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Reports of factions and factional politics are not new in Zimbabwe. They have been a major characteristic of Zanu-PF for a long time.
The same disease appears to have infected our ideologically bankrupt opposition political parties but there it is understandable given the opportunistic nature of their membership and agenda.
In Zanu-PF, factionalism has been linked to the contest to succeed President Mugabe.
In an interview aired by ZBC last week, President Mugabe came out strongly against factionalism in the party.
He said: “It is terrible to have your name mentioned as leader of a faction. It is shameful.” The President said some senior party members promoted regionalism and tribalism where they portrayed themselves as godfathers ahead of provincial party chairpersons. “That is what we are fighting against and I am going to fight against this one blatantly because that is what is destroying the party.”
We couldn’t agree more with the President. He is likely to have better information than we do concerning those who fan tribal and regional politics at the expense of broader national interests. We believe party leaders, moreso those aspiring to be national leaders, should be above tribal and regional politics. The Presidency by its nature implies national leadership. It is even more disappointing that this disease is afflicting a revolutionary party like Zanu-PF, especially at this important moment in the country’s development.
This is a party of comrades and combatants who spent years fighting for every Zimbabwean, including those yet to be born. The war was a crucible that moulded true nationalists into future leaders, not little warlords bullying peasants in provinces.
Zanu-PF is ideologically clear about its mission, there has never been any doubt about the party’s grassroots moorings and commitment to the well-being of the majority of Zimbabwe’s poor.
The land reform programme bears testimony to this commitment. A dispassionate look at the mix of farmers at the tobacco auction floors will show people of varied backgrounds and different means.
Indigenisation and empowerment have sought to destroy the enclave settler colonial economy by redistributing wealth to a more national population. Like land reforms, a programme of such magnitude will always have problems. These should not, however, distract from the major policy thrust.
It is therefore shameful indeed that a party with such pedigree should be afflicted by the politics of regional and provincial warlords.
Let’s not forget that Zanu-PF won the July 31, 2013 vote on the basis of strong policies already under implementation and the promise of development and to fight corruption under the Zim-Asset blueprint.
We have grown accustomed to inexperienced parties whingeing about being infiltrated by State agents and Zanu-PF moles. But to have Zanu-PF adopting these contemptible village tactics to justify corruption and factionalism is to degrade the party.
It is embarrassing and shameful.
Like the President correctly pointed out, if you want to be a tribal or provincial leader then you fall short of what it takes to be a national leader. It means only your village will vote for you because your works and political appeal are provincial and tribal.
The rest of the nation will not know or recognise you.
Those who aspire to national leadership should rise and stay above factional, regional and tribal politics. That is the only way they can maintain and sustain Zanu-PF’s revolutionary pedigree and its people-centred policies.
That is the only way the party can be assured of future victories over policy-bankrupt adventurist party formations whose souls lie outside the country.
Online Reporter