The battle for the Zimbabwe state house keys (part one)

With the coming in of Rtd Brigadier Ambrose Mutinhiri, Nelson Chamisa might ambuscade EDM

Ambrose Mutinhiri, a veteran of the 1970s war against white minority rule, met Mugabe on Sunday before announcing he had formed an opposition party named the National Patriotic Front. The recent developments which saw the for Marondera East member of parliament quit his seat citing unconstitutional removal of the former president Robert Mugabe has caused wild confusion, uproar and serious panic in the ruling party. Within hours of tendering his resignation letter to the speaker of Parliament, Rtd Brigadier Mutinhiri had assumed the leadership of the new political party the New Patriotic Front which is also a refugee to fugitives such as Patrick Zhuwao and Prof Jonathan Moyo.

In his letter Mutinhiri said I quote "I have taken this decision after carefully considering the events of the past four months, starting with the unconstitutional overthrow of the elected Head of State and Government, President Robert Mugabe and his illegal replacement with Emmerson Mnangagwa, by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) through a military coup on 15 November 2017. It is a matter of profound national concern to me that, subsequent to the military coup, Zanu-PF as well as government and State institutions have been captured by ZDF in blatant and unprecedented violation of the Constitution of Zimbabwe'' Considering such a power packed latter, it is now clear that Mugabe was forced out through a military coup but the question being ask by many is why did Mutinhiri kept quit for so long?

With the clock ticking and the elections around the corner, President Mnangagwa might be braced for a surprise shock if he does not play his cards safe. Recently outspoken Norton Member of Parliament Themba Mliswa said "trying to stop Chamisa is like trying to stop a strong wave with open hands" meaning that the cyclone Chamisa might prove to be difficult to EDM as he tries to win the heart of the pastors by dishing free land to them. Coming back to my article, let me make it clear that Mutinhiri will never win the upcoming election even if he had 15 billion for campaigning the Rtd general is not popular to the electorate just like the stubborn Elton Mangoma, however the entry of Mutinhiri signifies the waterloo of EDM if i may say it like that. The political environment toward the build-up of the elections have become a hot potato with Robert Mugabe specifically becoming a game changer in the make or break elections. The former Head of State Robert Mugabe wants to make sure that Emmerson Munangagwa does not retain to the state house come September. In an attack to the 94 year old leader because of his stance support of the new political party, Zanu Pf youth leader had no kind words for Mugabe "If he (Mugabe) decides to rock the boat and then his actions affect the stability of the party… he should be ready for the storm to come… we will not be soft with him," Togarepi said.

With more political players still yet to join the race such as Strive Masiwa, it is of no doubt that Nelson Chamisa might sprung a shocker in the coming election. Mutinhiri will totally wrestle with EDM votes at the benefit of Nelson Chamisa. While the Lacoste function might try to propel the Thokozani Khupe faction to fight Nelson Chamisa this might be yield no results. The road to the state house is no longer clear but one thing for sure Nelson Chamisa might shock the junta, if the EDM government fails to handle the NPF with cautious. Zimbabweans should brace for a close political contest which for the first time the ballot paper won't have Robert Mugabe and the late Morgan Tsvangirai. While EDM has promised free and fair elections his utterances might reform Zanu PF out of power if he put them into practice
Only time will tell.

Knowledge Hakata is a political analyst and a pro-democracy activist. He can be contacted on knowledgehakata@yahoo.com