'Mnangagwa MAY retire soon.' Cold comfort as long as Zanu PF rigs elections whacking povo; tail mercilessly whacking the dog.

"Mnangagwa may retire soon!" read the headline in Bulawayo 24. Judging from the number of views, the story was well received.

"Speaking in Shona, Mnangagwa suggested that he might not seek further leadership beyond the constitutionally defined limits. He remarked, ‘When I look at this place, I envision establishing my own cattle business here after retirement to generate income from selling cattle in the butcheries that will be housed here.'"

Mnangagwa blatantly rigged the 2023 elections, even SADC and AU have said so, and is therefore illegitimate. He should not be in power! And yet we all started wringing our hands at the prospect he would extend his stay in power beyond the stipulated two team limit because we knew we are helpless to stop him.

And now we are so relieved to hear he MAY not stay in power beyond 2028 we readily forget and forgive him for being illegitimate and celebrate. May is not WILL and it will not take much for him to decide to stay on.

The story illustrates how utterly powerless and helpless we are. Mnangagwa, like every other politician, should be democratically accountable to the people and the ultimate expression of the democratic power of the people is being able to remove politicians from office in a free, fair and credible elections. Something Zimbabweans have failed to do.

Zanu PF has blatantly rigged elections these last 44 years. Zimbabwe is yet to hold free, fair and credible elections ever since the country's independence in 1980.

Even if Mnangagwa gives up on the idea of extending his stay in office beyond 2028; it is cold comfort for the nation because Zanu PF is not giving up its carte blanche powers to rig elections. Nelson Chamisa and his opposition fiends will con the ordinary people to participate in the flawed elections to give vote rigging Zanu PF legitimacy for the sake of the few gravy train seats. We are not out of the woods!

Zanu PF would not get away with these rigged elections if MDC/CCC leaders had implemented the democratic reforms, especially during the 2008 to 2013 GNU when hey had the golden opportunity to do so. The opposition fiends have been participating in these flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy out of greed.

Zanu PF will not get away with another rigged elections in 2028 if ordinary Zimbabweans finally realise the sheer futility of participating in flawed elections to give vote rigging Zanu PF legitimacy and perpetuate their own suffering. How the people have been conned into participating by such foolish claims as Chamisa's ‘I plugged all vote rigging loop holes. #Godisinit!' beggars belief!

To believe in these MDC/CCC nonsensical winning in RIGGED elections strategies, especially after 44 years of rigged elections, is unforgivable. It speaks volumes of a nation living in a fog of ignorance and fear. A healthy democracy demands that the electorate must be educate, knowledgeable and diligent. We are way off the mark!

The opportunity reclaim our right to a meaningful say in the governance of the country is there, only if the people would open their eyes and minds and stop being so ignorant, naive and gullible. The damning SADC and AU 2023 election reports have opened the door for Zimbabweans to push for democratic reforms; if we are ready to walk through.  

As long as Zanu PF is able to rig elections the people will remain powerless and helpless. It is the people who should hold the politicians to account, in Zimbabwe Zanu PF is holding the nation captive and utterly helpless. In Zimbabwe the tail is wagging, whacking, the dog and it is a sorry sight!