ANALYSIS: Zanu-PF conference to set tone for elections campaign

The party stalwarts said Zanu-PF is a true people’s party, which represents their interests, whereas its main competitors, MDC-T and its smaller factions seek to advance western interests. Key pro-people programmes the revolutionary party has championed and continues to champion include the defence of national independence and sovereignty, implementation of the land reform programme, indigenisation and economic empowerment. Under the indigenisation scheme, which MDC-T formations oppose, is the ongoing community share ownership scheme trusts, which have seen millions of dollars being invested in community development projects in previously poverty-stricken rural areas.

All these, said Politburo member Dr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, puts Zanu-PF in a great position to win the coming elections. In contrast, he said the two MDC formations lack pro-people policies, which is why they are losing support and could lose the elections.

“MDC formations have failed to live up to the majority’s expectations. They have failed to deliver services to their respective constituencies, hence they won’t be voted back into the public offices again. We are looking forward to a resounding victory in next year’s elections,” said Dr Ndlovu.

He said many MPs from both MDC formations were busy abusing Constituency Development Funds, running down urban councils and neglecting their electorate.

“It is going to be a landslide victory for President Mugabe and the Zanu-PF party. MDC formations have failed the people of Zimbabwe by inviting sanctions that have since ruined the country’s economy,” added Dr Ndlovu.

The two MDC formations have consistently criticised Government’s empowerment programmes. In recent weeks, they have been criticising the $20 million Presidential farm input scheme yet they have nothing for the people as an alternative. As many as 800 000 resource-poor farmers are receiving the inputs which include seed maize, fertiliser and livestock requirements. President Mugabe is spearheading the initiative which has seen well-wishers pooling their resources together for the programme.

Another Zanu-PF Politburo member and Nkayi North MP, Cde Sithembiso Nyoni, is looking forward to a fruitful conference. She said the party should emerge from it more energised to prosecute a giant campaign to ensure a clean sweep in March.

“The revolutionary party Zanu-PF is continuously gaining support as a result of President Mugabe’s empowerment policies that include land redistribution, community share ownership scheme trusts and agricultural support initiatives. President Mugabe has initiated several projects meant to improve people’s welfare,” said Cde Nyoni.

She said that President Mugabe has unmatched leadership qualities adding that his implementation of policies helped Zanu-PF cultivate and grow its national support base.

“President Mugabe’s leadership policies are unmatched. We are well assured of election victory. President Mugabe has done a lot in coming up with tangible empowerment policies that have since revived the country’s economy and rescued the majority of people from the sanctions induced poverty,” added Cde Nyoni.

MDC-T is riven by factions, which have rendered it virtually dysfunctional in some provinces particularly Matabeleland North. In that province, Victoria Falls council is in trouble with the party leadership who accuse them of working with Zanu-PF. Also, the party’s grassroots in the province are resisting imposition of leaders such as former MPs, Messers Abednico Bhebhe and Njabuliso Mguni. MDC fired the two, among others, from their posts as legislators, but the MDC-T leadership orchestrated their election into some positions in the faction. Mr Bhebhe, for instance, is the MDC-T’s deputy organising secretary. But some in the formation want Mr Bhebhe and other former MDC legislators to start off as ordinary party members.

Reports say the divisions run up to the top echelons of the formation where party leader Mr Tsvangirai is reportedly plotting to haul his deputy Ms Thokozani Khupe before a disciplinary committee. He accuses her of having had a hand in the bloody intra-party violence that occurred in Bulawayo prior to the party’s elective congress in Bulawayo early last year.

Two surveys conducted by pro-MDC-T organisations recently showed the electorate doubting the MDC-T leader and his party’s electability in the elections next year. They both saw Zanu-PF and President Mugabe’s popularity rising.

The first was released by Freedom House. It said Mr Tsvangirai’s popularity had dropped sharply from 2009 as the electorate was unhappy with his party’s lack of clear policies, corruption and failure to counter Zanu-PF’s policy positions.

The other was done by Zimbabwe Vigil, a stridently pro-MDC outfit. It basically echoed the Freedom House study.

MDC-T MP for Lobengula, Mr Samuel Sipepa Nkomo, recently acknowledged that the party was indeed battling factionalism. He said the in-fighting was weakening it and reducing its chances of taking on Zanu-PF in next year’s elections.

“We understand that there are some factions that are weakening our party. We need to unite for us to win next year’s election,” said Mr Nkomo.