Zanu-PF determined to regain control of Bulawayo

ZANU-PF is seemingly determined to regain control of Bulawayo, as illustrated by its participation in civil society meetings which it had previously shunned.
Yesterday Zanu-PF showed face at a public meeting organised by Bulawayo Agenda in partnership with Sapes Trust and brought scores of supporters along.
Before, Zanu-PF has been scarce at public meetings or hardly represented but yesterday's meeting saw the emergence of high ranking party members.
For the discussion, Zanu-PF was represented by politburo member, Dr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu who is also the national secretary for education while another politburo member Eunice Sandi-Moyo, minister of state for Bulawayo metropolitan was part of the crowd coupled by other party members.
Analysts noted this public participation at civil gatherings is Zanu-PF's new strategy to gain confidence in Bulawayo as evidenced by the numbers of supporters who attended yesterday's meeting.
It was noted Zanu-PF is moving into civil society spaces as part of its process of squeezing out opposition parties which had been using these gatherings to gain momentum.
Public meetings have been viewed as a preserve of the opposition mainly MDC-T, MDC and Zapu with Zanu-PF shying away, largely due to its poor performance in previous elections in the province.
Social commentator, Godwin Phiri said this showed Zanu-PF is determined to wrestle Bulawayo from the opposition and there has been a steady flow of activity by the ruling party and the government in the city.
"Activities such as the unveiling of statue (Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo statue), the airport and the progress at Ekusileni Hospital. Soon we may see attempts to resuscitate the city's economy. Certainly the opposition has a lot of work on its hands to fend off this offensive," he said.
Phiri noted Zanu-PF was signalling to the opposition that it was already battling for Bulawayo.
"Well, Zanu-PF was in control of the city between the 1990s and 2000 until the emergence of the MDC. Also note that their numbers have been increasing of late if one compares the voters who voted for it in last years elections with previous elections," he said.
Another commentator, Mbuso Fuzwayo, underscored every space was crucial for any political party yearning for visibility.
He said Zanu-PF was preparing for the  2018 national elections  and if the opposition failed to realise that they would lose control.
"These gatherings are an activity on its own and by bringing its supporters, Zanu is keeping its membership active. The party has realised that not attending these gatherings works against them, Zanu-PF now wants to be heard by people who don't want to be a part of their rallies.
"Yesterday's meeting shows the opposition's membership is on leave unlike those of  Zanu-PF, who came out in full force to support its party. Zanu-PF is growing, it wants to feed to its membership, it has realised the importance of those meetings plus the media coverage it would gain," he said.
Echoing Phiri, Fuzwayo noted it was expected Zanu-PF wanted to regain power that had been taken by the MDC.
"Zanu-PF won a seat in Bulawayo after the Unity Accord in 1987 then lost control when the MDC was formed. It only won certain wards sometime in 2003 or 2004 after participating in by-elections, which MDC did not participate in but it has not had a parliamentary seat since in Bulawayo," he said.