On 2 August, when history looks back on the campaign trail, this will be seen as either a political masterstroke or a self-inflicted gunshot on the part of the veteran leader. The Apostolic faith has a large following and Mugabe, by association, might have bought himself divine approval. But opinion may go in the other direction: that he has attempted to trick voters.
Grace Mugabe, illustrating that to her the Presidency is about the grandest perk – living in State House – vehemently declared that there is ‘no vacancy’ at State House. She should speak more of what Zanu (PF) has to offer to the citizenry rather than rush to defend the interior décor scheme she has imposed on the country’s highest residence. And if we permit ourselves to stoop to the first lady’s level – which we will not – we will remind her that the PM’s wife is prettier than her. But we will resort to no such silliness because all that matters to Zimbabweans is having a government that represents the will of the people.
Take a break
Meanwhile, in complete contrast to the unflattering remarks made by the Mugabes, Tsvangirai stated that President Mugabe is exhausted and wants to rest but is forced by circumstance to continue in politics. Tsvangirai stated that Mugabe confided in him that he would like to rest but is concerned that his party would explode. That’s all very noble of President Mugabe to sacrifice his twilight years for the good of Zanu (PF) but the mark of a good leader is that he grooms a capable successor.
ZBC continued its gag on opposition parties, inflicting upon the viewers – with no alternatives since SABC channels are scrambling – a full day Zanu (PF) Manifesto broadcast. Tsvangirai briefly appeared on TV but only in a snippet in which he spoke against political violence. The ZBC, believing Z to mean ZANU, didn’t cover the MDC’s manifesto rally in Marondera.
No invite for Dabengwa
Professor Welshman Ncube, not wishing to be ignored in all the political noise, has called Mugabe ‘too old’ and Tsvangirai ‘clueless’. More kettles and pots. Welshman has regime-change ambitions but is aware that he does not have sufficient support to win against Mugabe. Despite knowing his smaller faction does not have sufficient numbers, he insists on partnering with the shilly-shallying Dumiso Dabengwa, who was at one time ZAPU, then became Zanu (PF) and now he is apparently ZAPU. Dabengwa has in this past week bragged that in 2008 his primary motive was to block Tsvangirai from becoming President. His grand plan was that he and Simba Makoni expected mediator, Thabo Mbeki, to invite them to the discussion table, at which the Government of National Unity was formed. Dabengwa, of course, received no such invite. One wonders if Dabengwa now has the will of the people at heart or if he has simply returned as that fun-spoiler who deflates the soccer ball while the other children still want to play.
ZRP have launched Operation Zvanyanya in which police have arrested suspected prostitutes found loitering on the streets. Of course there is never any evidence proving that one is a sex worker, when arrested for being in a bar but for the ZRP, all that matters is that the suspect is a woman and in a bar or on a street corner. The male clients of course are left to seek an alternative pastime while the ‘prostitutes’ are bundled into police pick-ups. Strangely, ZRP often tell taxpayers that they ‘have no transport’ to attend to emergencies yet when it is time to arrest sex workers they fall upon this task with great zeal.
Dancing for police
Harpers Mapimhidze, of the Dancers Association of Zimbabwe (We have a dancers association? Who knew!) reports that members of her association have been arrested in the course of doing their jobs. Last year Beverly Sibanda, of bottle dancing fame, and Zoey Sifelani were arrested for alleged indecent exposure. While in custody, the police asked them to dance for them which, one supposes, is an indication of just how much the police abhor the immoral profession.
Meanwhile Jessie Majome, deputy minister of women’s affairs, has declared the arrests to be discriminatory and unconstitutional. Majome is disappointed that the officers making the arrests are female operatives, who she says are ‘being used by the patriarchy to violate their own’. Police Inspector Tadious Chibanda said the arrests were meant to ease loitering. If the inspector was truly peeved by loiterers perhaps he might consider arresting men who loiter at shopping centres, drinking in public and relieving themselves against Durawalls.
Walter Mzembi – perhaps an engineer perhaps not – has picked an awful time to court controversy. In August, Zimbabwe and Zambia co-host the 20th session of the UNWTO general assembly, an event which benefits little from bad publicity. Mizembi’s qualifications have been questioned, when reports emerged that he owes a shadowy Mexican university $6,000 for an honoroury degree.
Acquitted of stock theft
Dorothy Mabika, provincial Zanu (PF) chairperson, accused of stock theft, has been acquitted. Mabika was accused of nicking cattle belonging to Zanu (PF). While she escapes being gored by the buffalo – refer to Didymus “Nyathi” Mutasa’s threats during the trial – it is a case of mission accomplished for those that intended to deter her from running in the party’s primary elections.
The MDC, MDK and Zanu Ndoga have come together in an alliance attempting to unseat Mugabe. It is this scribe’s opinion that if the MDC formations, MDK and ZAPU truly have intentions of defeating Zanu (PF), their mission is incomplete as long as they are not united. From a Zanu (PF) perspective, the existing fractiousness of opposition parties is reason to smile.
Voter registration closed on July 9 with winding queues of people wishing to register. The MDC has called for voter registration extension but so far no extension has been announced. Logically, most new voters – the youth – are persons regarded as pro-opposition and the chaotic registration process is a cunning chess move by the elderly President.
It is election time and those whose jobs are political appointments rush to protect themselves, in case the unthinkable happens. Gideon Gono, printer of worthless bearer cheques, has clarified President Mugabe’s remarks about a return to the Zimbabwe dollar. Gono stated that the return to a local currency was a medium to long-term plan, contingent upon economic revival and the accumulation of sufficient gold reserves to support whatever currency is introduced. He refused to refer to the currency as Zimbabwe dollar as it might return with a different name.
Till next week. My pen is capped.
Post published in: News