Zanu-PF rubbishes Mmusi Maimane's claim

Zimbabwe's ruling party, ZANU-PF, has dismissed predictions from South African opposition MP Mmusi Maimane that it could follow the path of Botswana's ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which was ousted in Botswana's October 30 elections.

The BDP, which had ruled Botswana for 58 years, was defeated in a landslide by the opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), led by Duma Gideon Boko. Zimbabwe's ZANU-PF had openly backed the BDP, with senior officials reportedly involved in supporting its campaign efforts. However, following the loss, Maimane took to social media, saying, "ZANU-PF is next. We know you wanted your best friend Masisi to win but Batswana said no."

Responding to Maimane's statement, ZANU-PF's Director of Information, Farai Marapira, rejected any parallels between the two parties, confidently stating that ZANU-PF is not facing a similar fate. 
"ZANU-PF is not going anywhere. ZANU-PF will be here today, and ZANU-PF will be here in 2028 because we continue to fulfil the needs of our people," Marapira said. He emphasized that the party's sustained support is based on meeting the aspirations of Zimbabweans, which he claimed will secure its mandate in the 2028 elections.
Addressing allegations of voter intimidation, Marapira maintained that ZANU-PF's influence stems from its policy achievements rather than coercion, insisting, "We have no need to intimidate anyone; we are focused on delivering on our promises."

This response underscores ZANU-PF's confidence in its staying power amid shifting political landscapes in the region, even as opposition figures suggest that the recent Botswana election results could signal a wave of change.