Langton Nyakwenda and Debra Matabvu

The Zanu-PF Convention Centre in Gweru witnessed an electric reverberation last Monday before Harare City Sports Centre followed suit on Wednesday.

Not to be outdone was Mucheke Stadium in Masvingo on Thursday and Sakubva Stadium in Mutare reciprocated and ended the week’s political programme in style on Friday.

All the events exhibited that they were not engineered and people simply wanted a feel of “two firsts” – a first hand encounter with the First Lady.

It began in Chinhoyi two weeks ago, and grew last week as thousands of Zimbabweans welcomed Dr Grace Mugabe to Gweru, marking another week of her “Meet the People” tour.

Dr Mugabe’s entrance into mainstream politics following her nomination for the Zanu-PF Women’s League top post has brought a refreshing dimension to the political landscape and her “Meet the People” tour has been oversubscribed.

Her gospel of peace, unity and development has won hearts and minds as many see her as a unifying factor in the current factional politics affecting Zanu-PF ahead of an elective congress in December.

Her straight talk, and public denouncement of factionalism and non-performing party leaders is the stuff that has seen Dr Mugabe’s star rise.

Her grasp of the social issues has endeared her with ordinary people, inasmuch as her call for stability resonates with industrialists.

At Sakubva, Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Chris Mushowe called First Lady a unifier, while incumbent Secretary for Women’s Affairs Cde Oppah Muchinguri hailed Dr Mugabe as the key to ending factionalism in the ruling Zanu-PF.

The First Lady was at her usual best during the Harare leg where a strong crowd packed the City Sports Centre to the rafters.

The electric atmosphere, spiced up by the energetic crowd which danced to popular gospel musician Mathias Mhere’s tunes, was befitting as this was the day Harare would witness stunning political developments.

A deafening din filled the arena as Amai Mugabe strode towards the stage, raising a fist, flanked by Cde Muchinguri and Zanu-PF Harare province chair Cde Amos Midzi.

“Panamai ndopanevana, ndopanababa, saka amai ndeve munhu wese… ndimai vanoyananisa,” said Cde Muchinguri as she introduced Dr Mugabe.

Oliver Mutukudzi’s sing-alone Wati Tsvata – whose message was befitting of the occasion – belted from the PA system as the First Lady prepared to address a highly-expectant crowd.

And then the moment came. Dr Mugabe called Harare South MP Cde Shadreck Mashayamombe to the stage

Cde Mashayamombe, who is Zanu-PF’s Harare political commissar, allegedly led moves to elbow the First Lady out of the running for the Women’s League top post.

“Huya pano Mashayamombe… uri munhu wenyama unotadza, tese tinotadza. Only God is infallible saka nhasi ndoda kuti nditi pamberi pevanhu ndakuregerera, zvakaitika kare zvakatopfuura,” said Dr Mugabe, as the crowd broke into song and dance.

Cde Mashayamombe looked relieved as Dr Mugabe shook his hand while some on the high table looked bemused.

The First Lady was not finished. And the crowd went with the spirit of the day by chanting: “Queen of Peace…Amai vane rudo…ndimhamha ivavo.”

“VaMidzi huyai kuno… Gomwe ari kupi ndambomuona, ehe huya kuno Gomwe,” Dr Mugabe interrupted the vociferous chanting.

“I prayed about it last night, kuti Mwari batanidzai baba nemwana. Hatidi kushungurudza vaMidzi kuti vagotadza kuita basa ravo, we chose him to lead Harare so vaMidzi ndibaba.

“If there is anyone who will say ndiri waMidzi or waGomwe wasara wega. Ndiri kufunga kuti kurwisana kwapera nhasi muHarare.”

The crowd roared as Amai Mugabe lifted both Cde Midzi and youth leader Cde Godfrey Gomwe’s hands in a sign of unity.

The “mini Unity Accord” had been sealed, ending the feud between Cde Midzi and Cde Gomwe who were at loggerheads with the provincial chairman allegedly angry that youths endorsed the First Lady’s nomination in August.

Dr Mugabe took her gospel of peace, unity and development to Masvingo on Thursday, before rounding up the week with another well-attended rally at Sakubva Stadium in Mutare on Friday. “Vanhu ndinogara ndichivati ngatisapedza nguva yedevelopment tichirwisana pachedu nekuda kwepower.” Dr Mugabe has been consistent on that front.

And even in the heat of politics, Dr Mugabe still shows her motherly instincts, often relating her displeasure with the manner in which come local authorities are demolishing houses and clamping down on vendors.

“The councils should engage the residents, vogara navo pasi vovataurira kuti pamakavaka hapasi ripo…kanzuru yopa vanhu pamwe pekugara ingava one room kana two vasati vapunza dzimba dzevanhu.

“I know women suffer the most in the quest to feed their families. Some have turned to vending but they are always on the run because of city council authorities… it is high time council designate and build proper places of vending,” declared Dr Mugabe.

“Like I always say both a smile and a frown is possible but let us all smile,” she said as she concluded her address.

Heed Dr Mugabe’s unity call: Analysts

Peace is a vital cog for national development and should be spearheaded by those in leadership as advocated by First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe, analysts have said. Analysts who spoke to The Sunday Mail last week said national development could only take place if there was unity. University of Zimbabwe Department of Political Science chair Dr Charity Manyeruke said, “Humans can only be resourceful when there is peace and tranquility in a country. When there is peace, there is stability and all the energy is drawn towards development.”

Dr Manyeruke said issues of factionalism that were charecterising the country’s political landscape were counter-productive.

“Factionalism does not paint a good picture for any political party or a country and business investors tend to fear investing in an environment of uncertainty,” she said.

Her sentiments were echoed by Midlands State University political commentator Dr Nhamo Mhiripiri who said unity was crucial in improving the livelihoods of citizens.

“Peace and unity should never be taken for granted as this could sabotage development leading to the destruction of institutions,” he said.

“A closer look at factionalism in Zimbabwe shows it has made leaders divert from bread and butter issues as they concentrate only on power.”

Indeed, she left supporters in Gweru, Harare, Masvingo and Mutare all smiles and the remaining provinces of Mashonaland Central, Midlands, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and Bulawayo should brace for fireworks.