The violence unleashed by ZANU PF to force Zimbabweans to support them in elections, starting in the early 2000s, has failed miserably. ZANU PF’s other tactics, like manipulating laws, taking over the state, resisting local governance changes, merging the three branches of the state, and distributing food unfairly, have also not worked. Despite these efforts, the opposition, showing remarkable resilience, has thwarted ZANU PF’s attempts to turn Zimbabwe into a one-party state.
Defections by disappointed opposition officials and attempts to take over urban local services will not succeed. These efforts will fail because ZANU PF has exhausted the political apathy it once relied on, which came at the cost of economic development and growth.
Under Mnangagwa, ZANU PF wrongly believes that sponsoring defections and persuading people to join them will lead to a mass departure of loyal opposition supporters who have suffered under a repressive and human rights-violating security system. But ZANU PF will be disappointed. Those who defect are seen as career politicians, sellouts to the struggle against tyranny, serving only their interests. The defections only highlight their betrayal.
People in their constituencies, who have suffered from ZANU PF’s tactics like unfair food distribution, will not suddenly follow the defectors. Communities are still healing from these divisive tactics. Joining ZANU PF because the defectors love money or power, which was denied to them by the people, shows their true colors.
ZANU PF thinks Zimbabweans are not intelligent and believes that taking over local urban government operations, like water supply and garbage collection, will lead to a landslide victory in the 2023 elections. But Zimbabweans are aware of the economic mismanagement and decay under ZANU PF. They know ZANU PF flaunts wealth meant for the people. For example, Chiwenga’s mansion, valued at millions of American dollars, while he is the health minister running a broken system, is proof that ZANU PF’s attempts to take over local government are futile.
A president who allows foreign exploitation of natural resources in Hwange, without regard for the community, shows ZANU PF’s insincerity and lack of empathy for Zimbabweans’ suffering. This same president gives more than $20,000 USD to a foreign country for school construction while neglecting Zimbabwe’s own schools. This is the president Zimbabweans know, which is why they choose the opposition, who are seen as people-centered. ZANU PF’s attempt to capture urban council operations will not change this choice.
ZANU PF’s age limits and so-called Patriot bills targeting the opposition, which seeks genuine change, are also destined to fail. There is nothing patriotic about ZANU PF. There is nothing patriotic about a president who hires a private jet while people die in hospitals due to lack of equipment. There is nothing patriotic about a president with a stake in a company that displaces people for profit. There is nothing patriotic about a first family awarding itself a multi-million-dollar tender improperly. ZANU PF has no grounds to bar the opposition from elections, which they are favored to win. In history, ZANU PF is the most unpatriotic collective.
In conclusion, all of ZANU PF’s attempts to derail the opposition have hit the solid wall of opposition resilience, supported by a now-aware public. The opposition will continue to be the people’s choice, remaining the sole custodian of popular will and legitimacy. ZANU PF will, as before, be deprived.