Mujuru will remain politically relevant but will not match Tsvangirai
By Tinashe Muzamhindo
It was a sad moment in opposition politics a fortnight ago when Mutasa, Gumbo, Bhasikiti, Kaukonde claimed to have fired the founder of the Zim People first Joice Mujuru not knowing these so called elders were riding their backs on the political and magnificent political heavy weight Joice Mujuru.
No one can deny that despite the major political setback in her political career, she remains relevant in the opposition politics. What Mujuru should now do is to show the world that her politics is different from the Zanu PF style of politics.
Politics is a game of numbers. You can’t claim to have a following in a press conference yet on the ground it’s different. Mutasa cannot go anywhere for now because of his past in Zanu Pf and no one is prepared to follow him because of his past record in national politics. Mujuru will remain with little sympathy because of the legacy her husband left. Mujuru is riding on her husband’s name and legacy, and the same legacy has helped her to rebuild her own image after leaving Zanu Pf.
MUJURU CAN’T MATCH THE TSVANGIRAI BRAND
We can’t rule a possible coalition between Tsvangirai and Mujuru. For now Mujuru should know that for her to win the hearts of the Zimbabweans, she needs Tsvangirai. What is important in this coalition is what one is going to bring to the table, and it’s not about competition.
Remember Mujuru is coming from a major setback and there is lack of trust amongst Zimbabweans. If Tsvangirai becomes Mujuru’s deputy it will be difficult as well to gain trust from his own followers. Given Tsvangirai’s track record in opposition politics it is most advisable that Tsvangirai becomes the legitimate Coalition leader.
I would have thought that with their vast political experience in ZANU-PF Didymus Mutasa, Rugare Gumbo, Ray Kaukonde, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti and Margaret Dongo would by now know what works and what doesn’t work in Zim politics. We all know that Zimbabwe People First gained traction on the back of Joice Mujuru’s political clout not theirs. We all know that these guys are not the reason why Zimbabwe People First took off. They had to wait for Joice Mujuru to lead from the front because they knew they were not equal to the task.
Now that the project has taken off these delusional power mongers are beginning to overrate themselves while wallowing in the completely false belief that they can have Zimbabwe People First without Joice Mujuru. In a few months’ time the chickens will return home to roost and the Zimbabwe People First putschists will realize the folly of their premature leadership renewal agenda.
Joice Mujuru will emerge bruised but a stronger leader of a cleansed Zimbabwe People First. Apparently, the Zimbabwe People First putschists have chosen the same route that was taken by Tendai Biti and Elton Mangoma, as well as Welshman Ncube before them, when they orchestrated a failed boardroom coup against Morgan Tsvangirai. We all know what happened later.
Tendai Biti is now wondering in a political wilderness called PDP. Elton Mangoma has formed a family circus called RDZ which is currently touring rural growth points and Welshman Ncube is on the road to Damascus. The coup plotters may have control of the party offices and finances but history tells us that you need more than the party buildings, cars and finances to lead and sustain a political party. Takatomirira coalition zvedu isu. Icho!
Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo writes in his personal capacity as an advisor on political and development matters. He is the Director for Mentorship Institute of National Development and Sustainability (MINDS). He can be contacted at [email protected]
