The power configurations within Zanu PF

By Solomon Bobosibunu

In view of the calls for the Vice President Joice Mujuru to step down by the incoming Zanu PF Women’s League Chairperson, the following could be an illustrative “Systems Framework for Political Analysis”.

The numbers will try and explain the amount of power perceived by each faction leader or those “claiming to be fighting factions within Zanu PF.

It is from Machiavellian analysis of how power is assumed that we find here the First lady Grace Mugabe trying either through connivance with others within the party to usurp power using the “perceived power and influence of the “first family”.

Machiavellian explains that either power is derived from “the noble with money and resources” and Haburmus explains resources and money as qualitative and quantitative or from the people (the majority) however the former continues to highlight issues of opportunity and chance as well which is one of the likely answer to the central question Why Now?

Wicked, force, diplomacy, the majority speaks, chance etc are all possible means by which those who wish to take over from the President of Zimbabwe might employ.

The People (majority) spoke

This is a central issue especially when legitimacy issues could lead to challenges at the helm. The people willingly or unwittingly confirm their support for the candidature to lead.

All potential candidates meet with their camps and make arrangements for the most loyal members to attend and be part of the majority; here resources are critical as these people might need inducements to act in an anticipated way.

This idea will once the people have converged and they vote either through secret ballot or open ballot, the process is quick to be commended for orderliness, openness, transparency, representation etc so that there are no question marks on legitimacy later on.

Wicked and Force

This includes the SWOT analysis of the opposite camp, it involves playing with numbers and plan to either prevent the majority by disenfranchising them from taking part in the process, and resources might be restricted for those “perceived” to be supporting the opposing camps.

The wicked are quick to employ force if they so have the control of the apparatus that unleashes force it is normally against the principle of the People (majority) spoke. Within this framework, a lot of calculations are around “are we gonna be able to terrify them and thus push them out of the game”

Chance

In this notion, there is a particular emphasis on the harnessing of the “opportune time”. The opportune time is either camps prerogative to harness, because they are ever existing plots in politics, it is very common knowledge that alliances are made way ahead of the opportune time so that when the time is presented, it is easier for the well prepared camp of faction to take over.

In 2004, it was miscalculated that the current VP would have earned the post ahead of the other aspirants.

After all the “cursing, shouting etc” the First Lady hasn’t gotten a response from the VP probably the opportune time was ripe for Oppah Muchinguri to handover the button stick but not yet ready for the VP to respond and yet ripe for the Politiburo to then discuss the succession, revelations and allegations by the First Lady.

This might be the opportune time for Zanu PF to chat the way forward concerning the VP, succession, the congress among other things.

The economy is in “trouble”, no jobs, increase in company closures, cost of living increasing daily, people are suffering, social service delivery is at low with no power, and no water and roads being in a deplorable state infested with “drum holes”. Zimbabweans needs something better than this!!

The presentations below are deduced from “local Media’s perceived alliances” on the issue of factionalism and allegiance’s.