However, unlike Matigari, Baba Jukwa is real and not fictitious – although he prefers anonymity. He has promised to disclose his identity at the appropriate time. Like Bradley Manning of the United States, who is on trial for allegedly disclosing thousands of classified materials to Wikileaks, he claims to be an advocate of free expression in a hostile environment in which citizens’ basic freedoms are curtailed by the military junta.
“Baba Jukwa’s nasty public spat with Amai Jukwa reflects the succession dynamics in Zanu (PF)”
Who is this Bradley Manning of Zimbabwe who has dared to swim in crocodile-infested river against the tide? Is he a real cadre or is he a mole from the opposition? How does he/she get access to all the classified information?
Baba Jukwa’s nasty public spat with Amai Jukwa reflects the succession dynamics in Zanu (PF) where the Mnangagwa and Mujuru factions are pitted in a ferocious tug of war to succeed Mugabe.
Re-branding
Unlike Amai Jukwa, who is an advocate of the status quo, Baba Jukwa is a reformist whose grand plan is to reform Zanu (PF) in order to ensure the party’s survival and continued relevance. In his view the party desperately needs renewal and a change of direction if it is to survive and weather the challenges of post- independence
Zimbabwe.
Its liberation credentials alone cannot save it from extinction if it fails to reform and adapt to the challenges of the day. The dreams and aspirations of the liberation struggle have been betrayed by the former liberation movement and for it to be relevant, an acknowledgement of responsibility for past and present failures by the party has to be made. Baba Jukwa says the current leadership, the government, the military and police force have diverted from the core principles that guided the struggle, hence the urgent need for reform.
This is a synopsis of his arguments:
Attempts to rebrand the Mugabe image, which is already soiled, are futile. Leadership renewal must go parallel with a change in direction of the party as the two are paramount to its survival. The old guard who are the torch bearers of the party are both physically and mentally incapacitated to effect the much needed reforms. Their ideas, besides being archaic, no longer resonate with the electorate 33 years after independence.
The Young Turks, who are expected to be better positioned to take over from the old guard, are in no better position as they lack credibility. Although young physically, they are a bunch of political amateurs whose potential is limited by corruption , incompetence and lack of direction. This group, like the old guard, does not have the party at heart but just masquerade as reformers in an attempt to disguise their hidden agenda.
Nobody dares
Nobody within Zanu (PF) has ever dared to challenge Mugabe and his leadership publicly apart from feeble attempts by Dzikamai Mavhaire, Margret Dongo and Michael Mataure. Mugabe descended upon them with the force of a sledge hammer, with devastating political consequences. Unlike them Baba Jukwa calls for not only leadership renewal, but a change of the culture in Zanu (PF) that glorifies incompetence, corruption, nepotism , lack of accountability and violence.
Mugabe is surrounded by a bunch of sycophants who compete to outmanoeuvre one another in praising the president, not because they love him but for favours. These vultures compete to loot as much as they can in the presence of Mugabe who seems to protect their interests as long as they continue singing their praise songs.
Who has forgotten the late Tony Gara equating President Mugabe to the messiah? Didn’t the vice president Joyce Mujuru dubiously claim that Mugabe is anointed to rule the country for ever while Webster Shamu embarrassingly wished he had been born to the Gushungo family?
This has created a semi-god in Mugabe, thereby ruining the party as few advisors surrounding the president are bold enough to correct him when he goes wrong. The rest just sing to protect the wealth they have amassed.
Corruption unlimited
At its 2012 annual conference, Mugabe threatened to punish anyone in the party implicated in corrupt activities. Since then, no-one has been punished except Mike Madiro, the former Zanu Manicaland chairperson arrested on stock theft charges, a case which is widely viewed to be more connected to the succession battle than anything else.
Diamonds from Chiadzwa are looted in broad daylight. Treasury is almost bankrupt. Embarrassingly, the Zimbabwe government appeals to SADC and the international community to fund its elections, while boasting about sovereignty. Baba Jukwa says the starting point for Zanu (PF) is to acknowledge its mistakes before blaming others for the country’s misfortunes. It is naïve and arrogant for Mugabe and his leadership to divert attention from criticism by shifting blame to others – especially the West.
The security sector is crowded by clowns whose professional conduct can best be equated to that of the Islamic Al Shabab militias in Somalia, with the exception of a few commanders like General Vilario Sibanda. The top brass within the security forces has been so brainwashed to the extent of being unable to separate national from party business They have become an extension of Zanu (PF)’s suppression machinery contrary to military ethics.
Shocking reports
The use of violence to intimidate opponents is not a solution to revive the fortunes of the party. The anti-western rhetoric has been over told and no longer resonates with the public. The shocking reports from Rusape recently of war veterans forcing school children to witness exhumations are intended to instil fear among opponents and teach those born after 1980 about the war of liberation. Zanu (PF) needs to embrace change in order to guarantee continuity.
Zanu (PF) risks making the same mistake made by Jews in crucifying Jesus assuming that their redeemer was yet to come , unknowing that by so doing , they had murdered their own son who holds the keys to heaven. Whether Baba Jukwa will be apprehended or not, time will tell. What is certain is that innocent souls will be victimised by his pursuers in mistaken identity and that most of the truths laid bare by this mysterious figure will linger on for long in the minds of both his admirers and foes. – Muchayi is a political analyst who can be contacted on wmuchayi@gmail.com
Post published in: News