The Sunday Mail
A string of banners sent a clear message.
One read: “Don’t be part of the factional agenda.”
The others emphasised the same point: “One centre of power” and “Kubatana, ukubambana and more unity”.
These messages were for all to read in Mbare, Mataga and Murehwa.
In one of Harare’s oldest suburbs — Mbare — the emphasis last Thursday was that of being unconquerable.
To accentuate the impossibility of being overcome or defeated, the hit song “My Jesus is Unconquerable” by Botswana-based Dr Tawanda and Dublin became the hymn at Chishawasha Grounds in Mbare.
With blocks of about 10 dilapidated flats to her right and Siyaso Market to the left, First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe demonstrated she cannot be easily subdued.
A male attendee in one of the tents pitched in a “cow horn formation” could be heard enthusiastically chatting to his colleague: “Amai ndivo mafirakureva chaivo.”
Amai Mugabe’s mission was well synchronised with her yellow themed outfit whose colour — in psychology — depicts a great communicator who loves to talk.
The designer outfit carried President Mugabe’s portrait and hands in broken shackles possibly to depict the one in charge and independence.
In Mbare, she told party members that she harboured no sinister motives against war veterans.
“I live with a war veteran so how can I have an agenda against war veterans? There are people who went and infiltrated the war veterans and tried to demonstrate against me.
“I respect war veterans because they sacrificed a lot for this country to be liberated,” she said.
She also implored Zanu-PF to consider the welfare of the electorate before explaining how the country’s economic blueprint — Zim-Asset — sought to improve people’s livelihoods.
A day later, she took her crusade to Mataga, Mberengwa in the Midlands.
This time Amai Mugabe donned the same designer outfit, but with red being the outstanding colour which psychologists say symbolises energy, passion and action.
At Mataga, she exhibited the energy, passion and was determined to prove that her relationship with Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa was established on respect and not ambition to take over from President Mugabe.
Before echoing her mission, the First Lady was welcomed to wild cheers as the public address system boomed with the song “Iyi Ndiyo Sungano” popularised by Zimpraise Choir and adopted from Isaiah 59 verse 21.
Amai Mugabe said contrary to the power struggles that were being propagated by some retrogressive elements, she enjoyed a good relationship with Zanu-PF’s Vice-President and Second Secretary.
The private media has lately been claiming that the First Lady is leading a faction that wants her elevated to the Vice-President’s post.
“People want to abuse me and VP Mnangagwa. VP Mnangagwa is a very good and close friend, I don’t want to lie to you. . .I don’t fear eating anything from Mnangagwa, I have respect for this man,” she said.
“According to the Zanu-PF constitution, we hold a conference each year to evaluate what we have done for the people at the end of the year. Now some people are saying Mai Mugabe is torturing the nation because she wants to be Vice President. How?”
She added, “Our leader is here, the motive is to confuse people. President Mugabe is our leader; VP Mnangagwa is his deputy. Have you ever heard that I act in the President’s stead when he travels out of the country? Have you ever heard that nonsense, talking about useless things?”
Yesterday, she put the icing on the cake in Murehwa.
The 600 horse power “Unconquerable” descended on Murehwa, Mashonaland East where an open space next to the main shopping centre proved too small for the bumper crowd.
This time around she donned a green outfit, a colour that symbolises life, renewal and energy.
Unsurprisingly, she and the crowd were full of life and energy.
While her message largely centred on unity within the party’s ranks, she also touched on issues to do with transformation of the country’s economy.
Amid wild cheers from the crowd, she also “joined in matrimony” a young couple that had nestled a stone’s throw away from the VIP dais, ostensibly to follow proceedings at vantage point.
She also explained to the crowd that the December Annual People’s Conference has nothing to do with “renewing leadership” in the party.
Amai Mugabe said the indaba will, instead, only review party work done over the last year.
In all her missions, she has demonstrated determination for a good cause and that she cannot be broken by the barrage of some negative media reports.
Her mission is simple.
She wants things correctly and will not rest until sanity prevails.
In her strenuous effort to restore sanity in some Zanu-PF structures, she has attracted the tag “Dr Stop It!”
Repeatedly, Amai Mugabe has told the ruling party’s members to maintain discipline and shun factionalism.
The wise have taken heed, but some seem to take long to reform.
But like a true mother, Dr Mugabe will not tire.
She has proved that her rest will only be when sense has been knocked into the heads of the deviant.
Her agenda is to connect with the people, make Zanu-PF the political party of choice and ensure the people understand how the revolutionary party is committed to improving their livelihoods.
