Joice Teurai Ropa Mujuru! The former Vice President of what she now calls a repressive and corrupt system hopes to garner support and maybe in someday topple her former paymaster.
By Trevor Makonyonga
There is a lot that is amiss about her purported entry into the political arena as an opposition leader. First is her choice of name for the supposed ‘new’ political party. ZPF could just be seen as an acronym for Zanu PF. It is understandable that they dropped the actual name but in reality the ‘new’ party can be seen as a new version of Zanu PF. Maybe it could be Zanu PF version 1.1. The Zimbabwe People First title will make jilted Zanu PF members blush and smile.
Secondly, if this ‘new’ party is fresh why then are the ‘founding elders’ jilted, embarrassed and humiliated former Zanu PF top members? It will be really unnatural for a sane person to vote a party that is backed by Bright Matonga who was at one moment known as Not-So-Bright Matonga for his misrepresentation of the facts on the 2008 Zimbabwe situation. Then there is Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, Sylvester Nguni and Munacho Mutezo all long time representatives of the “corrupt system” they are said to be fighting now. This new fraternity doesn’t look like they can offer anything new since they are well versed with the oppressive tactics they were so intimately involved with for the majority of their political careers. There is nothing possibly new about them.
Then the third factor that probably nullifies the existence of ZPF as a people oriented party is their biggest founding elder, Didymus Mutasa. This is the same guy who signed the controversial 99 year lease documents which were used as a political stunt to assure black land occupants that they will stay forever. These lease documents do not serve as surety and they do really prove that the holder owns land. The documents that have Mutasa’s signature are deceptive documents that gave the land holders fake guarantees that they own what they do not exactly own. The whole land question which Mutasa was so instrumental in is a ticking time bomb and this is the person who is being flaunted as a different person. Always remember that there are people somewhere out there who hold title deeds to this land that was ‘leased’ by the government.
Joice Mujuru was part of the Zanu PF structures for 34 years and was part of making decisions that took Zimbabwe to where she is today. She enjoyed a lavish lifestyle and the rumours about her are not pleasant. She comes to address the nation assuring them that she is going to fight corruption when it is said that she received compensation meant for people disabled in the war. As it is said, Mujuru claimed money for her failure to taste. It is not clear if the claims are true but the base of these allegations is that Mujuru was part of a corrupt system that has leaders acquiring things in an improper manner. If an audit was to be made, of the leaders that are being paraded as ‘new and fresh’, all of them would be seen to have acquired one or two things corruptly taking advantage of this system they now claim to be fighting.
The majority of the ZPF leaders were part of the government in 2005 when ‘Operation Murambatsvina’ was unleashed on the country. This so-called cleanup campaign literally brought the informal sector which sustained the economy to knees. The Murambatsvina campaign also left many Zimbabweans homeless and idle. These are the same Zimbabweans Mujuru now claims to so dearly care for. How ironic!
Although there are obvious ills with this ‘new’ party, it will probably survive. ZPF might just become a safe haven for everyone who is underfire in Zanu PF. With Zanu PF fighting war veterans ZPF can easily land these disgruntled group.
Like indicated earlier Zimbabwe has to expect Zanu PF version 1.1, there is nothing out of the ordinary to come out of ZPF. They are just an envious lot, jilted and humiliated. They will do all they can to save their face. The launch of the party is a step in trying to get even with Zanu PF. This whole party formation is a flawed mission which seeks to make the average Zimbabwean to help them fight their battles. The outfit is deceptive and Zimbabweans should stay on guard.
