At the Glasgow climate change conference, ZANU PF’s attempts at controlling their image have once again shown their desperate nature. The party’s constant efforts to hide their failures and human rights abuses are becoming clearer to the world.
ZANU PF believes that being at the conference shows they are trying to reengage and improve. But this story falls apart when looked at closely. Zimbabwe is dealing with many problems like high unemployment, factories closing, and bad governance.
The conference, instead of being a place for real change, has become a stage for ZANU PF’s propaganda. The party’s efforts to show a false image of success and engagement only highlight the real situation in Zimbabwe, where people’s needs are ignored.
ZANU PF’s need to show an illusion of success is seen in their staged photos with international leaders. Pictures of President Mnangagwa with leaders like Guteres and Johnson make people question if there is any real substance behind these meetings. Can a photo really hide the deep corruption in Zimbabwe, including the first family’s alleged involvement in illegal activities?
Beyond the superficial pictures, the real measure of the conference’s impact is on Zimbabwean society. Will these photos lead to real media reforms, allowing the opposition a fair chance? The call for fair journalism and protection of activists like Makomborero, Chimbiri, Mamombe, Netsai, and M Wemba, who have suffered under ZANU PF, is still unanswered. A photo may capture a moment, but real change requires real action.
ZANU PF’s desperate attempts to hold onto power and control the narrative are insulting to the intelligence of the Zimbabwean people. The party thinks citizens can be easily fooled by their propaganda, showing a clear lack of respect for the nation’s people.
As the Glasgow conference continues, it is clear that ZANU PF’s show is just a weak façade. The international community can see through the charade, understanding that true engagement needs real efforts to fix deep issues, not just staged photo opportunities.
The conference is not a place for ZANU PF to escape accountability. Instead, it highlights their failures and shortcomings. The big difference between the party’s attempts to show success and the tough realities faced by the Zimbabwean people shows the urgent need for real reforms.
In the end, the Glasgow climate conference should be a wake-up call for ZANU PF. Their attempts to show a false image of engagement only highlight the huge gap between their words and the nation’s real situation. As the world watches their performance, one thing is clear: Zimbabwe deserves more than just a photo-op. It deserves real change, which can only come through genuine commitment and reform.