Why ZANU-PF is able to stay in power

Gibson Nyikadzino

DID you know that fear is a very strong tool that can blur human’s logic and change their behavior? Without popular fear, no government could endure more than twenty-four hours. Fear is definitely the main tool of a government, institutions and even ecclesiastical movements. Because of this fear, many Zimbabweans are too scared to disobey laws.

In the USA today, President Donald Trump’s administration is using the “communist resurgence” as a tool to keep citizens in check in its fight against China. Trade wars and diplomatic tiffs have become the order of the day. The January 3 assassination of Iran’s Qasem Soleimani by the Trump administration was a pre-emptive strike over what it termed “Soleimani’s terrorist plan to hit American targets and injure our interests.” The resurgence of communism and the growth of terrorism are phenomena Americans do not want to hear about. During his campaign in 2016, Trump’s campaign message centred on “Make America Great Again,” a message that resonated with white supremacy and invoked the memories of the evils of the KKK alternatively interpreted “Make America White Again.”

When the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) was formed in 1999, many young people switched political allegiance from Zanu-PF to the newfound party. These same youths were executioners of violence and intimidation in the Zanu-PF structures, whose tactics they moved with to MDC. Their commitment, zeal and enthusiasm to defend the MDC values led their late founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai to issue the famous 2000 statement: “What we say to Robert Mugabe: if you don’t want to go peacefully, we will remove you violently.” Tsvangirai was confident of violence and atmosphere of fear and intimidation his young followers would secure his determination. Meanwhile, Zanu-PF because it had the institutions of power, used the Boarder Gezi National Youth Service to counter the threats posed by the MDC. The revolutionary party was victorious.

Extremely rare but vivid threats often loom large in the human mind. Most people wildly overestimate the courage they claim they have.

Today this fear remains a formidable tool used against political opponents or amongst followers of some charismatic leaders. In this scenario, some people in Zimbabwe, for example, are afraid of speaking out against MDC-Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa because of fear of getting ostracized. This equally goes to speaking out against Zanu-PF’s Emmerson Mnangagwa. Charismatic leaders like Chamisa entice disillusioned people into giving them support. On the contrary, leaders like Mnangagwa use the threat of the west’s envy of Zimbabwe’s resources to deter anyone seemingly trying to challenge their authority.

Despite living in this post-liberal world where the right to independence of thought and freedom of expression are remarkable tenets, fear rules!

This week’s events in Zimbabwe have been very unsettling. The arrest of journalist Hopewell Chin’ono for speaking out against corruption attracted a sharp disapproval on government actions by the United Nations (UN). The role of the journalist in this era is most noble. It is perhaps the highest form of public service, not because it is easy, but it is oftentimes difficult. The State at the same time alleges that while Chin’ono spoke out against corruption, he incited violence by mobilizing citizens using social media to take over power unconstitutionally on July 31. He was arrested along with Jacob Ngarivhume who contested under the MDC-Alliance ticket for a parliamentary seat for Bikita East constituency and garnered 638 votes.

In the same week, there was a state sanctioned, dispassionate and ceremonial taking away of civil liberties through a curfew to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Yes, the speed of the spread of the virus is phenomenal. However, citizens were not given enough time to prepare, the decision was necessary to some extent but impromptu. The curfew according to the government, is enforced by members of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) and police. Since the curfew on Wednesday, I have been a witness to some arrests, they were vile, debased and horrifyingly sadistic.

Those who cheered both Chin’ono and Ngarivhume on social media are nowhere near him because the government has deployed the security apparatus to deal with the rowdy citizenry. The government has not been judicious. They made the judgement to deploy heavy and armed officers following the momentum on Twitter which has been pedaled by other inter-territorial citizens who are for the protests.

Do not be surprised, the Zanu-PF government knows how to deal with people it has dominated for forty years. Government is achieving its goals through intimidation and brutality. Even the most courageous, those like Job Sikhala, Obert Masaraure and Godfrey Tsenengamu, key proponents critical of government, have fled their homes because they are scared, afraid and in fear.

These stories are fizzling the determination of Twitter warriors whose generals, Chin’ono and Ngarivhume have been denied bail and remanded in police custody. The two are alone. I understand their fight, but they were speaking to cowards. Zimbabweans are generally cowards, not patient. This fear is coupled with mistrust. In 2004 former minister Prof. Jonathan Moyo said: “There is enough space in Zimbabwe’s prisons for journalists.” After such remarks, Moyo is at the forefront expressing his determination to see the current administration go. In view of this, people should be scared and afraid.

The reason why Chin’ono was arrested has nothing to do with inciting violence. He spoke an offensive political idea of accountability, a legitimate issue for public debate and got arrested. Similarly, in the USA, wartime President Woodrow Wilson jailed 5 000 citizens for speaking against America’s involvement during WWI. They were threatened for speaking out a political idea relevant for public debate.

It is true Chin’ono exposed corruption and it is fact that he is now in prison alone, without any cheerleader by his side. Facts and truth have nothing to do with each other. Zimbabweans are not a patient people as many would think, but great cowards that tremble with pride. They push each other and embolden one another behind oneness and patriotism, but stumble when they confronted by formidable responses.

It is fear that rules the world. As it is, Zimbabweans will continue to live in fear, and danger of violent death. The lives of citizens will remain solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.

For feedback: gnyikadzino@gmail.com

#ZanuPFMustGo: A dangerous excursion taking off from the deep end

Gibson Nyikadzino

THE history of non-violent protests shows that people who participated had consistency and commitment to meet their objectives. The nature of their speech, then, did not incite violence. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and India’s Mahatma Ghandi are examples of how non-violence can be an anecdote to social ills if properly executed.

The Arab Revolutions of 2011 in Egypt also show that street protests are just one of a host of non-violent tactics that can achieve political results. Equally, valuable types of resistance include boycotts or strikes. Recently in Zimbabwe two girls Namatai Kwekweza and Vongai Zimudzi were arrested for staging a non-violent demonstration against a constitutional amendment without taking the issue for a referendum.

Today, a Twitter hashtag #ZanuPFMustGo has generated online momentum from activists, frustrated citizens, politicians and academics over the fragile economic situation in Zimbabwe. This online consensus has come ahead of the planned July 31 protest calling for change of livelihoods on one end and the complete decimation of ZANU-PF on the other extreme end. Already, the activists and others have begun unfollowing President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s account on the platform. As they tweet, they say theirs is a non-violent struggle to bring change in a country that endured 14 years of a violent struggle for independence.

With the history of how the Zanu-PF government has responded to protests, to think of removing the revolutionary government from power using a hashtag movement is a dangerous excursion taking off from the deep end. By placing confidence in violent means, one has chosen the very type of struggle with which the oppressors nearly have superiority. The leaders of nation-state are more equipped to use violence overwhelmingly. At the height of the April 2016 #ThisFlag and #Tajamuka demonstrations, Prof. Jonathan Moyo then a minister in the Zanu-PF government tweeted: “Only idiots think publicit stunts, hashtag protests, pastoral farts and rented demos will grab power in Zimbabwe.”

Zimbabweans behind the #ZanuPFMustGo movement are not ready for the call, they know their calls are a fluke. There are ways to depict problems in Zimbabwe mastered in an unorthodox manner, for example, like what contemporary musician and satirist Valentine Choga (Van Choga) does. Through his artistry, he uses metaphors, symbolisms and caricatures that show the struggles of a common man. Satire is part of any work of culture, art or entertainment created with a goal to drive social-change through non-violent means.

Also, how non-violent protests work depend on the nature of the political history of a nation and the creative ideas of the people to relay their grievances.

For instance, the Montgomery bus and South Africa boycotts paved the way for the dismantling of Jim Crow segregation and apartheid. A sex strike in 2003 by Liberian women demanding an end to the country’s second civil war succeeded.

In Sudan, a nation-wide labour strike and stay-at-home campaign preceded the ouster of Omar Al Bashir.

In the 1990s in Turkey, 30 million citizens were reported to have turned the lights on and off at night to focus national attention on corruption, part of the campaign that culminated in judicial investigations, trials and guilty verdicts for politicians and members of organised crime syndicates. The leaders of these protests were known by their respective governments and led their compatriots.

Non-violence is a substitute to war. What those behind the #ZanuPFMustGo movement should do is identifying the sources of a government’s power, knowing what it survives on and shrink that support. Without doing so, this is a futile virtual rant with short legs.

British archaeologist and diplomat Col. Thomas Edward Lawrence once said: “All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find it was vanity, but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they act upon their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.”

The possibility to decimate Zanu-PF using a hashtag, at times known as people power, is close to non-existent judging with the nature of the political terrain and the history of the movements. The July 31 planned protests are a dangerous dream and a plan without strategy. The previous protests coordinated and mobilised through use of Twitter and other platforms had violent outcomes. This is a constant reminder today that the participation rate of the planned protests is likely to be lower.

In 2011, then State Security minister Didymus Mutasa warned: “You cannot start a revolution in a square. If you try it hear in Zimbabwe, you will be dealt with decisively.” Having left government in 2014, Mutasa's words can still be felt as present in his physical absence.

While the government has not been efficient in addressing socio-economic needs affecting the people, it will be ready to deploy its machinery when threatened by those who will participate in the #ZanuPFMustGo movement.

For feedback: gnyikadzino@gmail.com