News / National
Chamisa needs to ditch 'student politics'
08 Apr 2021 at 11:38hrs | Views
POLITICAL analysts have once again warned that the opposition risks being annihilated by Zanu-PF ahead of the 2023 polls, unless they change strategy and pursue national dialogue.
In addition, the analysts also told the Daily News yesterday that MDC Alliance leaders needed to ditch their "student politics" and stop dithering about whether to stick with the current name or come up with a completely new outfit.
This comes as the myriad troubles stalking the coalition on multiple fronts are escalating — including the threat of the pact losing its name to the main opposition MDC that is now led by Douglas Mwonzora.
It also comes as political tension is rising again in the country, amid fresh fears of violence after the recent conviction and Tuesday's subsequent jailing of MDC Alliance activist Makomborero Haruzivishe.
Amid all this, political analysts told the Daily News yesterday that Nelson Chamisa and his allies also needed to pursue national dialogue with more vigour, rather than attempt to take the government head-on.
Renowned Professor of World Politics at the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies, Stephen Chan, said Chamisa needed to "reinvent both himself and his party" and pursue dialogue to enhance his chances in the country's fast-approaching next elections.
"You cannot confront Zanu-PF and at the same time confront the other MDC, complaining that you are the real MDC … a situation of circular futility arises.
"He (Chamisa) needs to rebrand his party, ensure that there is national dialogue along the issue of reforms by engaging Zanu-PF without necessarily being combative.
"I hate to say this, especially as many people think I am overly critical of him but, in fact, I extend my admiration to him, for he has great courage.
"However, it seems he uses exactly the same confrontational strategy that he used as a student leader," Chan told the Daily News.
Instead of being confrontational towards Zanu-PF, he added, Chamisa needed to concentrate more on building his party in preparation for the 2023 elections.
"Above all he needs to concentrate on fighting for by-elections for those seats lost by his followers and setting out alternative detailed policies, not just visions and sound-bites.
"And, in doing so, be seen very publicly to be engaging with technocratic figures in the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and in the Chinese banks, portraying himself as a leader-in-waiting.
"He must start re-assembling his people into a nationally-organised force to contest the next general elections, establishing a model of smooth party organisation and transparency that everyone can see as an example to all others," Chan further told the Daily News.
Respected University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer, Eldred Masunungure, weighed in saying it would be foolhardy for Chamisa to expect that Zanu-PF would agree to any reforms, as some of his advisers were arguing, when he continued to dispute President Emmerson Mnangagwa's legitimacy.
"The MDC Alliance leader should search for a viable solution through non-combative means given the nature of the ruling party.
"Confrontational battles are its area of specialisation and one does not walk into a lion's den and expect to come out unscathed.
"There is a need for a serious paradigm shift in the opposition's approach because they cannot afford to be blind to the reality of a vicious response to confrontation by Zanu-PF," Masunungure told the Daily News.
"If he hopes for an all-inclusive dialogue, it is only possible if he (Chamisa) discards the strategy of confrontation and uses persuasion by dropping the legitimacy demand as a sign of goodwill.
"He should put to the fore issues that affect the people — be they political, economic or social.
"That way, he stands a better chance of persuading Zanu-PF to dialogue outside Polad, which is not really a good platform," Masunungure said further.
"This would give him room to ensure that issues such as electoral reforms are on the table because, in any case, whether Mnangagwa is illegitimate or not, he has already served half of his term.
"He must drop the legitimacy demands because Zanu-PF's position is clearly rigid and the current approach is not yielding any dividends," he added.
In addition, the analysts also told the Daily News yesterday that MDC Alliance leaders needed to ditch their "student politics" and stop dithering about whether to stick with the current name or come up with a completely new outfit.
This comes as the myriad troubles stalking the coalition on multiple fronts are escalating — including the threat of the pact losing its name to the main opposition MDC that is now led by Douglas Mwonzora.
It also comes as political tension is rising again in the country, amid fresh fears of violence after the recent conviction and Tuesday's subsequent jailing of MDC Alliance activist Makomborero Haruzivishe.
Amid all this, political analysts told the Daily News yesterday that Nelson Chamisa and his allies also needed to pursue national dialogue with more vigour, rather than attempt to take the government head-on.
Renowned Professor of World Politics at the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies, Stephen Chan, said Chamisa needed to "reinvent both himself and his party" and pursue dialogue to enhance his chances in the country's fast-approaching next elections.
"You cannot confront Zanu-PF and at the same time confront the other MDC, complaining that you are the real MDC … a situation of circular futility arises.
"He (Chamisa) needs to rebrand his party, ensure that there is national dialogue along the issue of reforms by engaging Zanu-PF without necessarily being combative.
"I hate to say this, especially as many people think I am overly critical of him but, in fact, I extend my admiration to him, for he has great courage.
"However, it seems he uses exactly the same confrontational strategy that he used as a student leader," Chan told the Daily News.
Instead of being confrontational towards Zanu-PF, he added, Chamisa needed to concentrate more on building his party in preparation for the 2023 elections.
"Above all he needs to concentrate on fighting for by-elections for those seats lost by his followers and setting out alternative detailed policies, not just visions and sound-bites.
"And, in doing so, be seen very publicly to be engaging with technocratic figures in the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and in the Chinese banks, portraying himself as a leader-in-waiting.
"He must start re-assembling his people into a nationally-organised force to contest the next general elections, establishing a model of smooth party organisation and transparency that everyone can see as an example to all others," Chan further told the Daily News.
Respected University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer, Eldred Masunungure, weighed in saying it would be foolhardy for Chamisa to expect that Zanu-PF would agree to any reforms, as some of his advisers were arguing, when he continued to dispute President Emmerson Mnangagwa's legitimacy.
"The MDC Alliance leader should search for a viable solution through non-combative means given the nature of the ruling party.
"Confrontational battles are its area of specialisation and one does not walk into a lion's den and expect to come out unscathed.
"There is a need for a serious paradigm shift in the opposition's approach because they cannot afford to be blind to the reality of a vicious response to confrontation by Zanu-PF," Masunungure told the Daily News.
"If he hopes for an all-inclusive dialogue, it is only possible if he (Chamisa) discards the strategy of confrontation and uses persuasion by dropping the legitimacy demand as a sign of goodwill.
"He should put to the fore issues that affect the people — be they political, economic or social.
"That way, he stands a better chance of persuading Zanu-PF to dialogue outside Polad, which is not really a good platform," Masunungure said further.
"This would give him room to ensure that issues such as electoral reforms are on the table because, in any case, whether Mnangagwa is illegitimate or not, he has already served half of his term.
"He must drop the legitimacy demands because Zanu-PF's position is clearly rigid and the current approach is not yielding any dividends," he added.
Source - dailynews
