Chronicle Editor
Blessings Chidakwa, Zimpapers Elections Desk
WHO will stop the unconquerable Zanu-PF? From 60 000 attendees at the party’s first rally in Chipinge to 126 378 during the last one in Centenary.
No doubt the increasing numbers are a clear sign that Zanu-PF remains the most popular party which purely identifies with the people.
To label it the “People’s party” is well befitting, a status that the ruling party has earned since its formation and managed to live up to even in the present day.
Its growing popularity at each of the provincial star rallies leaves the world in awe with naysayers green with envy of President Mnangagwa and Zanu-PF’s mobilising might. The increasing overwhelming figures speak for themselves as they simply point to one thing, an inevitable landslide victory for the party.
Zanu-PF ignited its campaign trail in Chipinge with 60 000 attendees followed by Bulilima 70 000, Magunje 75 000, Zaka 124 000 and Centenary 126 378 excluding people tents.
Posting on his Twitter handle, Permanent Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Mr Nick Mangwana confirmed the figure of the last rally: “The official drone head count for Mash Central excluding tents was 126 378.”
No other political party during this campaign trail has managed to amass such numbers barely less than a month before the harmonised elections.
In fact, Zanu-PF is competing against itself as every rally is mistaken for “the mother of all rallies” with the next one always proving to outclass the last.
With five more provincial star rallies still on the cards, some provinces like Mashonaland East have already promised the “biggest crowd ever” surpassing all other held rallies.
Their turn may be coming early next month, but the Zanu-PF Mashonaland East provincial leadership says it is working on mobilising over 200 000 when President Mnangagwa and his entourage descend on the province.
In his own words, President Mnangagwa at the Centenary rally said he continues to be impressed with the increasing numbers.
“Dear comrades, I greet you all who have come to join us from all corners of Mashonaland Central province. On our way here (Centenary), Amai Mnangagwa said we were going to have a bumper crowd in her home province.
“I told her that the Midlands province would surpass the crowd here. But I am happy with the sheer number of people attending this rally. Indeed, you have fulfilled the dreams and desires of our great ancestor, Mbuya Nehanda. I thank you for that,” he said.
President Mnangagwa also admitted that he thought he had seen it all during the Masvingo rally but he was wrong.
“Last week, we were in Masvingo and I was wondering if any other province could surpass the number of people who had attended that rally.
“Masvingo is a massive province and has more people compared to Mashonaland Central. But you have matched them in terms of the numbers that have attended this rally,” he said.
The record number in Mashonaland Central province came as no surprise as it has proved since independence that it knows no other party besides Zanu-PF. All 18 parliamentary seats belong to the ruling party.
During the past elections, Zanu-PF legislators in Mashonaland Central have never tasted defeat to the opposition parties in their changing forms.
“For 40 years, Mashonaland Central has been solidly behind the party of our revolution.
“You have been giving us 100 percent of all the seats contested here. There is no other province that has done so well. Mashonaland Central is the backbone of the party. You are a one-party province,” President Mnangagwa said as he saluted the province.
It will be hard to separate Zanu-PF popularity with winning as has been cemented by several surveys predicting a landslide victory.
Political analyst Dr Hamadziripi Dube said the Citizens Coalition for Change is at its worst time as it has one man controlling no known structures and with serious disunity in the briefcase party.
“Zanu-PF is well organised and very prepared for the coming election evidenced by the size of provincial presidential rallies.
“Zanu-PF has done wonders especially in infrastructure development which was poorly attended to by the First Republic before 2018,” he said.
Dr Dube cited various developments including Emergency Road Rehabilitation projects of roads which changed the face of rural districts and towns where major roads were repaired and some renewed to above standard.
“Water projects successfully done through the Presidential scheme have helped the cities where zero drop was their daily meal in their homes.
“The Government has responded to the need of its workers’ remuneration before election as a clear indication to progress in salary improvement,” he said.
Dr Dube said Zanu-PF also allowed everyone who was interested in contesting in its primary elections and this led to the election of youthful leaders to stand in these coming harmonised elections which was the main loop on CCC.
He said the President is a man of his words in terms of servant leadership being the master and champion of democracy allowing people to freely express their
feelings on the day to day running of Government business.
“The President is also known for withdrawing appointed ministers after they acted outside their contracts. By doing so he gave people confidence in the party and the majority will vote for Zanu-PF in this coming election.
“People now have enough affordable transport. Everyone, local and international, is preaching ED deserves another chance so that he finishes his major projects in his second term,” he said.
Dr Dube added: “Zanu-PF has made town and rural folk gain more confidence in the party and its policies as World Bank and IMF commended the progress in its economic development policies.”
Another analyst, Dr Prolific Mataruse said a win for President Mnangagwa was now a foregone conclusion.
“Survey after survey has proved that it is as clear as daylight to everyone who the most organised presidential candidate is in the August 2023 election.
“The opposition has been failing to show that it is a viable alternative,” he said.
This weekend, President Mnangagwa and his winning Zanu-PF team are expected in Nkayi District, Matabeleland North Province, where yet another bumper crowd is expected to listen to him speak about the trajectory the country is taking in the next five years.
All is now in the hands of Nkayi to maintain the set bar of record numbers or simply surpass it.
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