The helicopter crash in Ruwa is just another in a line of preventable military tragedies. This catastrophe, which the opposition insists could have been averted, echoes a continuity of tyranny within Zanu PF – a symptom of their prolonged and corrosive reign. A change in power might have offered a lifeline, with the opposition’s advocacy for democratic transparency and accountability potentially leading to a different outcome. Regrettably, this won’t be the last incident of its kind nor the final occurrence of irreparable loss.

Zanu PF’s governance is typified by a lack of accountability and transparency, manifesting in its indifference towards the tragic copter crash. These flaws stem from a neopatrimonial system which perpetuates an extractive accumulation of wealth. The decision to invest in a new helicopter for an ineffectual president, rather than enhancing military resources for better national defence, demonstrates Zanu PF’s skewed priorities. This self-serving agenda underlines the party’s pursuit of power at the expense of the country’s peace and stability.

Reflecting on Zimbabwe’s post-independence era in the 80s, South Africa sought to destabilise the fledgeling nation through Operation Barnacle, a series of covert operations designed to undermine trust among its different ethnic groups. In essence, Zanu PF is replicating this strategy, leaving the country vulnerable to external threats such as the growing insurgency in Maputo.

Zanu PF inherited a robust economy and a formidable air force that was a symbol of deterrence across the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Their currency competed with the British pound, the US dollar, and the Euro. The economic fundamentals were solid. However, Zanu PF’s mismanagement and reckless plundering reduced the military to a barely functional unit, the currency depreciated, and the economy was left in ruins.

The obsolete military hardware, a direct result of Zanu PF’s economic mismanagement, is a ticking time bomb. When these outdated machines inevitably lead to civilian and servicemen fatalities, the government’s provision of state-assisted funerals is a weak attempt to divert attention from the root cause of the tragedies. These gestures are akin to patching gunshot wounds with a band-aid – futile and logic-defying.

Zanu PF has effectively subverted the military into a ‘deep state’ entity, diverting its constitutional mandate of safeguarding national sovereignty and security to serve the party’s vested interests. This strategic capture is achieved through enticing incentives, such as luxury cars and unrestricted control over strategic mineral bodies. This tactic results in the military’s neglect of their operational and defence capabilities, ironically leaving them exposed to threats, including from allies like China.

An appropriately funded and equipped military would deter threats effectively, leaving no room for the plundering of national wealth. Such a military, operating constitutionally, would present a conundrum to Zanu PF and its one-party state ambitions. Furthermore, a non-partisan military wouldn’t compromise its operational effectiveness for strategic mineral access or other luxury enticements.

In essence, the symbiotic relationship between the Zanu PF and the military leadership, dictated by the party’s selfish agendas, has led to tragic loss of life. The promise of state-assisted funerals is an inadequate response to the problems caused by Zanu PF’s disastrous power retention strategies and relentless looting. Until significant changes are made, we can expect continued military failure and the resultant loss of life to become as ubiquitous as potholes and as expected as the shockingly high unemployment rates in Zimbabwe.