Opinion / Columnist
Chamisa beaten to his game
25 Nov 2018 at 13:12hrs | Views
The difference between Chamisa and ED is that ED is now playing development and focusing on the future of the nation. Chamisa is focusing on the politics and playing politics with both his party and the nation. The two game plans have different consequences. Mnangagwa has realised that The modernisers and the Right of the Party need one another to maintain a winning coalition
If the country is in the mood for radical change, it must rally behind the austerity measures and behind ED despite their differences. The successful battles on inflation, privatisation and economic reform lay in the attitude of the nation towards the reforms.
ED did not just challenge the previous powers dictum about the inadvisability of ZANU PF radicalism he smashed it to smithereens. Reform after reform is being introduced, shot through with free-market zeal, and the recent thumping general election victory was secured for his party.
Of course, the reality is much more complicated than the fashionable legend. In this fight foe development ED has to be sensibly cautious, choosing his battles carefully on questions such as how the old guards might be reduced from their position of dominance. Other areas that must have been reformed urgently are left largely undisturbed. These are justice areas. If these systems are reformed in line with the austerity measures we will achieve our greatest hope. The greatest hope we have now and in the end, it should be a highly successful and magnificent example of the Party's radical.
This is having consequences. So charismatic is ED, and so ground-breaking his tenure, that ever since he graced the State House there has been an utterly unwinnable argument about his ways of doing things. He does not do things for political correctness but he does things which have to be done.
This ignores the plain truth: one of ED'S greatest strengths is that he did not think of politics in such reductionist terms, as a game to be won. He does what he thinks the country needs and develops a platform from there. On another level, too, the conversations of recent days are bizarre. Imagine, in few years back, discussing ZANU PF politics through the prism of what Mugabe would have done. Yet all these years later, Mugabe's influence remains so overpowering that it still creates a frisson in traditionalist parts of the party when ED says, as he did a few days at the Murombedzi rally that he has no problems with the Mugabe legacy. Quite right. Although he was a great President, only blind obedience could induce one to overlook the debit column of the last days in office.
In truth, there is no easy, Mugaberite solution to ZANU PF'S current difficulties. It is no good setting the dial on the time machine to April 1980, and the election held 38 years ago today, and hoping all will be well. The problems of the modern party are very deep-set. Indeed, the recent discombobulating emergence of Chamisa is just the most extreme manifestation of an ominous historical trend.
It is 8 years since the party last won an overall majority in the towns. The Party remain hopelessly shut out of the towns of Zimbabwe with no prospect of advancement in many of the great cities. In Shurugwi the situation has improved it is the only town which won all the seats in town and controls the town of Shurugwi.
Some of this can be explained by a more general disaffection among the voters, and the broader electoral fragmentation since the MDC "broke the mould" in the TWENTY ZERO TWO then teamed up with the West to create a viable, if not particularly appealing, party. Still, the current leadership deserves a significant share of the blame. We need to stress the desperate need for the party to widen its appeal in towns. Not by creating land barons and bribe supporters with land. What is most curious is that, having diagnosed the extent of the ailment, we are doing such a botched job of devising a cure.
It is no exaggeration to describe it as a party tragedy. ED is a likeable figure, someone who Is well-placed to build a bigger NATION if only He is to be more open-minded and nimble. For in fact, the modernisers and the traditional Right are both wrong. They need each other to stand a hope; they simply cannot create a winning party alone, and never could.
ED must understand this logic better than anyone. Within his alliance there are all sorts of Zimbabweans from the G40 to defecting gamatox, those who are sick of Zimbabwean decline. For the most part, supporters could not agree, he must avoid choosing sides – and it must not for a second occur to start a fight on a divisive political issue. Instead, by combining personal charisma with a focus on the optimistic theme of national renewal at home and abroad ,ED must ensure that the members of the party forgets that they disagree with each other on certain matters, and pull together in these hard austerity times.
ZANU PF has taken a leader with the ability to make voters – sick of austerity and relative decline – forget their differences and hope for tomorrow.
Zimbabwe needs to be reminded that the pill is bitter but the effects are healing. ED has been bold to introduce the austerity measures regardless of the fact that they will put a dent on his fame. He is not concerned about his popularity. ED does not care about what people think about him. His mind is vested on the good of the nation. ED has focused his mind on Zimbabwean success and he is not in any way backing down. He is destined to win the economy.
Zimbabwe must not be fooled by a quick joy which ends fast. the fire fuelled by papers will not burn longer. Zimbabwe needs a leader like ED who is not worried about politics but has his heart invested in the future of the nation.
Zimbabwe struggles now economically, it stumbles in the pain of economic abyss. But there is no way one goes to the top without trudging through the pains of the steep slopes. no one wakes up at the top without passing through the pains and sweat of the journey. Many of Zimbabwean detractors are fooling people that it is possible to climb a mountain without going through its steepness and without a helicopter.
The fruits of freedom are watered with sweat and blood and the austerity measures are not signs of failure but actions of bravery.
vazet2000@yahoo.co.uk
If the country is in the mood for radical change, it must rally behind the austerity measures and behind ED despite their differences. The successful battles on inflation, privatisation and economic reform lay in the attitude of the nation towards the reforms.
ED did not just challenge the previous powers dictum about the inadvisability of ZANU PF radicalism he smashed it to smithereens. Reform after reform is being introduced, shot through with free-market zeal, and the recent thumping general election victory was secured for his party.
Of course, the reality is much more complicated than the fashionable legend. In this fight foe development ED has to be sensibly cautious, choosing his battles carefully on questions such as how the old guards might be reduced from their position of dominance. Other areas that must have been reformed urgently are left largely undisturbed. These are justice areas. If these systems are reformed in line with the austerity measures we will achieve our greatest hope. The greatest hope we have now and in the end, it should be a highly successful and magnificent example of the Party's radical.
This is having consequences. So charismatic is ED, and so ground-breaking his tenure, that ever since he graced the State House there has been an utterly unwinnable argument about his ways of doing things. He does not do things for political correctness but he does things which have to be done.
This ignores the plain truth: one of ED'S greatest strengths is that he did not think of politics in such reductionist terms, as a game to be won. He does what he thinks the country needs and develops a platform from there. On another level, too, the conversations of recent days are bizarre. Imagine, in few years back, discussing ZANU PF politics through the prism of what Mugabe would have done. Yet all these years later, Mugabe's influence remains so overpowering that it still creates a frisson in traditionalist parts of the party when ED says, as he did a few days at the Murombedzi rally that he has no problems with the Mugabe legacy. Quite right. Although he was a great President, only blind obedience could induce one to overlook the debit column of the last days in office.
In truth, there is no easy, Mugaberite solution to ZANU PF'S current difficulties. It is no good setting the dial on the time machine to April 1980, and the election held 38 years ago today, and hoping all will be well. The problems of the modern party are very deep-set. Indeed, the recent discombobulating emergence of Chamisa is just the most extreme manifestation of an ominous historical trend.
It is 8 years since the party last won an overall majority in the towns. The Party remain hopelessly shut out of the towns of Zimbabwe with no prospect of advancement in many of the great cities. In Shurugwi the situation has improved it is the only town which won all the seats in town and controls the town of Shurugwi.
Some of this can be explained by a more general disaffection among the voters, and the broader electoral fragmentation since the MDC "broke the mould" in the TWENTY ZERO TWO then teamed up with the West to create a viable, if not particularly appealing, party. Still, the current leadership deserves a significant share of the blame. We need to stress the desperate need for the party to widen its appeal in towns. Not by creating land barons and bribe supporters with land. What is most curious is that, having diagnosed the extent of the ailment, we are doing such a botched job of devising a cure.
It is no exaggeration to describe it as a party tragedy. ED is a likeable figure, someone who Is well-placed to build a bigger NATION if only He is to be more open-minded and nimble. For in fact, the modernisers and the traditional Right are both wrong. They need each other to stand a hope; they simply cannot create a winning party alone, and never could.
ED must understand this logic better than anyone. Within his alliance there are all sorts of Zimbabweans from the G40 to defecting gamatox, those who are sick of Zimbabwean decline. For the most part, supporters could not agree, he must avoid choosing sides – and it must not for a second occur to start a fight on a divisive political issue. Instead, by combining personal charisma with a focus on the optimistic theme of national renewal at home and abroad ,ED must ensure that the members of the party forgets that they disagree with each other on certain matters, and pull together in these hard austerity times.
ZANU PF has taken a leader with the ability to make voters – sick of austerity and relative decline – forget their differences and hope for tomorrow.
Zimbabwe needs to be reminded that the pill is bitter but the effects are healing. ED has been bold to introduce the austerity measures regardless of the fact that they will put a dent on his fame. He is not concerned about his popularity. ED does not care about what people think about him. His mind is vested on the good of the nation. ED has focused his mind on Zimbabwean success and he is not in any way backing down. He is destined to win the economy.
Zimbabwe must not be fooled by a quick joy which ends fast. the fire fuelled by papers will not burn longer. Zimbabwe needs a leader like ED who is not worried about politics but has his heart invested in the future of the nation.
Zimbabwe struggles now economically, it stumbles in the pain of economic abyss. But there is no way one goes to the top without trudging through the pains of the steep slopes. no one wakes up at the top without passing through the pains and sweat of the journey. Many of Zimbabwean detractors are fooling people that it is possible to climb a mountain without going through its steepness and without a helicopter.
The fruits of freedom are watered with sweat and blood and the austerity measures are not signs of failure but actions of bravery.
vazet2000@yahoo.co.uk
Source - Dr Masimba Mavaza
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