Analysts tip Zanu-PF for 2023 poll victory

BUOYED by its well-oiled structures and patriotic Zimbabweans who want to see the country prosper, Zanu-PF is set to retain power on August 23 when the country’s citizens go to the polls, political analysts have said.

On Saturday, the President and First Secretary of Zanu-PF Cde Mnangagwa launched the party’s election campaign at Mutema Primary School in Chipinge, Manicaland Province amid calls for a peaceful poll.

Political analyst, Mr Richard Mahomva said the election campaign launch signifies a project that began in 2022 which is an indication of a serious party that wants to secure the future of Zimbabweans.

“The election campaign and the manifesto are born out of very rigorous research, born of absolute expression of the enduring aspirations of the people of Zimbabwe. With this determination, Zanu-PF is consolidating power come August 23 because of its oiled structures and patriotic Zimbabweans,” he said.

Mr Mahomva said Zanu-PF has been preparing for the election through various Government programmes that have been taking place under the stewardship of President Mnangagwa.

“We all know that the election process doesn’t begin and end with the casting of ballots. It is a process of preparedness, a process of building a resonation base with the electorate and Zanu-PF has been doing that,” he said.

“In terms of readiness, Zanu-PF ticks all the boxes because of a long-term preparation by a party that has an organised system of putting things together.”

Mr Mahomva said Zanu-PF is a political party that is experienced in elections.

“Remember Zanu-PF is a party that has been in the election business since 1979 and so it has been around. It is an experienced political party outside the short-term preparedness that one may want to assess like party restructuring,” he said.

“There are more historical underlying factors there are more experiential factors underlying Zanu-PF victory in 2023.”

Another political analyst and researcher Mr Gibson Nyikadzino said President Mnangagwa has rightly moved away from the idea that an individual is greater than the party.

President Mnangagwa, he said, is giving the party preference for institutional continuity.

“This continuity only happens through organisational capacity and the necessity to mobilise the masses. So when there are organised structures and ideologised people who have high levels of political consciousness, it means the 2023 elections are a clean sweep for the party,” he said.

Another analyst Dr Augustine Tirivangani said the writing is on the wall for everyone to see, including the “doubting Thomases” of this world that Zanu-PF has a solid plan that is very clear and people-centred.

“They have restructured the party from cell to district to provinces, from youth and women’s leagues to main wing, from Central Committee to Politburo and have held primary elections. Not only have they restructured, but mended plaster wounds of compatriots bruised by these processes to ensure national cohesion,” he said.

“The MDC T has just split once more with Mr Morgan Komichi taking with him a significant chunk. Mr Nelson Chamisa’s CCC has finally conducted opaque ‘primaries’ that have left party heavyweights in the cold and thus created bitterness.”

Dr Tirivangani said a structure-less party is even proceeding without a manifesto.

“Mr Savior Kasukuwere is yet to identify himself with a party. Would anyone disagree with Professor Jonathan Moyo’s observation then that ostensibly, the 2023 elections are without opposition?” he said.

Meanwhile, Zanu-PF has bagged 20 local government seats in Midlands as its candidates were unopposed after the main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party failed to field candidates in some wards in the province.

The Nomination Court sat countrywide last Wednesday to register candidates contesting in the elections.

In the Midlands province, the process went well as scheduled with the ruling party fielding candidates in all seats which were up for grabs.

Most of the wards the ruling party won unopposed are in Chirumanzu-Zibagwe Rural District Council, Mberengwa RDC, Gokwe North and South RDC and Shurugwi RDC.

Addressing multitudes of party supporters in Chipinge, President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe will remain in the hands of Zanu-PF which is a people-oriented party dedicated to fostering socio and economic development.

He said other political parties in the country will never serve the interests of the people, but rather sell out the gains of the liberation struggle.

“I call for peace, unity, and harmony. We must preserve peace as a people despite the different backgrounds we are drawn from. We must therefore individually and collectively wish for a better Zimbabwe; this will drive us to contribute towards the development of this country,” he said.

“The sanctions on Zimbabwe must not stop us from developing our country. Sanctions aim to drive Zimbabweans to overthrow their own and embrace Western puppet leadership. I am proud you have remained patriotic and support your own.” – @pchitumba