The Minority outwits the Majority

Zimbabwe a country of curious political happenings indeed. The minority have taken over the reigns of power only through their wits this time and not by majority. it is interesting to look at the planning behind this. From 2008 ZANU-PF knew and recognized that they were the minority and amongst them accepted that the Zimbabwean majority do not want them in power any more. So much was at stake from that year on. ZANU-PF had to survive one way or the other and indeed they have prevailed.

First it was power sharing which they disliked with openness, then they realised the opportunity it had given them, their strength in divide and rule. Mutambara provided that opportunity that ensured the two MDCs would never ever agree on anything Morgan Tswangirai and the Welshman Ncube missed this one completely and it was paddled on by ZANU-PF.

ZANU-PF saw all the opportunities the other parties missed. They seem to have studied well what made them loose in 2008. They aimed at numbers while the rest were kept busy by meaningless things speculations of violence, rigging,reports to SADC and AU and a lot of other things. The point is they realised for example that if they were twenty people only six liked them and the rest wanted nothing to do with them. They moved closer to their few one way or the other, their promises, land and all. They watched as party after party was formed, independents coming to life and to them victory was coming on a silver platter. The majority was soon shared amongst all those new parties and independents while ZANU-PF remained with its minority. Soon the majority found itself loosing.

ZANU-PF had to do a few things quickly before the opposition realized. The voter's roll was delayed and appeared to indicate rigging, violence was removed and the election date was announced without any agreement.

The oppositions went into gear attacking ZANU-PF on everything and running to SADC block with everything. ZANU-PF smelt victory and did not want its plan unmasked. Baba Jukwa did not help. He became a welcome distraction that ZANU-PF needed badly. He went on and on with all sorts of reports. Did he predict the death of Chindori or was it kill yours to arrest the opposition or keep the opposition entertained with the death of your own, only Baba Jukwa knows.

When the oppositions wanted an extension following the announcement of the election date ZANU-PF realized it could give them enough time to come together, it objected. This kept the opposition parties running around and loosing time and focus. The opposition parties were complacent as ZANU-PF had been in 2008. Baba Jukwa kept them entertained by indicating that MDC-T would form the new government while all other parties and independents thought ZANU-PF was hated by name and would simply be brushed aside, that has cost the majority now.

ZANU-PF thrives in chaos just like hyenas around a lion's kill. The chaos they always create sees them survive another day. The opposition today has a lot to learn and so much in advice they have to seek from various quarters before engaging in such life changing situations.

Has the opposition real lost? The next five years are the most difficult in Zimbabwe any government coming into power will only be preparing for its exit after this term. One would argue and say ZANU-PF has never been replaced, true but the past has been very different to today.. Those that planned all this are in their twilight and those in opposition have just learnt their big lesson. The turn round of the economy will certainly not be as easy this will be the final undoing of ZANU-PF in the coming elections.

Time has come for the opposition parties not only to change their approach strategies but overhaul the leadership that has so easily been out witted by such old man and women.Leadership that fails to read a situation as it unfolds and fails to accept advice from those that have the capability of reading what is unfolding at the time. One such leader was clearly told he would be political history he today is and will not be coming out quick. It is the Zimbabwean people's hope that the opposition leadership will not either try to mislead them for their own ends or try to run around to courts wasting people's subscriptions without realizing it is time to study where they made mistakes and correct them for future purposes.