Opinion / Columnist
Zanu-PF is a force to reckon with Dr Dabengwa
20 May 2015 at 16:47hrs | Views
As the dates for the June 10, 2015, by-elections are drawing near, Zanu-PF is fully geared to sweep everything at its disposal to victory the same way it did in the July 31, 2013 harmonised elections. It is a fact that Zanu-PF is a party which is everywhere in the country and it cannot be disturbed by the participation in the by-elections by political parties like Dr Dumiso Dabengwa's ZAPU.
Zanu-PF has shown that it is a national party which cannot confine itself in regional politics by fielding its candidates in all constituencies that by-elections would be taking place on June10, 2015. So, a political party like ZAPU cannot be taken seriously by the electorate as it only chose to confine itself to Bulawayo, thereby neglecting to contest in other constituencies outside Bulawayo.
Surprisingly, the MDC-T boycott of the June 10, 2015 by-election made Dr Dumiso Dabengwa think that his ZAPU party could spring a surprise and win some seats in Bulawayo, ignoring that Zanu-PF is political force which cannot be taken lightly. ZAPU, which looks like a one man party, cannot put a strong challenge which can disturb Zanu-PF victory in either Bulawayo or anywhere in the country. ZAPU is wrong to think that it is strong to the extent that it would defeat Zanu-PF in Bulawayo.
In actual fact, Dr Dabengwa is misleading his supporters by telling them that they would take control of Bulawayo just because the MDC-T has decided to boycott those by-elections. In fact Dabengwa has lost touch with the reality on that Zanu-PF is not a party which chooses who to contest with in any elections. Zanu-PF is prepared to win elections in the coming by-elections without fear of which party to contest with.
Dr Dabengwa should realize that what the revolutionary party does is to romp to victory whenever elections are held without problems. So Dr Dabengwa should stand guided by history and stop thinking that the five seats which his party has decided to contest in Bulawayo would be won by his ZAPU Party. It is wrong for Dr Dabengwa to use tribal inclinations in politics as a way of luring the electorate to vote for his party. Dr Dabengwa, as a seasoned politician, should be aware that Zimbabwe cannot be run on tribal lines; hence, he should not believe that Bulawayo cannot be won by Zanu-PF.
It is a fact that Zanu-PF is a national party which has no political boundaries in the country as it is everywhere. Zanu-PF has no tribal inclinations; hence, anyone can join the party. As such, this revolutionary party cannot be intimidated by such political parties like Dr Dabengwa's ZAPU.
Dr Dabengwa's thinking that Zanu-PF can be easily defeated in Bulawayo in June 10, 2015 by-elections shows that he is wrong and that he wants to use tribal politics as a launch pad for his campaigns. Why would he think that in Bulawayo alone Zanu-PF should be defeated without looking in other towns and districts? As a leader of a party which is recognised in the country, Dr Dabengwa should not make himself become inclined in one town or province but he should make sure that his party is everywhere like Zanu-PF. His belief that Zanu-PF cannot win elections in Bulawayo is just a way of trying to incite the people in Bulawayo to view Zanu-PF as alien in the province.
In actual fact Dr Dabengwa wants to manipulate the tribal context that is within him as a way of confusing the electorate that Zanu-PF cannot win elections in Bulawayo as if there are no people in b Bulawayo who are members of the revolutionary party. The fact that ZAPU chose to contest five seats only in Bulawayo ignoring to field its candidates in other areas where by-elections would be taking place shows that ZAPU has turned out from a national party into a tribal one.
His claims, that Zanu-PF has no chance in Bulawayo and that all the electorate should brush aside Zanu-PF from the city of Kings, show that he is someone who is desperate for political survival. Dr Dabengwa knows quite well that Zanu-PF is so strong that his party cannot stand against Zanu-PF, hence, his statements are just meant to seek political relevance. Dr Dabengwa's move to use tribal inclinations as a way of luring voters for his party should be condemned with the contempt that it deserves.
Zimbabwe is a country which boosts of peace and tranquility and any political leader who wants to divide people along tribal lines should not be taken seriously. As such, the electorate should brush aside Dr Dabengwa's statements and get guided by national interest.
It is surprising that Dabengwa would be leading door to door campaign in constituencies in Bulawayo namely Pumula, Makokoba, Luveve, Lobengula and Mpopoma-Pelandaba when he has failed to show Zimbabweans that he is a national leader by contesting all by-elections ear-marked for June 10, 2015. Such a move shows that Dr Dabengwa cannot be viewed as a national leader but just a regional one who cannot be taken seriously.
So the electorate in the country in general and Bulawayo in particular should not be misled by Dr Dabengwa's mischievous and tribal statements but get guided by national interest and vote for the party which has national interests on June 10, 2015.
Source - John Mukumbo
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