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UNITY is everything in politics – and this should sink into all those Zanu PF cadres who participated in its recent primary elections across 26 constituencies in Manicaland.
While primary elections are a necessary factor for democracy, they can brew some unintended consequences if winners and losers don’t move on together.
In a game where credibility and integrity are essential elements to winning people’s hearts, the ruling party opened the space for new entrants to enhance its internal democracy.
Some sitting legislators and councillors lost, and there is need for those who lost to embrace what the grassroots decided.
Since the internal poll is over and winners announced, the party’ losing cadres should swiftly pick themselves up and forge a united front as the harmonised elections expected later this year calls for that.
Contestants should know that there are essentially two options in an election – to win or lose– and the losers, especially sitting legislators, must not despair, but rather introspect, for it was a contest and not a war.
Losing a hard-fought election can be a humbling and agonising experience, but it is a reality that nearly every candidate will experience on some level.
These elections gave an interesting reading – introduction of new blood in National Assembly, Senate, local authorities, women and youth quotas – which turned out to be the biggest boost to the image of the party.
The affected cadres may have lost a contest, but should remain relevant and prove that they are part of the ongoing political discourse.
Mature cadres control their political future by harnessing the ability to remain loyal and relevant to the system.
A house divided against itself cannot stand.
The guiding concept to victory is to remain united, and unity only exists where people are in agreement and act together for a particular purpose – which is the resounding victory for President Mnangagwa.
The 2023 elections will be fought better above petty considerations and to this end, factions and factionalism in the party must be confronted and exterminated in order to build a single party that embraces diversity as a strength.
Those who lost should congratulate and support the winners and winners must embrace other for at some point they too shall also fall.
The old guard should assume responsibility to nurture the young blood’s ascendancy through appropriate guidance and advice.
Winners and losers must find ways to come together, find necessary compromises, bridge their differences and help restore and defend Zanu PF.
Losing candidates should mobilise their support base for winning candidates and play a key role as trusted and loyal cadres.
Politics of emotions must give way to politics of reason.
Unity in diversity is entirely possible and we should all strive for that.
Unity is towing a party line, having a single identity, idea or goal.
When people are united, the only guarantee is that they will be single-minded in the pursuit of their goal – to win 2023 elections resoundingly.
But when people are not united, we know exactly what they will do – nothing.
There is no better time to start living the dream than now.
So don’t add to the noise or feed the negativity with personal attacks because the emergence of young turks confirmed that Zanu PF has abundant and competent youngsters at its disposal capable of wrestling all seats from the opposition armpit.
Online Reporter