adminMukachana Hanyani
THE recent survey by the Mass Public Opinion Institute that revealed that the ruling party under President Mugabe still commands a huge following from the electorate in the country could not have come at a better time as the electoral mood gathers momentum in Zimbabwe.
The results of that survey clearly stated that if elections were to be held now, President Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party was going to emphatically romp to victory like what happened in the July 31, 2013 harmonised elections.
Such a survey came at the right time since the pending 2018 harmonised elections are drawing near with political parties getting down to business as they prepare for those crucial elections.
In fact, in the opposition political circles, there have been some discussions about them coming up with a coalition as a way of creating a strong opposition political formation that would be able to upstage the ruling revolutionary party Zanu-PF from power.
Some opposition political parties believe that they can make Zanu-PF run for its money once they have created a strong coalition movement that would bring together some if not all opposition parties in the country, though this remains a pie in the sky due to ideological differences and egomaniacs who calling for the project.
Surprisingly, the opposition political parties did not welcome the MPOI survey as a true reflection of what would happen in case elections are held now, as is always the case, with them labouring under misconceptions that proved to be their downfall in past elections. I am sure the results of the survey are even going to make opposition political parties become more frantic in their preparations for 2018 elections.
Of late, the Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC-T has been on a “meet the people spree” around the country as a way of mobilising his dwindling support base attributed to his directionless leadership which has seen the party fracturing more than anyone can remember. On the other hand, other opposition political parties have been issuing statements here and there as a way of making sure that they remain relevant in the eyes and ears of the electorate.
As such the revolutionary party should not relax, but should rather build on the MPOI results to ensure obvious victory when the 2018 harmonised elections are taking place. Such a survey is a blessing to the ruling party as it only saves to make sure that Zanu-PF should keep on doing well for the people for it to remain in power. The survey results should also ensure that Zanu-PF puts its house in order as a way of consolidating its support base.
Actually, Zanu-PF should be aware that people are looking forward to it to making things and shun corruption and factionalism as espoused by President Mugabe on many occasions. Corruption has been a stumbling block in the economic development of the country and everyone blames it on Zanu-PF’s perceived reluctance to act against it. In most cases some services meant to benefit the electorate are allegedly diverted to benefit few individuals thereby disadvantaging those supposed to benefit from such services.
Allegations of the abuse of the Presidential Agricultural Inputs Scheme among other services in some areas around the country by influential leaders of the party could be a threat to the popularity of the ruling party. Equal distributions of such important agricultural inputs could make the ruling party remain the choice of everyone.
In fact, Zanu-PF should deal decisively with anyone who is involved in corrupt activities without fear or favour. Many people now have come to refer to corruption as a cancer, hence, it should not be entertained by anyone for the country to realise its economic growth. As such, Zanu-PF should stamp out corruption within its ranks and Government circles to make sure that the economic cake is shared equally. While the sanctions have played havoc in the economic development of Zimbabwe for more than a decade, corruption now seems to have overtaken the scourge of sanctions in that spectrum.
Zimbabweans have developed a system where no one can get anything for nothing even where service do not need exchange of money. For that reason, the ruling party always gets the blame for any corrupt activities that could be bedevilling the country; hence, Zanu-PF needs to be serious in tackling that cancer for it to make people remain with faith on the party.
Hence, Zanu-PF national political commissar Cde Saviour Kasukuwere has read the riot act to corrupt and those fanning violence in the ruling party. On many occasions, top Zanu-PF leadership have been denouncing corruption and talking strongly against it so it is wise for the party now to put such strong words against corruption in action.
The ruling party should be aware that incessant talking against corruption without total action against it would make people lose faith on the party hence, losing the trust from the electorate.
Fighting corruption in the country by Zanu-PF and Government could turn out to be a major campaign weapon for the 2018 harmonised elections.
Failure by the ruling party to exorcise this vice of corruption within its ranks and file could be a problem that might come back to haunt it, come 2018. So the revolutionary party should show the world that it still has zeal and power to stamp out corruption so that the MPOI survey results remain visible up to the 2018 harmonised elections.
Zanu-PF can remain stronger and a force to reckon with by uniting its people so that alleged factional wars within its ranks are eradicated. Individuals who are fond of creating factional wars within the party must be brought to book and disciplined so that the party is united with no cracks that might give the opposition political parties some advantage to wrestle power from it.
Factional wars in any political party are not healthy as they have a tendency to disintegrate that political party structures hence making it weaker and giving the opposition a weapon to fight with.
As such, the revolutionary party, Zanu- PF, should should be aware that corruption accompanied by factionalism within the party could be recipe for disaster hence; both should be eliminated for the party to cement the 2015 MPOI poll survey results up to 2018 harmonised elections.
Online Reporter