AT the height of Zanu PF factional wars in 2017, the economy was neglected as politics took over ahead of the 2018 harmonised elections.
The late former President Robert Mugabe had been endorsed as Zanu PF's sole candidate in the harmonised poll as loyalists pushed for Gushungo’s life presidency.
First lady Grace’s “meet the people rallies” was used to endorse Mugabe’s candidature for the polls. No one, the nation was told, could rule other than Mugabe.
Mugabe was seen as God given, anointed to take Zimbabwe to the Promised Land.
The then G40 cabal that coalesced around Grace was burning the midnight oil for Mugabe’s continued rule, with the former first lady telling supporters that the veteran leader would lead Zimbabwe, dead or alive.
In the event of death, she said, Cabinet ministers would troop to his grave at the National Heroes Acre for weekly Cabinet meetings.
Fast forward to 2025 and the same fixation with politics has reached fever pitch. The new slogan is ED2030, galvanised by a resolution at Zanu PF’s national people’s conference last year, which seeks to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s tenure by two years when his constitutionally-mandated two terms end in 2028.
Mnangagwa has stated that he wants to rest at the end of his tenure and will not be persuaded to prolong his stay. Events on the ground, however, paint a different picture with his loyalists having increased the 2030 tempo.
- NoViolet Bulawayo’s new novel is an instant Zimbabwean classic
- Jah Prayzah, Zanu PF rekindles ‘lost love’
- Bank workers appeal to Ncube for tax relief
- Indosakusa marks 21-year anniversary milestone
Keep Reading
Mugabe’s bootlickers saw him as an angel.
“Truly speaking, in heaven there is God and here on earth there is an angel called Robert Gabriel Mugabe. You are representing God here on earth,” then Zanu PF youth secretary told a rally at Rudhaka Stadium in July 2017.
He went for the jugular: “I promise you, people, that when we go to heaven, don’t be surprised to see Robert Gabriel Mugabe standing beside God vetting people into heaven. Gushungo, you are an angel.”
Mnangagwa loyalists believe he was anointed by God to lead the country to 2030.
According to Local Government minister Daniel Garwe, “God gave President Mnangagwa Vision 2030”, referring to the economic blueprint that seeks to propel the country to an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
The first republic created the National Youth Day to celebrate the youth. The day is celebrated on Mugabe’s birthday, February 21.
Its successor has come up with Munhumutapa Day, which falls on Mnangagwa’s birthday, although it has not been made a public holiday yet. Last year’s celebrations, which turned into a bootlicking frenzy, were held at the Great Zimbabwe Monuments in Masvingo. This year’s event promises to be bigger and better.
Political philosopher Karl Marx once said, “History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.”
Mugabe's administration used party structures to hero-worship the leader. The second republic has gone a step further with dozens of affiliates — from Young Women 4ED to Lawyers 4ED, Mahwindi 4ED, Varakashi 4ED, Men BelievED, Pastors 4ED, Teachers 4ED, Councillors 4ED, Mapositori 4ED and Bornfrees 4ED, among others. Their mandate is to sing praises for Mnangagwa.
Mugabe left us with Robert Mugabe Road in every city. We now have roads named after Mnangagwa and the Trabablas Interchange, formerly Mbudzi roundabout.
The second republic is cruising under the guidance of “Munhumutapa”. Has it learnt something from history? It appears it learnt nothing and forgot nothing.
