THE ruling Zanu PF party is gloating over the annihilation of the opposition, saying it has ceased to be a threat.
The new threat, the party says, is the “regime change machinations” of the West, especially the United States.
In a central committee report to the 22nd National People’s Conference, which ended last Saturday, the Zanu PF national security department said the opposition’s activities “remain subdued following their electoral defeat in 2023”.
“In particular, the numerous factions of the former main opposition have continued to fragment in utter disillusionment,” Zanu PF said.
It said their “ideological bankruptcy” and “umbilical connection” to the West have rendered their activities unpopular with discerning citizens.
“Though there are underground attempts by the Nelson Chamisa-led faction of the opposition to resurrect, it is increasingly becoming abundantly clear that it has no popular political agenda besides Chamisa’s persona or unjustified dislike of Zanu PF, even where it delivers,” Zanu PF said.
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A cursory look at the Citizens Coalition for Change(CCC)’s fractures reveals that its splintering into three parties has Zanu PF’s fingerprints.
How Sengezo Tshabangu emerged from nowhere to claim ownership of CCC, recall lawmakers and fail to field candidates in by-elections defeats logic if delivering a two-thirds majority on a silver platter was not the motive.
Tshabangu’s newfound powers forced CCC founder Nelson Chamisa to quit the political party, saying it had been infiltrated by Zanu PF.
CCC has split into three groups led by Tshabangu, Jameson Timba and Welshman Ncube.
Tshabangu has the upper hand, given that his party has access to funding under the Political Parties (Finance) Act.
He appears to be cosying up to Zanu PF. Early this year, he hectored opposition lawmakers to a tour of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s farm in Kwekwe, a trip he said was the “most significant event in the current context of solution-finding, nation-building and consensus”.
He did not end there, declaring that: “If our presence here improves your stay in power and that makes the people of Zimbabwe happy, then let it be.” Tshabangu’s choreographed remarks were punctuated by the song 2030 Ndeya Emmerson, urging the extension of Mnangagwa’s term to 2030.
A ruling party that wants to rule unchallenged is symptomatic of an organisation that does as it pleases, hence has no intention to fulfil its electoral promises.
This dovetails with the one-party State dream Zanu PF has been craving for since 1980.
Today, Zanu PF toasts the annihilation of the opposition.
However, the victory is short-lived. Zanu PF has a strong internal opposition: a deteriorating economy.
The economic headwinds, punctuated by rising prices, have pushed up the cost of living.
The gap between the haves and have-nots has widened.
Rising unemployment and joblessness have spawned drug and substance abuse, especially among the youth.
Power cuts have left households in the dark. The collapsing social services, such as health, have pushed the poor to the margins.
These ills present more of a formidable challenge than the opposition, which can be compromised by a few trinkets.