Minister of Truth: Where are the people, People First?

Minister of Truth with Cde Jason Swanepoel

Coming across a political party with a name like People First one is forgiven for expecting a group of selfless cadres enthused with the responsibilities of delivering the needs of the ordinary man before their own aspirations.

Now imagine the astonishment and repulsion when you realise that the People First party apart from being the brainchild of an exiled avaricious misguided politician eager to avenge those who blew the whistle on her sordid dealings, does not in fact even have people within it.
It ceases to occupy the space of being a party. One wonders if it is even prudent enough to call it an organisation or is it just a mere thought in the minds of those with uncommitted mental space to entertain it.
Perhaps you had developed a soft spot for People First and are thinking that was totally uncalled for.
Allow me then to profile the People First “leadership” before discussing whether or not any of them has the flimsiest intention of putting people or anyone first.
I’ll begin with Rugare Gumbo, the ungrateful prodigal son who upon being forgiven for his plot to oust party leadership during the liberation struggle, did not hesitate to repeat a similar disloyalty against the very man who had pardoned him.
A disappointed President Mugabe was left to say “Madyira, mavakupandukira President kechipiri.”
So, not the most virtuous of men.
Next in line is a Judas character, Didymus Mutasa.
All it took was the promise of a powerful position in this People First and like a possessed man he ran demonising his government all the way to sadc where he sought intervention on party matters.
More so, matters of a party that had expelled him.
Needless to say his own folk in Makoni Central desperately wanted him gone and were reported to have held celebrations when he lost his post.
Sound like a man to lead you to Canaan?
As for Temba Mliswa, his irresolute and mutinous nature overpowers him so much that he is already selling out his fellow People First-ians.
He has recently been quoted saying of People First “there is not much happening on the ground and no real structures exist as people within wards and other structures have not warmed up to the idea of a new political party”.
Sounds like the type of captain who would jump ship when the boat starts sinking.
Finally, is the leader of this circus, Joice Mujuru.
I could list the several corruption and abuse of office charges brought up against her but I’m finding this a rather tedious exercise.
Let us just round up the evidence and rule that her business empire is what she really puts first above all else.
With such a leadership it is no surprise that People First is failing to take off.
It has been drawn up on the individual aspirations of its founders.
In sharp contrast is Zanu-PF, which in 1963 was formed on the basis of forwarding the organisation and it’s mandate first before the individual.
Hence the repeated utterance by the it’s First Secretary that “no one is above the party”.
As a result the revolutionary party was able to progress and strengthen itself even during the times when most of its leadership were under political imprisonment.
The vision of Zanu-PF is shared and believed in by its people’s so much that each individual champions the party agenda volitionally.
This is because it is unquestionable to party supporters that the manifesto they abide by indeed puts them first.
However, the People First blueprint, Build, has failed to build confidence in people because it is clear that none of its objectives will be realised because this is merely Joice Mujuru’s egocentric document whose lifespan depends on her own.
Africa has suffered at the hands of greedy, self-centred politicians bent on creating fiefdoms.
This is how we ended up with an alphabet soup of MDC breakaway parties even transcending on to the number line with MDC-99.
What becomes of MDC -T if Tsvangirai is no longer a part of it? What will be left of MDC-N in the absence of Ncube?
In the same manner, what is People First without Mai Mujuru?
Putting people first requires sacrifice, dedication and a high level of earnestness without which your existence becomes disrespectful to those very people: a sheer mockery of their intelligence.
I am not convinced that any of these traitorous, narcissistic People First leaders will be prepared to descend from their lofty, self-appointed thrones and meet the needs of the ordinary Zimbabwean.
Yes, people first but which people?
The Mujurus first?
The Mutasas first?