BY DR MASIMBA MAVAZA
Emerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa will score a resounding victory in the Zimbabwean general election, securing a second five-year term in 2023. The 2023 Election is all about Emerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa.
Emerson Mnangagwa has struck a code which rings in every melodious music in the political landscape. 2023 is setting the ground all about ED. He has managed to appeal to the hearts of many hitting home a personal touch in everyone’s life. In his first term in office ED has opened his arms to all. He has removed the durawalls which had put the office of the president out of touch with people. He has cut across all divides and became one of the presidents who could mix with his people. ED could make a stop at Chicken in to grab a meal. As a true human being ED will join the queue and wait for his turn to buy a piece of chicken. He made the office of the President accessible to all. He has made the hero status selection open to citizens recognising great singers great teachers and almost every Zimbabwe felt encouraged in his own space. That is the people’s president. polarising president made this an election all about humanity selfless and indeed a chance of being the darling of many.
As natural in politics Emerson Mnangagwa faced some anti-incumbency. Joblessness has not eased at the expected rate, farm incomes have plummeted and industrial production has slumped. Many Zimbabweans are hit hard by the currency confusion.
On the stump, the president repeatedly told people that he needed more than five years to undo more than “40years of mismanagement”. Voters will agree to give him more time.
Many Zimbabweans have seen and believed that ED is a kind of messiah who will solve all their problems.
President Emerson Mnangagwa is the most popular politician in Zimbabwe since Robert Mugabe.
“This tells you how much this vote will be for ED more than the anything. This election will be all about Mnangagwa’s leadership above all else.
In a sense, ED’s second successive landslide win will echo Mandela’s abiding popularity as South African leader when he somehow escaped blame for his country’s economic woes. Mandela was called the Great Communicator and for being a liberator president whose mistakes never stuck to him. ED enjoys a similar reputation. His good works precedes him. Many say Mr Mnangagwa has made Zimbabwe’s elections more presidential. But strong leaders have often overshadowed their parties Mandela, Nyerere, Machel,Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair and Indira Gandhi are some obvious examples.
There is no question that ED Mnangagwa is the most popular politician in Zimbabwe to an extent that Chamisa plucks off the yellow colour from ED’s scarf to give to his new party. He is peerless when it comes to the national stage at the present,and 2023 is a foregone conclusion.
The Euphoria about the renamed MDC CCC is partly a show of anger against the corruption and the slow movement of the hands of justice. The win in 2022 will be an affirmation for ED. He has become the first leader since independence who has delivered his promises. This will be a victory for ED and his vision of a new Zimbabwe.
There is little doubt that ZANUPF which has ruled ZIMBABWE uninterruptedly since 1980 has become the country’s dominant party.
With ED it will win the 2023 general elections decisively and despite losing some towns steadfastly expanded its grip to new territories.
The main opposition party, MDC A and its surrogate sister CCC is adrift and enfeebled; the once-powerful opposition parties appear to have exhausted much of their potential; and no credible challenger to ED is visible on the horizon.
ED is the “only leader to truly claim mass appeal almost throughout the country.
Government failure and inaction has become an increasingly common aspect of the Zimbabwean political system, whether it is due to political polarization or through poor planning, which characterized the rollout of the Vaccine.
A combination of nationalist sentiments, clear developments which can be seen-subtle religious polarisation and a slew of welfare programmes will help ED to sail to a second successive win.
In a bitter and divisive campaign, being launched by Chamisa and his team ED effortlessly fused nationalism and development. He created binaries: the nationalists (his supporters) versus the anti-nationals (his political rivals and critics); the watchman ED himself, protecting the country on “land, air, and outer space”) versus the entitled and the corrupt sanction lobbyists.
Aligned to this, deftly, was the promise of development. Cde Mnangagwa targeted welfare schemes for the poor – homes, toilets, credit, cooking gas – have used technology for speedy delivery. With the accurate precision the quality of these services and how much they have helped ameliorate deprivation is for all to see.
Cde Mnangagwa is also mining national security and foreign policy as vote-getters in a manner never seen in a general election in recent history.
It is not a secret that under ED ZANUPF has become the dominant party in Zimbabwe’s crowded politics
With the threats of violence Emerson Mnangagwa will convince the masses that the country would be secure if he remained in power.
People having no obvious interest in foreign policy – farmers, traditional leaders, labourers will all testify that Zimbabwe had won the respect of the outside world under Mr Mnangagwa.
“It is all right if there’s little development, but ED is keeping the nation secure and keeping Zimbabwe’s head high. ED’s persona has become larger than sanctions and a symbol of hope and aspiration for many. Mr Mnangagwa’s strident nationalism as a main campaign plank seems to have overruled the more pressing economic problems facing voters. Voters now look beyond politics of promise but now look at the action.
Some analysts believe that under Mnangagwa Zimbabwe, could be inching towards a more developed economy and democracy”.
Comments
About Author
