencies or clientele groups.
Factions are considered as any intra-party grouping that competes with each other for the realization of their goals as a faction. They are defined as semi-visible, irregular and unstable pre-party entities that could evolve into political or leader- follower groups with well-defined roles: “followers give support to the leader in parliament and in intra-party struggle; the leader has the primary responsibility to provide positions, funds and other necessities of a good life including a promise of such. Factions are self-consciously organized as a body with a measure of discipline and cohesion that should be distinguished from tendencies defined as “a body of attitudes expressed in a party about a range of problems: the attitudes are held together by a more or less coherent political ideology.”
In politics you often hear the term “left-wing” and “right-wing” thrown around. For example; left-wing political ideas are usually big on community and believe that government should be involved in society. Taxes are collected and redistributed to support those who cannot look after themselves. In a country led by a factious party it is the people who suffer more. Instead of organising rallies to give food to the hungry the rallies of consolidating one’s position is wasteful and self destructive.
Political parties usually stick to the same side (left or right) but how close they get to the centre ground depends on who leads them. If the party disagrees with where the leader is taking them it can lead to a split. But if the party is afraid to break from itself or from the centre of power they form factions and try or pretend to be all serving the centre of power. This happens were the party evolves around one person. In this scenario people form factions in the name of the centre. They even destroy the party and its unity in the name of the centre of power.
Confused by all this “left-wing” “right wing” talk? Ask yourself why did the president completely ignore Mandie Chimene. Why did he not acknowledge what she said. The president instead turned the heat on Mawarire and embassies. As if saying shut up to Chimene he instead urged the party to unite.
Are we to believe that Mnangagwa is a coward who can not shout back. Is is he an idiot who can do nothing? Why did His Excellence not fire him or warn him. Would anyone have survived accusations ten times in a row how can that be that rally after rally he is attacked and embarrassed in silence. Whose leadership profile is built? Is public humiliation in the interest of the people?
Initially Mnangagwa was said to be unelectable. Now people think he is a cool calculative leader. Consequently, the childish excitable outbursts by minister Chimene, Mahoka and others only strengthen his resolve.
Only a fool could repeat the noise of the already silent. Minister Moyo went to Twitter with Mnangagwa now he is quiet. Sarah Mahoka did the same she is silent the list grows and they have all been silenced. The question is why?Don’t worry, we’ve got it covered in the Political Spectrum. Will this change or split the party?
The Party is at acrossroads. The original party was born out of love for the nation with a zeal to represent the working class and the people of all walks of life. It was a “left-wing” party.
Then Factions changed things, re-branding the party as partisan and moving the party more to the centre ground of politics. The party needs to choose; gossip or reality. Unfortunately if they can’t decide, it may lead to the party breaking up.
The gossip and partisan politics has weakened the party and we are losing support if we do not change fast. The idea of settling in-house matters at a rally is childish immature and stupid.
This allowed thugs more influence in politics and weakened the power of the people and the veterans of the party.
People are saying to ZANU PF
“We don’t like who you’ve become”
The party has been pulled too far to the right-wing of the political spectrum.
We must bring it back to the left and to regain some of the party’s traditional values. Which are fighting for the people creating jobs and making Zimbabwe a country again.
This week the president made a speech about the future of the party. Several comments could be interpreted as digs at leadership hopefuls.
“It’s not you, it’s your politics”
In fairness to the president he didn’t officially endorse any candidate and said the contest shouldn’t be about an individual, but about a political platform which works for the country. He did not condemn the one who was made a target he chose to go silent on the Mnangagwa issue. Why? The president is wise and very wise.
What His Excellence thinks about the circus in the party is anyone’s guess, though he gave plenty of clues. “When people say ‘well my heart says I should really be with that leader well, get a transplant.”
So for a better chance of remaining in some power, we must decide to team up.
No point sitting around gossiping get back out there and hook up with your party there is strength in numbers, and you’ll never get anything done in parliament unless you have support. The idea of firing people is not constructive. ZANU PF does not need any expulsions now. It instead needs a heavy recruitment drive. Stop the palace coups build the nation. ZANU PF is bigger than individuals careless talks are careless. Dutch courage leads to doom and any genuine complaint is swept in the tide of stupidity displayed by drunken statements.
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