Robert Mugabe: Syllogistic analysis of his million plus election support.

The new millennia re-oriented Zimbabwe's political landscape in as far as political contestation is defined. After a series of reactive decision I.e. the military intervention in Democratic Republic of Congo, 50k payout to war veterans, land invasions coupled with a ever increasing inflation, ZANU PF hegemony pinnacled by Robert Mugabe began to receive enormous challenge from a priggish MDC prima donned by Morgan Tsvangirai. The opposition emphasized the need for change of governance which the ruling party prevaricated with anti-imperialist sentiments but nonetheless election results indicated that over a million votes per each edition of presidential election were casted in favour of the aforementioned parties. The recurence of this phenomenon up to the lastly held 2013 General elections prolonges the argument, was the Zimbabwean electorate subscribing to the ideologies of political movements or rather fervent attachment to the two candidates who were Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai. The prompt response is to align oneself with the latter motivated by the nature of Zimbabwe's intra party primal congregation of individually branding in achieving populism at the expence of other qualities like policy, quality of service and delivery. Demonstrated empirically with how the battling MDC -T factions are battling for the Tsvangirai family endorsement and subsequent failure by Emerson Mnagagwa to call to order Robert Mugabe the brand associated with ZANU PF the brand.

That being underlined, as Zimbabwe gears up for another general election at the background of immense developments within the electoral environment. The unexpected dethronement of potentate Robert Mugabe, appointment of Emmerson Mnangagwa as party and country president, the death of Morgan Tsvangirai, appointment of Nelson Chamisa as Tsvangirai successor and a jerky economy. These can be cited as notable developments. As election zephyr soothes, a critical distinction Of the upcoming election and previous editions of the post millennia decade is that the two perceived protagonist will not feature on ballot papers of presidential candidates. In light of this their million plus vote cast a piece must be a subject of interrogation especially considering political education deficiency of the electorate where the individual brand super cede policy and political ideology. Distinctively the vote is expected to follow the party and its successor but in the case of Mr Mmnangagwa ascendancy involves indefinite wrestling of power from Mr Mugabe. Please note he removed him from office militarily not through elective processes therefore putting his popularity and endorsement among Mugabe's loyalist within the party questionable and unconvincing and without sublime interaction with the infuriated million plus Mugabe supporters this constituency of the electorate might cost Emmerson Mnangagwa an election victory.

Unlike Mr Mnangagwa's ascendancy where guns and tanks were used, Mr Chamisa was elevated to the vacant post through party elective structures after the death of Mr Tsvangirai. Boosting with support from an alliance of opposition parties promulgated by the latter, he Chamisa is likely to inherit his mentor's political million plus votes during the 2018 general elections. Thus being said, the question remain on Mr Mugabe 's million plus vote. Even though questions on the credibility of election results from year 2000 onwards have remained unresolved, outcome has been predicted to the influence of first time and undetermined voters hence the classification "swing constituency". Event though Chamisa seems capable of sublimating a couple of like minded youths, its Mr Mnangagwa who appears the favourite in convincing indecisive and first time voters with his November 17 debacle and assuming the greater potion of his vote will emerge from this constituency also note this constituency should never be relied upon as apathy easily influence participation thereby reverting to the notion that the traditional million plus voters will definitely swing the 2018 election outcome especially Mr Mugabe's infuriated vote, mind you this is a population that have enjoyed and experienced the power derived from voting.

Conclusively, the following points have to be noted. If politics of individual branding continues to dominate Zimbabwe's political contestation populism among Mr Mugabe 's traditional million plus vote will tip in favour the odds during 2018 election also turnout will be significantly lower if contesting candidates neglects this constituency of experienced voters. First time voters and the majority among youths will vote influenced by the charismatic November 2017 military intervention that dethroned Mr Mugabe.