The Sunday Mail
Dr Obert Moses Mpofu
It appears that some of our counterparts still have a lot to learn about how to conduct themselves in the political arena.
I have mentioned time and again that politics and politicking is an art that should be refined over a lengthy period of time.
It is an art and practice that requires precision and patience and one that should be taken with the greatest level of seriousness.
If one hurries in their approach or takes on methods not tried and tested before, they risk spoiling the broth and serving people a bitter meal, thereby invoking their wrath and disdain.
In fact, in politics, there is very little room for experiments and tinkering with well-known formulas.
In all my years, I have never encountered anyone with a greater penchant for failure than the current crop of opposition political parties we have in this country.
The simple formula that works in politics is one which has the people as the main ingredient.
There is no way on earth that one will prevail in politics when they embark on this journey alone or when they make themselves the start and the finish while disregarding the people.
It is the people that make you and it is the people that end you.
Special care should always be given to ensuring that the people, our true masters as civil servants, are content.
ZANU PF does not come short in that regard. In all of its deeds and political philosophy, ZANU PF has stood by the people, and it has always paid off.
Tongues were sent wagging in this past week when it became apparent that the CCC truly stood for “Chamisa Chete Chete”.
The beauty of the courts is that everything always ends up exposed and out there for all to see.
As the CCC drama played out in the courts, in his attempt to thwart his arch-enemy in the form of Tshabangu, Chamisa ended up exposing himself and people indeed saw what a self-centred dictator he is.
There can be no doubt as to why ZANU PF has been able to attract multitudes of people.
We are a disciplined and well-organised political outfit with a firm history and ideology. We are proud of what we stand for, and that is, the people.
Every policy or programme initiated by my party is always aimed at ensuring that the people gain maximum benefit from it.
On the other hand, the opposition has time and again made that same mistake.
They always seem to be in a hurry and their methods are often not well thought out. You could never prevail in this business when you are operating from the shadows and disregarding the people or when you are used as a puppet and every single step you take is towards betraying your own kith and kin.
Now this ill-advised “strategic ambiguity” designed to safeguard the interests of one man has resulted in the opposition splitting again as they have on so many occasions before. From MDC, MDC-T, MDC-N, MDC-M, CCC Tshabangu, Chamisa Chete Chete and the endless list goes on and on.
The house of cards that is the one-man band has dramatically failed and such failure is there for everyone to see.
The recent High Court case has opened up a can of worms and has exonerated my party— ZANU PF’s good name — which was being sullied and being blamed for the recent squabbles in the CCC.
Through his own lawyers Chamisa made a glaring admission that indeed there exists two CCCs and this is not surprising at all.
This exonerates my party as being involved in Chamisa’s troubles.
We have bigger things to worry about, in the form of developing our country and ensuring that the needs of our people are met.
It is quite pitiful, but in all these splits and chaos, ZANU PF has remained the same, with no splinter groups or other ZANU PFs.
This has earned my beloved party loyalty from its people.
My hope is that these sideshows and theatrics by the opposition are put to rest so that all efforts are channelled towards the work being done to improve the country’s economy. As has become commonplace, whenever the opposition loses, they attack the people’s party, ZANU PF, and go on campaigns of calling for more illegal sanctions which harm our people.
This derails our country’s progress and affects the livelihoods of our people.
Although our opinions may be fundamentally different from those of the opposition, there is no justification for calling for harm to one’s nation and its citizens just because one would have lost an election.
This behaviour should never be condoned.
In all the recent happenings on the political front, there is cause to celebrate as Invictus has declared that they have found gas deposits in Muzarabani, Mashonaland Central province.
This is certainly a game changer that will play a pivotal role towards improving the country’s economic fortunes.
Such a discovery is no doubt owed to the astute leadership of His Excellency President ED Mnangagwa and his policy of opening up the economy.
With such a discovery of high-quality natural gas, which meets international standards, Vision 2030 is indeed in sight.
The possibilities offered by this new discovery of gas are indeed limitless, from employment creation to massive foreign currency that will be earned through the sale and export of this gas.
Our country is about to enter into a new era never seen before.
It is such amazing achievements that have our detractors hot on our heels with the objective of derailing our progress and development.
As we continue to strengthen our economy, we are now even more united with our neighbours who share our determination both in SADC and beyond.
Economic prosperity is certainly on the horizon.
Dr Obert Moses Mpofu is an academic and the Secretary-General of ZANU PF. He writes in his own capacity.
