What changes can Zanu promise after elections?

Elections are soon to be held again in Zimbabwe in 2018 and perhaps for the ninth time opening pages of active democratic choices hopefully without fear of victimization from Zanu or her imagined innuendos through regrouping and redirecting violence. History has it on records that all other elections were won by Zanu using the mixture of both fear through force of violence and brutalisation. There is one exception though and that is the 2008 election when the world sheepishly conceded that Zanu had cheated and stolen an election. An agreement to run a Government of National Unity (GNU) for five years was internationally arranged to save the face of Robert Mugabe by the international community through the team of world Elders.

Needless to say that the same actors of the November 2017 military coup in Zimbabwe had successfully arranged to save Zanu from being walloped in an election and also prepared their future rise to power. The international community including the Chinese who now have a substantial say on the African continent had worked with America and the rest of Europe to work on the Government of National Unity (GNU) as though to say Mr. Mugabe was the salvation of Zimbabwe when the opposite has always been true.

Is Zimbabwe engagement of Americans or vice versa a reflection on good international diplomacy or sheer nauseating mimicry for the west to protect her interests? Are Zimbabweans quite conversant with the diplomatic ball game going on? Has the experience of the country gone in vain in the last thirty-eight years? Leadership in Zimbabwe Politics for fear that their crimes on overseas accounts may be revealed if not by disenchanted governments or individuals they used to create these huge account abroad, they commit the country to meaningless diplomacy that unfairly raise the expectations among the nationals. May be the truth is that many of them have had their pockets lined instead of building the nations whose mandate they received.

Records are clear, for example, on those actually involved in committing Gukurahundi genocide and how the British government covered it up. Similarly the British government know how Mr. Mugabe rigged, in particular the 2008 elections, with the help of the Israel Nikuv election Projects Managing Company. The British also knew how pressure was building on the Zanu government to eliminate the aspirant architectures of the November 2017 military intervention. Intelligence must have been shared to save military intervention group and give them victory instead. No doubt America, Britain and China have a role on Zimbabwe elections in the next few months of 2018. It is naïve to assume they are innocent.

How come, it can be asked, Americans are shuffling diplomacy the way they did not do in 2008 on ZDERA and how they are prepared to cooperate and get rid of sanctions totally? The question is what has really changed in Zimbabwe other than that Mr. Mugabe seats in his huge house lamenting why his wife failed to be the next ruler in Zimbabwe. The country king pin to election rigging Mr Tobaiwa Mudede the government registrar, while long over sixty-five years of age, can neither be retired nor would you hear the current President Mnangagwa talking of retiring him. There is too much game of dishonesty if the truth be told. If rules are at 65 years retire from civil service that is it. What amazes one is the silence of opposition politics on these innuendos. Ordinarily much noise should be heard from opposition politics on putting all issues under plain level to show justice, honesty and integrity in this election.

Strategically the retired General Constantino Chewenga is now more powerful than when he was only Commander of the army because he now commands the direction and logistics of military intelligence work in mapping out how they cannot be pushed out of power watching. He is the Vice President of Zimbabwe and the minister of defense. The complexion of politics in Zimbabwe like that of any post liberation struggle country and much deeper, is that the war veterans and the army locked up a position in never to allow their power eroded. There will have to be a real physical observer presence at voting polls stations from each political party for inspection intimidation free voting. If the military does not suspect people and trust in their own trained veterans/military hierarchy one would have suggested that military presence at voting boots need be solicited. It is hard to see a people accustomed to election rigging just giving up to defeat. Why now and not then? Why would not soldiers retire to join civilian life and participate in economic recovery? Why fill the army in different positions of government they are ill equipped to occupy? President Mnangagwa ought to prepare to retire and receive a pension. Any other efforts will be to reinvent Mugabe era. The world, regional, and local citizens of Zimbabwe in all walks of life need remember this will not be the first time Zanu has rigged an election if they do and that the west has never done anything on rigged elections.

Zimbabweans, apart from having been traumatized with violence and brutality, know what they want and are tired of being cheated. Regrettably, the window of opportunity was robbed when instead of pushing for real change Zanu military architectures seized the chance to resurrect Zanu under different personalities. Unless opposition had strongly pushed for a total change no other method could have worked as successful. It cannot be denied that short term the army appeared to the masses as though they were saviours by the act of the removal of Mr. Robert Mugabe from power. Indeed it was Thabo Mbeki then, and Jacob Zuma who successively were a stumbling block to MDC claiming their election victory in 2008. Equally true it appears like MDC were just mesmerised and forgot to ask for this then that mattered at the last minute of the political game change.

Hopefully President Cyril Ramaphosa may be persuaded to think and support constitutional regime changes. Otherwise Zanu, without strong push from either within itself or outside from opposition political parties, will not give up power without an attempt at shading innocent blood. They have talked of changes but reality reveals they are prepared to conceal much and keep changes to the minimum if not totally avoid it.

The ordinary peasant knows changes necessary to transit the country from bad governance era to good governance –change leadership and party currently ruling. All classes of people, the middle class people, the workers, and the war veterans; except for the Zanu artificial petite bourgeoisies know that change to government is necessary. The ruling elite are the matured Zanu petite bourgeoisie inclusive of the top army, police intelligence, and the corruption driven wealth accumulation middle men oiling the ruling cabal. Regime changes are made difficult by these in between guys who benefit so much from the system that they fake revolution in words when in reality they go into business ventures with world bourgeoisies. Often these in between guys are in touch with ordinary masses giving them survival jobs therefore pretending they are saving the situation. Thus the masses get conditioned to accepting the in between guys as saviours when they actually merely oil the exploitative condition so that no friction exists between masses and the petite bourgeoisie. President Mnangagwa cannot therefore by his very historical connection in the Zimbabwe rotting system unlike, for example, the Tanzania president Mr. John Mafuguli, bring substantial change without bruising some of his well to do friends both in government and outside government. The heart and mind set of the Zimbabwe army personnel is Zanu Chimurenga born and oriented which in time appear far removed from people into account for their contribution. Given Zanu close relationships with China with zero human rights regards and respect will find it difficult over time to be a human right respectful political organization. Without drastic efforts to reorientation mind sets from oppressive dominated mentality to tolerance and acceptance of differences, the political organization cannot overnight just switch from dictatorship orientation t acceptance of the rule of law and constitutionalism. That makes a great and big difference.

Russia and China relations has been made stronger on the continent of Africa and their covet operations are no more covet but that African leadership is moving east as well. This is all just a strategic move than it can help Africa except Africa works on her strengths and leverage into democratic global politics. Zanu has a very poor chance of changing anything in the next five or ten years. She can only entrench herself into power at the expense of the country economy middle class and the masses.

Zimbabwe needs dialogue on new thinking guided by clear policy definition on national interest not on dogmas of party therefore selfish ideologies. Mr. Mugabe and his incompetent cohorts including majority of those who comprise of the current Zanu power movers have served Mr. Mugabe well and loyally. If changes come they will revert to Mr. Mugabe's economic flip flop policies without shame at all. Can they be relied upon for change? It is unlikely and what would be the motivation anyway.

None can argue that opposition would find it easy to bring change as well, but hopefully that people will be able to talk strong against the ills of a new government than to an established dictator with a history of butchering people in day light. It is hoped too that the plan of aligning government with the army will be a thing of the past since Zanu may critically threaten to come back again using the claim for liberation struggle. Zimbabwe can emerge better as a country if she takes to pure rule of law and uphold the constitutional law without regards to political dogmas and ideologues that have nurtured corruption instead and killed accountability totally.

The best leverage Zimbabwe has is the pool of unpolluted diasporas hopefully, who if given roles will fearlessly push for real change agendas since they have not spend time investing on corruption they will look into protecting. Zanu is an expert in sinking down ambitions of people into supporting their agenda of building few petite bourgeoisies. The struggle to build a better Zimbabwe will need much stronger brain storming because the east and the west will not watch any country just take off if they can blackmail leadership to take short cuts. The Political system needs therefore be strong at accountability, transparency, and the choice of competence in the national interest. For thirty-eight years we left the country into the hands of Zanu and see what they gave us. Change has to come.