Mujuru credibility under scrutiny after Bikita poll loss
By Don Makanyanga
Fomer Vice President and Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) leader Joice Mujuru’s chances of leading an envisaged grand coalition of opposition parties in the 2018 elections took a knock on Saturday following the defeat of a party candidate in the Bikita West by-election.
The fledgling party was formed last year among a handful former Zanu PF bigwigs dislodged from the party in 2015 for allegedly fanning factionalism.
It was the first time the party has taken part in a by-election.
Mujuru has had her name bandied together with that of MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai as potential contenders to lead an opposition grand coalition.
But because of her relatively wider experience as both cabinet minister and VP in President Robert Mugabe’s government, some felt she had a slight edge over the former Prime Minister.
However, Tsvangirai loyalists have argued Mujuru, since leaving Zanu PF, has not proven she had any tangible grassroots support, leaving her popularity a matter of speculation.
But many viewed the Bikita West by-election as the best barometer so far to gauge her popularity, if any.
The trouncing of a candidate, Kudakwashe Gopo, whom she took time to campaign for, has cast doubts if the country’s former number two Mujuru was the right candidate to lead the proposed coalition.
Political analyst, Jacob Rukweza wrote on his Facebook page after the announcement of the by-election result, saying the result was proof Mujuru was being overrated.
“After the Bikita West by-election tigokunzwai futi muchiti (we do not want to hear that) Joice Mujuru should lead the grand coalition!,” wrote Rukweza.
Adding to the debate was Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe (RDZ) spokesperson Pishayi Muchauraya who seemed to mock the former Vice President saying she had had a bitter taste of Zimbabwean politics outside Zanu PF.
“Reality check! The other day I was telling a friend in Washington DC the difference between big names in politics and big political parties,” wrote Muchauraya on his Facebook Page, accompanying the post with a picture of Mujuru.
Pedzisai Ruhanya, director with a local think tank Zimbabwe Democracy Institute said the loss of ZimPF should now galvanise opposition forces to think more seriously about closing ranks to increase their chances of upstaging Zanu PF in 2018.
“The Bikita by-election outcome has a bigger story; unless there are tectonic shifts in opposition politics and their tomfoolery and kindergarten behaviour, with or without President Mugabe, Zanu PF will be in charge after 2018,” said Ruhanya.
He went on to state that the success of the coalition lies in the inclusion of all opposition political parties.
“The idea of cherry picking coalition partners and excluding others on grounds of hatred and small politics will result in huge electoral defeat.
“Tsvangirai, (Tendai) Biti, (Lovemore) Madhuku, Mujuru, (Welshman) Ncube, (Simba) Makoni, (Dumiso) Dabengwa etal are needed to put their numbers (hardware) and ideas (software) together to confront the system. It is not Mujuru or (Madock) Chivasa who lost in Bikita but the collective opposition.
“Those numbers are collectively needed where a swing situation against Zanu PF arises in a bigger election such as 2018. Magnanimous leadership is required in this interregnum. No room for politics of POSITIONS. Agree that opposition is in a position of weakness hence the need to coalesce.”
The idea of grand coalition was formulated after more than twenty opposition political parties came together under a political of National Electoral Reforms Agenda to push for electoral reforms ahead of the much anticipated general elections set for 2018. Radio VOP
