Mujuru Arsenal Coalition to Remove Mugabe, Grace
15 December 2015
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JOICE MUJURU AMAI ZIMBABWE
Francis Mufambi| As we approach the make or break watershed plebiscite in 2018, it is unequivocal and has become essentially unavoidable to debate at length the structure, form and modus operandi that can be crafted to take Zimbabwe foward. Ab initio, a number of questions need to be answered and addressed as to how a coalition can function in Zimbabwe.
Historically, the only successful coalition that worked in Zimbabwe was the pre-Independence Patriotic Front that was cunningly used by Robert Mugabe to strengthen himself against the coalition partners. The other electoral coalitions/alliances that took place failed to make any impact for instance the MDC-N/ ZAPU coalition of 2013, The MDCT/ MAVAMBO coalition of 2013 . The question therefore arises; how should a working coalition be knitted in a fractitious and polarised nation like Zimbabwe?
It is common sense to those of a sound mind that Zanu PF is now an enemy of the People, all reasonable people. But not only that, it is also an enemy of itself and its hoodwinked and hostage held people.
The following therefore should be dissected if any unity of purpose is to be achieved in Zimbabwe as a benchmark to complete Zimbabwe’s change.
1. National Legitimacy of the Coalition:
The sad episodes of the Mugabe reign which include the Gukurahundi era have committed a cardinal sin to Zimbabwe’s major tribes where mistrust and tribal hatred form the centre of Zimbabwe’s current ills. National legitimacy therefore refers to the acceptability of an institution from all geographical corners of the country. In this vein all national tribes should have confidence and trust in a coalition with a clear eraser of tribal political dealings. 2013 watershed elections presented a millenium of tribal coalitions and was more of a tribal competition indeed. Dumiso Dabengwa and his Zapu coalesced with Welshman Ncube a fellow Ndebele, Morgan Tsvangirai who is a Manyika coalesced with Simba Makoni a Manyika hence Zanu pf who had a clear fusion of all tribes dominated the election. In this it should be noted that national legitimacy and acceptability of a coalition by all and sundry will yield better results
2. Identification of Basic tenets of Zim Political Culture:
A study and understanding of the Zimbabwean electoral voting patterns is of enormous importance. In this lighthearted vein, Zimbabwean voters respect the liberation war and those who participated in it. It is for the same reason that Zanu PF has been manipulating this understanding. The opposition for a long time trailed on the liberation war and revolutionary credentials which relegated their chances to make notable changes to the political landscape. A successful coalition should have undoubted credentials of respecting and upholding the ideals of the protracted struggles for emancipation, independence, self determination and African liberation from as far back as Mbuya Nehanda and Lobengula. It should be a coalition bent on realisation of the liberation goals and the equality of all humans under the sun.
Because the only tangible right that a ‘born free’ Zimbabwean benefitted from the current regime is nothing more than the fact the we are able to vote. In this vein, a new political methodology that will see mental decolonisation, unshackling of abusive patronage systems for the achievement of broad economic freedom and all the intentions of our broad bill of rights will resonate with the 21st generation who are ideas driven and seduced by real and tangible delivery on jobs and social services.
3. Composition of the Coalition:
Only a coalition based on an unequivocal and clear template is likely to succeed. Shared world views and fair assessment of support minus inflated egos is a must. Just OWNING or being a president of a political party can’t be a legitimate qualification for coalition participation. Parties must meet on the basis of the common interest and agenda of national change and not only to get rid of Zanu PF. An agreement on the issues and how they are to be tackled must be made lest Zanu PF means will be used to address national challenges and as such the coalition will only be a hybrid of the Zanu cancer.
All parties must agree to a national selection programme of candidates. A primary election of candidates especially for the presidential candidates is a must and this will give the citizen the power to say who they want to coalesce around and thus clearly show the candidate preferences and allow for energies to be channelled in one direction and expended in the battle of the opposition against itself.
Zimbabwean politicians need to know that democratic legitimacy should be set as a minimum linchpin of the DOs and DONTs.
Democratic legitimacy being a system where an agreed democratic template is put in place and all anti democratic dealings rejected. The fact that out of a population of 13-15 million only 3 million at maximum vote is a cause of concern. Why is citizen participation in electoral systems so low? A coalition should put in place strategies and mechanism that will give obligation to every citizen to participate.
The perennial rejection of scientific research and evaluation of party attractiveness and electoral impact has must be discarded. For any coalition to reflect the will of the people and therefore have a chance of success it must not only pay close attention to scientific research but actively invite scientific scrutiny and interrogation as a political decision making tool.
It is only an honest non ego driven and fair assessment of the political image in the mirror that will allow the best people driven coalition to form and drive change successfully.
Francis Mufambi is a Political Science and Legal scholar writing in his own capacity. He can be contacted at [email protected]

One Reply to “Mujuru Arsenal Coalition to Remove Mugabe, Grace”

  1. This analysis is coming to the wrong conclusions because most of the assumptions on which it was based are hopeless wrong. President Mugabe won the 2013 elections because MDC had failed to implement the critical democratic reforms necessary for free, fair and credible elections. Without the reforms MDC’s hordes of supporters counted for nothing!
    If there is any need for a coalition then it must be a coalition to ensure the reforms are implemented once that is done each party can do there own thing.

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