Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo writes:

The dramatic monologue entangled around proportional politics in the mdc bedroom is critical. How does an opposition deal with culmination of identity crisis is critical.

Factional politics is normal in any political institutions particularly when those political institutions did not gain power. It is very normal and health. The only important thing is how you manage opponents and factions is critical. Onething you need to understand is that we under militarized state and actually opposition would have not survived up to now under a military watchdog. Mnangagwa is just a face of a militarized state, painting civilian politics. I would not want to entangle much on the critical path to justify the military establishment. We all know what happened on August 1 ( shootings), and we all know what happened on 17 October, 2017 and we all know what transpired on 29 March, 2008. This is a political analogy which has it’s own clear indicators of a militarized state. Opposition MDC has survived that in the past and all these are phases , and come next election, they will always survive that. The honest truth, you don’t need a political scientist to define to you militarized state and we have all eyes to witness the military being in charge of all state apparatus in Zimbabwe. What is happening is very health in MDC politics. It has happened before and I have to point out the preventions and remedies of curing splits and averting them.

1. How to manage & avert splits

There is a wide belief that whoever raise his head in the mdc must be chopped, which is not necessary and wrong approach which will leave the party weakened. What Nelson Chamisa has been doing since he took over from the late founder and icon, Morgan Tsvangirai is literally wise and careful on how to handle internal rivalry. If it was during Tsvangirai times, Mwonzora and other senior leaders would have been shown the door by now. We would witnessed more drama at Harvest House, roads being sealed off and bouncers manning all entries. In the modern days in politics, this is not necessary and expected. Let me talk about what exactly might be happening? How to cure such events and managing them. It’s not necessary to dismiss people on such grounds, but rather they can be managed to keep the movement going.

2. Zanu PF is playing politics on factions

So far it is winning and to their advantage. Opposition allow themselves to be used by ruling party. Each time a perceived enemy arise within themselves they label him an enemy whilst time is moving. This is the works of the intelligence to keep ED going and soon we will be in 2023. They are simply playing politics and ensuring that you keep fighting and they will keep your minds and focus on internal fights whilst the economy is bleeding. I have earlier on pointed out that Zanu PF takes advantage of the situation on the ground and they capitalize on that. If you remember very well, few days ago media was awash with news that Nelson Chamisa received a vehicle from Kudakwashe Tagwirei, and there were a lot of storms within the party. Zanu is simply playing politics between the two factions emerging one led by Nelson Chamisa ( young generation & turkey), and one led by Douglas Mwonzora ( old generation). What they are simply doing is that they are not sponsoring anyone, they simply make you fight, loose focus and drag the drama to 2023. Opposition must dump politics of chete chete and build the movement from honest and home grown solutions. When they accused Nelson Chamisa of owning a vehicle bought by the controversial business mogul Tagwirei, the old generation reacted, we saw some adverts on social media about Tsvangirai legacy being compromised, and few days ago we saw the young generation reacting with slogans ” tengesa uone” , accusing Douglas Mwonzora of receiving 12 million USD. Where on earth would ED and Zanu PF get such kind of money when they are struggling to pay doctors and other critical civil service? Look at the headmaster who stole maize cobs from Mutoko? Look at Eskom, they are about to switch off electricity? Can someone believe that rubbish? I don’t think Nelson would believe such hogwash material. Now let’s come closer home on this one, it’s simple, the enemy is playing smart politics on opposition and it is them, the MDC which allow themselves to be used. You need to relieve yourself from such kind of politics and allow the party to be intact. Nelson is a brilliant lawyer, and do you think in your own right sense, he would allow to receive a car which he knows that it can be powdered with poison or other material or they can simply put cameras or gadgets on it? Or they can simply claim it or flight it in newspapers claiming that Nelson Chamisa stole a vehicle registration number ADE 435 026? Come on this is politics and don’t allow yourself to be used to this extend. Focus on rural strategy and resource mobilization ahead of 2023. So by now we could be seeing Douglas Mwonzora driving a new Lexus or V8 or he could be living in the splash borrowdale brook or Sandton. He is still the same Douglas Mwonzora we have known before, for the past 20 years. What you don’t realise is that you are being sold a dummy and being used and come 2023, you will certain cry and the simple arithmetic and divide and rule politics which will weaken the party’s performance ahead of 2023. If Mwonzora is kicked out , yes he may leave with a handful of people but this will weaken the party’s performance ahead of elections particularly Harare province. So dismiss these stories with contempt they deserve. This is why you see Nelson taking a backseat watching, this is what a wise leader must do. In fact this drama will not end there, more drama will come, so what is critical is for Nelson to ignore and find ways and remedies of avoiding splits and ensuring the success of the party.

3. Nelson Chamisa will prevail

It’s clear Chamisa will survive any split that may possibly come before or after 2023 elections. With events unfolding in the labour backed party, there are possible political indicators pointing to a verge of a split or some skirmish and other internal rivalry. What you need to understand is that Chamisa’ s power is not at Harvest House, neither in the standing committee, Chamisa’ s strength is on the grassroots, and the only people who will manage to protect his Presidency are from the grassroots level. What Nelson managed to do is to ensure that all structures are on his side. This is why you have seen him keeeping his blue-eyed boy Amos Chibaya, he has managed to keep his loyalists in key positions, it is very health and normal in any political settings. I don’t see anyone dethroning Nelson Chamisa from Presidency. It’s a non – starter and this will not happen anytime soon. Infact he is enjoying grassroots connectivity and support. In politics you must read the game. Within the historical context, we have empirical evidence and some case studies on how factional politics culminated into splits. In 2005, the Welshman group tried and this failed and Tsvangirai emerged stronger and managed to defeat Mugabe in the first round, and we witnessed this in 2014 with Tendai Biti and crew leading a breakaway and again they failed to remove Tsvangirai. In fact let me point out this clearly, removing Nelson Chamisa is a non starter and it will not be successful.

4. Politics of identity

I have always alluded to the fact that factions are normal and health in any political institutions. What is critical is how to manage them. Let this be known to Nelson, Mwonzora and team that factions are always there and you cannot expect everyone to love you and this is expected. Everyone in politics have ambitions, and this is why you see Nelson Chamisa from being a youth leader, he rose to organising secretary and later on the Vice President of the party. At one time he was the party spokesman and also a National Executive member responsible for Policy and Research. It’s normal in politics, everyone wants to climb the ladder and seen by everyone. There is nothing wrong with Mwonzora or any other person or even Biti to eye Presidency, WHAT IS IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL, IS HOW YOU MANAGE YOUR AMBITIONS, and keep your identity on course. These factional politics or occurrence are culminating from politics of identity and they can be easily managed. Options on how to manage such :

1. Either appoint Douglas Mwonzora as Head of International Relations and replace him with Gladys and keep him on watch.

2. Either appoint Douglas Mwonzora as the Special Advisor to the President responsible for Policy and Research.

3. Keep him close to the President or even appoint him to head a resource and mobilization team ahead of elections.

Honestly if you do this in one way or another you may see these factions dying a natural death. Sometimes you need to keep your enemies closer to you. This is normal, Douglas Mwonzora contested the Secretary General post together with his arch rivalry and nemesis in politics, the then Party organising Secretary and current President, Nelson Chamisa and their issues backtrack to 2014 politics. It’s expected and it is normal and what is important to manage such events and keep the party intact. One way of getting rid of this to appoint him closer to the President. Keep your enemies closer to you type of politics works for your own good. Remember Nelson Chamisa needs every vote in 2023. Presidential vote is key for him.

4. Chamisa must get rid of bootlickers around him

With the latest stance which Chamisa took is literally good . This habit of firing and dismissing people is not good, and we have seen social media awash with news calling for the dismissal of party heavyweights and this is a wrong route to take in politics. Each time they are squabbles, someone must be shown the door. This is not health for the party. Whilst these stalwarts may leave the party with a handful of people, this will strengthen Khupe’ s case ahead of the judgement coming either in few days or weeks. The judge is expected to give a verdict on Khupe’ s arguments. So Nelson would not be stupid and as a brilliant Lawyer and academic he would not be seen dragging himself in such petty politics ahead of crucial matters such as economy, human rights obligations, resource mobilization and other critical matters. This is why I have recommended that Douglas Mwonzora be either appointed to a critical position and mobilize resources for the party or other critical areas. Remember as a party, you have a judgement awaiting for you and you wouldn’t want to pose a risk on top of another risk. Onething at a time. I don’t agree with bootlickers around, who sing praises and any opposing figure must be shown the door. In fact let me make it clear that some of these bootlickers want to end up on top and the best way to clear the path is to remove all branches which might scuttle their progress. Bootlickers are dangerous and they don’t open avenues to criticism. It is health for a party to be criticized positively.

5. Pre – emptying the Khupe judgement

There is no way the judge is expected to give a verdict in favour of the Chamisa led alliance. This is a matter of fact. There are political and legal connotations evolved around the case and this might lead to Khupe and team triumphal. This has happened before and legal minds and best brains in the MDC must be working on sober decisions on how to deal with such political hurdles. This needs sober minds. The judgement will not be a walk in the path as some may expect that. The judgement awaiting them needs sober minds, it will be a political miscalculation to dismiss the forth coming judgement. Remember, you are dealing with Zanu PF , which is the face of a militarized state and they want to use this opportunity to nail the MDC and cause a split on this one. Remember there are issues of assets, money received from Parliament, we have issues of Mps and senators, whilst this might not be a real issue, few weeks down the line, the judgement may cause problems for the opposition which is already weakened financially. You are dealing with a well financially oiled machinery which can do anything to regain control. Zanu PF knows very well that winning 2023 elections is a pipe dream and the only option is to split the opposition and cause splinter groups and use divide tactics. Some people think, Zanu PF sponsors anyone, sometimes they may not even sponsor anyone, they take advantage of internal rifes within the party.

Good advice for the opposition :

1. Information department needs to be strengthened. It’s one of the best remedies to cure some of these problems. Information department is not performing well. You need a new guy in the Information department.

2. Resource mobilization is critical ahead of 2023.

3. The MDC President must shut door and put a valve on bootlickers

4. Managing factions is critical and a positive move. Every vote counts in 2023.

5. Party secrets and plans must not be splashed on social media.

6. Morgan Tsvangirai ideology is critical

7. People must work for the President. They must be given lots of work to do on the ground and some of these factions will die a natural death.

8. Opposition needs to offer alternative and must not be spectators in politics.

9. Visibility in Parliament is key.

10. MDC must be turned into a commercial brand. Empowerment is key ahead of elections. People need food on the table. No need for sloganeering. Get to the ground and work and politics of gossip will die a natural death.

11. Rural penetration is key. You need a strong rural policy.

12. Resource mobilization is critical.

13. Reshuffle is imminent. Some areas needs to be revisited.

14. Advisory council is critical comprising of technocrats.

15. Changing a ” President” is not necessary. Focus on the enemy. For now the best brand you have is Nelson Chamisa. Work and cultivate the brand.

15. The Chamisa momentum must be turned into a political dividend.

Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo is a Policy Advisor and Researcher and a leading Project Management Consultant. He is also the lead Thinker for Zimbabwe Institute of Strategic Thinking and he can be contacted at [email protected]

PhD Cand WUA