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Baby, it's cold outside Zanu-PF

WHY is it cold outside Zanu-PF, Zimbabwe’s ruling party? I found myself asking this question after hearing First Lady Grace Mugabe use this statement at her recent political crusade in Zimbabwe’s Mashonaland Central Province.

“It is cold outside Zanu-PF. Unofamba wakapfeka zijasi masikati machena kana ukabuda muZanu-PF (You will walk around with a heavy coat on a very hot afternoon if you get out of Zanu-PF), she reportedly said.

This statement was first used by Zanu-PF senior member and current Higher Education Minister Jonathan Moyo in 2008. On his return from the political wilderness just before the 2008 harmonised elections, Moyo summed up how difficult life was outside Zanu-PF: “It’s cold out there.”

The warmth of a ruling party position brings with it many privileges, both legal and some that are outright illegal - such as intimidation and violence. Being in Zanu-PF comes with packages such as red carpet treatment and various functions, but once outside, one has to contend with joining the queue like everybody else.  

One of the reasons why its cold outside Zanu-PF is that once you fall out of favour, you also fall out of the patronage system. It is a well-known fact that Zanu-PF, after winning elections, gives government jobs to its supporters, friends and relatives as a reward for working towards victory, and as an incentive to keep working for the party.

Offices in government are not awarded on the basis of merit but are dependent on one’s loyalty to the party. No wonder we have government ministers making all manner of excuses instead of taking responsibility for their failures.

'Bad weather forecasts' caused energy shortage

One good example is the minister of energy, currently faced with a crippling power deficit in the country. In his response to the crisis, Energy and Power Development Minister Samuel Undenge said inaccurate predictions by the Zimbabwe Meteorological Services department were responsible for government’s failure to properly plan against low water levels at Kariba dam, resulting in the current power supply crisis.

Responding to questions from journalists at a recent press briefing, Undenge said his ministry was now “sceptical” of the country’s weathermen.

This is what happens when people are given positions on loyalty grounds as opposed to what they are capable of.

The Zanu-PF system also creates opportunities those in power often use for their benefit. Even those members entrepreneurial enough to start their own projects do so knowing that the party or fellow party chiefs will channel party or government projects through their businesses.

Most members with influential positions have their business interests intricately tied to the Zanu-PF patronage system and once they are out, such ties will be cut and it will be very cold.

Zanu-PF members easily get their way through intimidation and violence. The police are usually afraid to arrest or investigate criminal activities once the names of Zanu-PF bigwigs are used as defence. We have heard of people who go around swindling members of the public out of their hard-earned money using the names of powerful Zanu-PF strongmen, and nothing happens to them.

But once outside Zanu-PF, one loses the party’s protection from prosecution. Outside Zanu-PF you also lose dignity to the extent of being called names by people who were not even fit to tie your shoes while you were in the party.

When former vice-president Joice Mujuru was still in the party, she wielded so much power that one would think twice before questioning her actions. But after she was thrown out, every Jack and Jill could denigrate her and call her names.
 
“In Dotito there is a Judas called Mujuru who wants to assassinate the President but we realised her demonic schemes before she could strike. We are going to kill her politically by removing her from her post,” said one very junior member of Zanu-PF just before Mujuru was ousted from the party and government.

Privileged unto death

Even in death, those high enough in the party are at least guaranteed a decent burial at the national heroes' acre while those unfortunate to die outside the party structures will be buried like paupers. Burial at the national shrine comes with a burial speech by the President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, in front of thousands of mourners, a traditional stopover at Stodart Hall, a gun carriage bearing the casket, and a gun salute among other ceremonials.

But once outside the ruling party, chances of being buried there are next to nothing as confirmed by Grace Mugabe this week when she said former VP Mujuru will not be buried at the national shrine when she dies, because she betrayed the country’s president.

Now the question to ask is: is this the sort of warmth that a political party should be giving to its members? That they should loot, steal, invade, and grab without facing any consequences for their actions?

* Malcom Sharara is Fin24’s correspondent in Zimbabwe. Views expressed are his own.

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