The majority of political movements in Zimbabwe have ended up as farcical theatrical manifestations that only perpetuate Zanu PF hegemony.
Zimbabwe is today a caricature of a one-party state. Over the years, the real owners of political power in Zimbabwe have lied behind a powerful hidden hand, from the liberation struggle through to the post-independence period. As such, any political crusade will not succeed without the blessings of that hidden hand, to facilitate political transformation.
While ordinary masses may be dejected, disgruntled and suffocated, they remain powerless and can not initiate any meaningful manoeuvres with enough gravitas to extricate themselves from the economic malaise that has bedevilled the country since Independence.
The so-called stay-aways called by war veteran Blessed Geza will yield nothing without the blessing of the hidden hand, which has always called the shots.
Pragmatists, without philosophically poisoning the well, understand this assertion. The ripple effects of this dilemma are being felt today — a few individuals are amassing national resources at the expense of toiling citizens, who have now become clueless and can only wait for an unknown Messiah to help them.
The late former president Robert Mugabe relied on the same system to remain in power for 37 years.
General Vitalis Zvinavashe, the late Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, is on record as having said the army would not salute anyone with no liberation war credentials after then MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai had clobbered Mugabe in the March 2008 elections.
Mugabe desperately required the coercive state apparatus to salvage him from dethronement and in the run-off plebiscite that followed, Tsvangirai was forced to withdraw, tilting the electoral landscape in favour of Mugabe. Over 200 of his supporters had been killed in political violence allegedly spearheaded by Zanu PF.
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Ironically, the system became the Frankenstein monster that forced Mugabe out of power in November 2017 and has remained the cornerstone of political power after ushering in President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Polls in 2018 and 2023 also showed there is power behind the public stage. Despite this drama, ordinary citizens were expecting political transformation.
The military in August 2018 again derailed potential uprising by voters who were demanding the release of poll results. And today, no need for rocket science, when those with powers decide to maintain the status quo, no one has the capacity to resist change; hence Nelson Chamisa — the designer suits politician — has retreated into oblivion. Chances that he may redeem his lost glitter are remote.
Forget about all other pretenders who are enjoying the benefits of Zanu PF’s gravy train by feigning multi-party democracy through the formation of pseudo-opposition parties.
