The political sphere in Zimbabwe is rife with ineffective tactics, none more so than the Zanu PF’s desperate attempts to appear victorious in a struggle they have continually failed to win. The recent showcase of supposed defectors, broadcast through the newly christened Auxillia Mnangagwa Television, represents another flawed initiative that, like its predecessors, is destined to flounder.
The fundamental issue lies in the Zanu PF’s deficient understanding of strategic planning. Their string of unsuccessful endeavours, from the liberation struggle to their recent “ghost defection” spectacle, is indicative of this. Whether it’s the ill-conceived Lancaster House negotiations, the unsuccessful socialist policies, command agriculture, or ZimAsset, the common thread is failure and a marked inability to reflect on their own shortcomings.
Driven by desperation and a marked lack of innovation, the Zanu PF hopes to win over a growing politically conscious electorate with these hollow stunts. Rather than showcasing actual accomplishments or making strides towards political reforms, transparency, and the rule of law, the party resorted to showcasing apparent defectors — a move that only underscores their stagnancy and fear of losing power.
Ironically, the Zanu PF seems to ignore conventional wisdom present in the bible — looking at the speck in the opposition’s eye while neglecting the log in their own. The party needs to address their own failures contributing to the country’s economic stalemate before pointing fingers at the opposition. Pretending these faux defections will distract a politically aware populace from humanitarian crises like food insecurity and unemployment is not just naive, it’s irresponsible.
The parade of these ghost defections serves as a Band-Aid for a bullet wound. It’s an attempt to alter perception, painting a picture of weakened opposition and fulfilling the Zanu PF’s delusional dream of becoming a single-party state supported by a compliant and sycophantic opposition.
Having analysed the potential costs and benefits of political reforms, Zanu PF chose instead to cling to power by illicit means, evading transparency and accountability. They conflated their party with the state, manipulating a captured and compromised judiciary to target opposition members who dare to exercise their constitutional rights.
One could argue that the Zanu PF lacks political will to implement reforms, but that would be overly generous. The party doesn’t desire reforms; they fear the consequences. Liberalising the media could lead to a more politically informed populace, which could lead to a peaceful transition of power, rule of law, adherence to fundamental constitutional liberties, and potentially, accountability for their wrongdoings.
Their self-preservation tactics have also compromised national security and sovereignty. To maintain their elite support base, the Zanu PF has sought loans for goods and services, leading them to predatory lenders. Their human rights abuses have deterred foreign investment and left Zimbabwe economically isolated. Rather than embracing reforms to restore access to credit, the party opted for high-interest loans, which could result in the loss of strategic national assets — a potential disaster in the making.
In conclusion, Zanu PF’s ghost defections and their television spectacle are a reflection of a deeper systemic issue — a lack of strategic vision and an overwhelming desire to hold onto power, no matter the cost. Their avoidance of genuine reform and lack of accountability will inevitably lead to their downfall. The growing politically informed populace is less responsive to Zanu PF’s propaganda, and it’s only a matter of time before these failed strategies are recognised for what they truly are: a spectacular failure.