Academic Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo

What Nelson Chamisa has done is not new in politics and it is normal to have such gestures considering that he is shaping up the movement, it was expected. I earlier on reiterated that people must get shock absorbers before listening to the announcements. There are key areas which must look at on the appointments.

1. Dealing with any possible threat
2. The young generation consensus
3. Alternative cabinet must reflect international standards
4. Balancing act
5. Consolidation of power
6. Power matrix between loyal cadres and quality ( Cream& Dream team)
7. MDC going through a revolutionary process
8. Averting a possible split
9. Kitchen Cabinet dismantled and power control
10. New political players
11. In any political outfit and matrix, there is a lot of power dynamics and gambling. Politics is dirty and one needs a bit of shock absorbers to deal with reality. The new national executive, council and standing committee has dealt with any possible threat to Nelson Chamisa’s Presidency. The door has been shut for anyone who might want to focus on Presidency. Whilst he has managed to bring back Mwonzora and Mudzuri to the national executive, he has given them less influential posts but also to keep them in check. What Nelson has managed to do is to surround them with powerful cahoots who can keep them in check.
12. Young Generation is a consensus that has to be reached. What Nelson is trying to achieve, is a balance of act, working on power struggles, and he is looking at the future, identifying the talent and making use of it. If you study the MDC pool, majority of the people are grassroots people from different backgrounds ; Vending, small scale farmers, traders, cross border trade, SMEs etc and I think he has realised that there is a gap. Look at the Parliament, it’s not looking attractive and it’s not sound, it lacks substance, and he is trying to identify the talent around in a broader perspective. However he has to work extra mile to manage situations and perceptions. Remember there are people who have been in the movement since 1999, who have not been rewarded anything and this has to be dealt with tactful.
13. Alternative Cabinet – Nelson has been struggling to deal with this crisis. Remember there is need to have the middle class people around him, in the event that he forms the Government how does he deal with such a scenario. From a scholarly and development perspective point of view, Nelson Chamisa is preparing for 2023. He is already in the election mode. He has pressed the election mode button. In the next election, congress or convention more big wigs are likely to fall by the way side.
14. Balancing Act

Dont forget Nelson Chamisa is a pastor, He is a lawyer, he is an advocate, He is a party president and he is Business man, to cut the long story short he is also a father. Don’t forget he has a wife behind him. He also has children. So all these spheres around him have influence and there is also centre of power. For me it’s simple, look at the reflection of appointments, you can easily tell all these scenarios which I have drawn. There is a pool of advocates coming in with full force and it’s very difficult to stop them. There are also church people around him. I have always warned people before that in politics, do not have much expectations you will be dissapointed. Mahere comes in as an advocate, Maurene comes in as an academic, and Gladys comes in as a development and international relations person. Remember these three have their own backgrounds other than politics so you cant disconnect them or de-ttach them from Nelson. In one way or another, these three Will be in Nelson Chamisa’s cabinet.

1. Power Matrix – There is power struggle between loyal cadres and the dream team or quality. This may arise in future. They are those people who will say we started this thing and they are those who are obviously closer to the President by virtue of their area of expertise and wealthy experience. No doubt about Fadzai Mahere and Maurene, both have their area of expertise, but Nelson has to manage people’s perceptions about them. Remember Fadzai stood in as an independent and she erroneously attacked MDC towards elections and this is in people’s minds. This is the dream team which will grab cabinet posts in the event that MDC has been given the mandate to rule
2. MDC going through a revolutionary process – heavyweights and the grey hair are being eroded and offloaded through a structural adjustment. It’s being done in a smart way. No question about it. New blood is coming in and new ideas. Expect more of this as we move towards elections. In 2023, there is likely to be new faces around Harvest House, it’s a cleansing smart process. Remember Nelson is 41, and his strength is in the young blood. What matters most is when tables turn, that will be a dangerous trajectory move and it will dismantle all the existing forces around.
3. Kitchen Cabinet dismantled& Averting a possible split – The current appointments made sure that everyone has been accomodated, the loser and the winner. What this means is that noone will be left out and this will strengthen the party ahead of any crucial assignments. What I’m not sure of is the role of the congress? Will these appointments reflect the will of the people? Will these appointments reflect the vote of the congress? This is a question which will be left for another day. Previously during Tsvangirai’s tenure, there was a kitchen cabinet in place which ran the show, apparently led by political heavyweights, has apparently beem dismantled. The likes of Makones are out of the game, Ben the former mayor and others. There is now the pool of Advocates emerging, and if you are out of this circle, the game is not yours, this is led by the powerful young lawyer , the likes of Thabani Mpofu. It’s a new dispensation.
4. New political players coming in – What we are likely to witness is a set of new political players coming in through the revolutionary process. What this means is, majority of them will be running for parliamentary seats and local Government elections. Some are likely to feature as legal counsel for the party, some will be ministers and some will be running for Mps.

Jacob Mafume – He was doing a good job but in politics don’t forget dogs eat dogs. There could be forces within who might have resisted his re-appointment or pressure to move him to his new elected role. Jacob is firm and he has the political grip but politics was at play.

In a nutshel, Chamisa had limited positions and it was difficult for him to leave out key cadres and at the same time, there were those who were nominated for those positions.

Having appointed Murwisi as Deputy Treasurer General, it was difficult for him to drop him completely, he played a key role to Chamisa’s ascension during the 2018 debacle. He fought hard together with the likes of Hwende, Chibaya, Bvondo and Timveous so it was going to be difficult to leave them out. In one way or another he had to find a way to accomodate them. At the same time he had the 50/50 gender balance, he had to creat several portifolios to accomodate women and other players to balance the party.

My assumption is Chamisa has consolidated his power base ahead of future elections and he has silenced his opponents and any other internal revolt. Any possible threats have been surrounded by point persons who will be offering checks and balances.

Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo – Doctor of Philosophy at Women’s University of Africa PhD- Candidate and he can be contacted at [email protected]