Recently, Zimbabweans woke up to news that some opposition political parties had decided to form a grand coalition that would face Zanu PF in the forthcoming 2018 general elections as a way of dislodging the ruling party from power. The plan of a grand coalition came about after opposition parties realised that individual electoral challenge to Zanu PF has always been a failure since Independence in 1980.
By Kazamula Matilaya.
It was also reported that MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai and Zimbabwe People First leader Joice Mujuru held a joint rally in Gweru last Saturday, showing the envisaged coalition of the opposition parties could become reality. The joint rally has been viewed by some political analysts as a milestone that could possibly see the fall of Zanu PF come 2018.
It was also reported that Zanu PF is uncomfortable with the prospect of a coalition at a time the party seems divided along factional lines. Zanu PF members feel the party needs to put its house in order before it can tackle any opposition coalition.
However, history has shown that coalitions have been a major source of problems to ruling elites and in most instances a winning formula at the ballot.
In 2002, Kenyans voted out the Kenya African National Union (Kanu) which had been in power for 39 years through the National Rainbow Coalition (NRC) led by Mwai Kibaki.
Macky Sall of Senegal resoundingly defeated Abdoulaye Wade in the presidential run-off in March 2012. Abdoulaye’s defeat was a result of a coalition of those who had been defeated in the first round of presidential elections who then endorsed Sall as their main presidential candidate in the run-off poll.
The above examples and many others elsewhere show that coalitions are a danger to ruling parties, hence there is need for Zanu PF to put its house in order as the new coalition truly gathers momentum.
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Zanu PF should realise that time is not on its side. The situation in the country, which has seen some social activist groups holding protests against the ruling party, calls on Zanu PF to seriously consider implementing its 2013 electoral promises. It should also address the issue of factionalism within its rank and file.
It must be noted that the economic crisis Zimbabwe is reeling under is a major cause of concern. Zanu PF should focus its energy and time into reviving the economic fortunes of the country.
It is self-defeating that at a time President Robert Mugabe is calling for peace and unity not only in Zanu PF, but in the country as a whole, some senior party members are grouping into camps to destroy the party from within. He has also called on Zanu PF members not to rush into issuing votes-of-no-confidence against other party members as it is counterproductive.
Surprisingly, some of the Zanu PF top leadership in some provinces are not heeding his calls to unite the party. Only recently, 11 party officials in Masvingo were suspended without going through the required disciplinary procedures.
As Zanu PF is facing the prospect of a coalition, there should be no time to create divisions for the sake of settling personal differences-turned-political.
The party should also take heed of the recent call by national political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere for peace and unity in Masvingo as the province prepares to host the party’s annual conference in December.
Kasukuwere, who held a meeting with senior provincial party members in Masvingo at Victoria Junior School last weekend, reversed all suspensions that had been imposed on certain officials in the province and called for all Zanu PF members to work together. For that reason it is wise for the ruling party to make sure that they adhere to what Mugabe and Kasukuwere called for so that it avoids facing the same scenario as Kanu or Wade.
It is evident that Zimbabweans are suffering because of the economic crisis brought about by corruption in both public and private sectors with no meaningful arrests of offenders. It would seem the ruling party is more concerned on suspending its officials than making sure the government’s economic blue-print ZimAsset is implemented. So the move taken by Kasukuwere to bring sanity in the party should be welcomed by all peace-loving party members so they can face the coalition of opposition political parties united.
