Zanu PF has every reason to panic over Mujuru

By Mlondolozi Ndlovu

The common Shona adage which says ‘anebhora ndiye anomakwa’ is a true reflection of Zanu PF reaction to the alleged Joice Mujuru’s manifesto flighted in the local papers.

History has taught us that it is generally the response of all dictatorships throughout the world that when they are faced with a threat they pretend to be stronger.

I am reminded of the former Libyan President Muamma Gaddafi who when faced with imminent defeat still claimed to be strong, talk of Hitler’s propaganda man, Goebbels who when Germany had been defeated, proclaimed a great victory was coming.

These and other examples prove that even when faced with real obstacles dictatorships use propaganda to justify that all is well.

However, the history of Zimbabwe’s opposition movement has shown us that any political party or ideas that are a threat to Zanu PF are dismissed by the state media as ‘a non-event’.

In fact ‘real’ opposition parties that are a grave threat to the ruling party hegemony face a lot of criticism, most of the times from the state’s organic intellectuals disguised as analysts who sing for their super.

Good examples are the former liberation movement Zimbabwe African People’s Union led by Joshua Nkomo, which was at some point referred to as the ‘dissident Father’, Edgar Tekere and his ZUM, Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC who have been referred to as running dogs of the imperialists.

In comes Joyce Mujuru and her People First Project which the Zanu PF National Commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere has been quick to dismiss as a ‘People Lost’ project.

One of the reasons that will make it hard for Zanu PF is the fact that she has been part of the system and was mostly portrayed as a liberation war heroe par-excellence during her 10 year period as Vice President.

This means that for Zanu PF to deconstruct her image they will need another 10 years or more to do so, because she already has those liberation war credentials needed for one to govern this country.

Even Zanu PF’s war veterans leader Christopher Mutsvanga has said it in a recent interview that for one to rule this country, war veterans have got a great contribution.

With the divisions currently dogging the war veterans, where the factions led by former war veteran’s leader Jabulani Sibanda still has significant support.

This is seen by the failure by the new Chairperson Mutsvangwa who is at pains to unite this organisation which has a fair number of Gamatox members!

Army generals in previous years have made it clear that the army also has a larger role to play in who becomes the next president.

Mujuru has both the war veterans and military support judging from the divisions in the war veterans association and General Mujuru’s remaining loyal members within the securocrats.

This means it will be very difficult for Zanu PF to make members of the public believe that Mujuru is a traitor, sellout, running dog of the imperialists or any of their anti-Zanu PF terminology.

The other factor likely to prop up Mujuru’s image is the way her husband died, many of the women who are the majority of the electorate, sympthise with Mai Mujuru for being a widow because of Zanu PF’s alleged cruel role in this mysterious death of her husband.

Moreso, unlike the once widely popular Morgan Tsvangirai, Mujuru seems to bring a better alternative to the desperate electorate who are fed up with male dominated politics.

This is despite her tainted past as a member of a party that has plundered our resources and put us in the sorry state we are currently in.

However an outright victory for the opposition is a coalition between Mujuru and Tsvangirai. This will once and for all lay a final nail on the Zanu PF coffin.

In short Mujuru will appeal to various groups in a unique way; women, war veterans, academics and even supporters of the MDC who are fed up with the party’s failure to unseat Zanu PF.

In the final analysis, Zimbabwe’s political landscape is set for a thriller, and if Mujuru formally joins the battlefield, a 94 year old Mugabe cannot win the elections against the respected Mujuru, whilst for Mnangagwa competing with Mujuru will mark the end to his political ambition.

When all has been said, unlike what The Herald and Zanu PF propagandists are saying, Mujuru is a threat to Zanu PF more than she is to Morgan Tsvangirai. 

Mlondolozi Ndlovu is a media, social and political analyst based in Harare.