By Nick Mangwana
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| Makoni found it so cold outside ZANU PF that he became cosy with the High Priest of Sanctions: Morgan Tsvangirayi |
It’s just a few days to Congress. Zanu PF our revolutionary
party is undergoing another revolution. Every analyst is speculating what will
happen before, during and after congress. Speculators have said that the party
will be split, weaken and even go into opposition. Nothing can be further from
the truth. We are given examples of political parties that died like UNIP and
Malawi Congress Party. The difference between such parties and our Zanu PF is
simple; they did not get their independence through a liberation struggle. But
that does not mean we should take each other or the people for granted.
People have left Zanu PF and discovered that it is cold out
there (quoting a famous professor). So far we had Zanu Ndonga which was a
splinter group formed by Zanu’s founding president Ndabaningi Sithole. This
party achieved nothing and those that left followed him faded with him and
never made a difference to the people of Zimbabwe. Granted, that party got a
seat in Chipinge for a few parliamentary seasons, but that is as much as it
went.
We then had our former Secretary General, Cde Edgar Tekere
forming Zimbabwe Unity Movement (ZUM). Here was a former stalwart with so much
clout. But lo and behold his new party only 2 got seats in the House of
assembly. Since then the party just suffered a natural a natural atrophy attributable
to organisations based on protest and disgruntlement. After a few years in the wilderness the much
liked cde Tekere ended up home. Back in Zanu PF and was subsequently interred
at the National Heroes’ Acre. Cde Tekere was arguably a big political player.
But he could not be bigger than the party. Outside the Party, Zanu PF he found
it cold out there.
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| Sithole: Outside ZANU PF his party faded into political oblivion |
In 2008 a young technocrat who had done a good stint in Sadc,
government and another good one in the corporate world left the party. There
was a belief that this technocrat had enough political gravitas to shake the
party. This was at the height of the sanctions regime. He benefitted from a
protest vote after people had endured the eye of the sanctions storm. But for
all the hype and ballyhoo he only got 8% of the vote. He had run as an
individual. He expected people to vote for him, not because of what he stood
for. Not because he had a vision or ideology. Not because he had been chosen by
the people. No. None of the above. Because he was Simba Makoni. After the
elections he went on to form a party called Mavambo-Dawn-Kusile. He found it
cold out there and faded into political oblivion. He now enjoys a very fascinating
relationship with the High Priest of Sanctions; Morgan Tsvangirayi. But when it
comes to making a difference to the people of Zimbabwe, he has lost what could
have been.
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| Cde Edgar Tekere (right); Flirted with ZUM and came back home to ZANU PF |
He possibly could have been making immense contribution if he had
remained in the fold. However Simba rehove riri mumvura (A fish will only retain its strength if
it remains in the water).
he lost the strength he had as happens a fish he
leaves water. As it is said in Shona folklore wisdom; This is a call for unity.
However it is not a call for the
party to be blasé in its treatment of its cadres and leadership. It is also not
a call for the party to be indifferent to the needs of our people. We made
electoral promises. The people believed us. In those promises we were being sincere.
However our sincerity will only be evidenced by our delivery of better outcomes
for the people of Zimbabwe. If we fail to deliver those outcomes, at least let
us show that we are trying. Right now we will struggle to do that.
There is now
so much suspicion within the rank and file of the party at many levels
including cabinet. The congruence that
is needed to push our agenda via Zim-Asset is now scantly witnessed. We are
tempting fate cdes. We are taking a very high risk for which we might pay a very
high price. This is a high stakes game in which there is so much to gain but
and much more to lose.
We shouldn’t condone treachery and betrayal. Betrayal and
back stabbing by your own is not only vulgar but the deception is cruel. By the same token we shouldn’t also betray the
trust bestowed upon us by the people to make their lives better. Let us never
forget that after all has been said and done, there is life after Congress.
In the same breath we should also say, it is cold out there,
so whoever is flirting with leaving the party should learn from history. Those who do not remember history are
condemned to repeating it.
Aluta
Continua.
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Nick Mangwana; ZANU PF UK Chairman
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