By Takura Zhangazha*
Zimbabwe’s mainstream political opposition is in serious
trouble. Its continued diversification
or factionalism would have been viewed as progressive if ours was already a
democratic society. Unfortunately it is
not. But neither is the call for democratic change in the country universally accepted.
Especially on the basis of democratic value or principle. Add to this, the lack
of acting for posterity and we have a recipe for disaster in the opposition rank
and file.
trouble. Its continued diversification
or factionalism would have been viewed as progressive if ours was already a
democratic society. Unfortunately it is
not. But neither is the call for democratic change in the country universally accepted.
Especially on the basis of democratic value or principle. Add to this, the lack
of acting for posterity and we have a recipe for disaster in the opposition rank
and file.
Arguably there is much in common between the opposition and
the ruling party. From personality cults
through to longue duree political leaderships
spiced up by ambiguous rhetoric about development, most times it is difficult
to discern one from the other.
the ruling party. From personality cults
through to longue duree political leaderships
spiced up by ambiguous rhetoric about development, most times it is difficult
to discern one from the other.
Bu the mainstream opposition has had to forge a character of
its own over the years. A character that saw it enter parliament and even government
after SADC intervention in 2009. The
defeat that was mutedly predicted and publicly decried in the 2013 general election should have been
a cause for serious introspection for the opposition.
its own over the years. A character that saw it enter parliament and even government
after SADC intervention in 2009. The
defeat that was mutedly predicted and publicly decried in the 2013 general election should have been
a cause for serious introspection for the opposition.
After all, it had been part of electoral and constitutional
reform processes that it publicly defended to the hilt against better advice.
reform processes that it publicly defended to the hilt against better advice.
As to be expected in the aftermaths of heavy political
losses, no matter how controversial, opposition parties tend to split. Ours
have been no exception. The reasons for
their new found factionalism appear to range from blame games for losses
through to desires for what are largely cosmetic changes to leadership and even
just basic but often times dangerous cult-like personality clashes.
losses, no matter how controversial, opposition parties tend to split. Ours
have been no exception. The reasons for
their new found factionalism appear to range from blame games for losses
through to desires for what are largely cosmetic changes to leadership and even
just basic but often times dangerous cult-like personality clashes.
All of which neither improve nor serve even the minimal performance
tenets of a democratic opposition or a continuing struggle for people centered democracy
in Zimbabwe.
tenets of a democratic opposition or a continuing struggle for people centered democracy
in Zimbabwe.
In order for the opposition to find its bearings once again,
there are five tasks that it must undertake in order to be directly relevant to
not only the general political economy but also to remain as viable
alternatives to the ruling Zanu Pf party.
there are five tasks that it must undertake in order to be directly relevant to
not only the general political economy but also to remain as viable
alternatives to the ruling Zanu Pf party.
- 1. Being Grounded
in its own Historical Genesis and Remaining true to the Founding Democratic Principles: All opposition parties have a
past or reason to exist. It may be an
event or an ideological consideration that led to their formation or eventual
strengthening, but all the same, it is a past that must be remembered continuously
in the work of the opposition parties. Remembering
it however entails a continuous recognition of the founding democratic values,
principles and actions to seek to achieve the intentions of seeking power. A continual thread of remembering the past
without being imprisoned by it will mean that the actions taken by subsequent
leaders remain organic and contribute to the creation of not only a democratic culture
but an historical accountability of both opposition leaders and members. - 2.
Embracing
Internal Democracy : Our opposition has generally argued that it is in a struggle
and that they cannot fathom changes to founding leaderships. In the aftermath of their electoral performance in 2013, the opposition leaders
would be well advised that the age of long term struggles under a leadership
that is not accountable to its members while convenient does not in the end
bring the desired results. Mimicry of the ruling party in this regard does not
work either, especially if one is claiming to be a credible alternative party. Disputes
must be resolved amicably and policy differences must be measured on the basis
of founding ideologies, values and principle of the party. - 3.
Continual
Engagement of Members in Policy Formulation and Organic Actions: It is not
enough to seek to run a party on the basis of popular events. Party policies must be regularly debated,
linked with economic and social realities at basic party structure level as
opposed to occasional lip services by national executives. This would entail that individual and
especially grassroots members are regularly empowered to debate policy
positions and to respond to socio-economic conditions with contextual
perspectives. It is also a mechanism where ordinary members are given an
opportunity to lead on issues of broader concern to the public. Where members are left to wait for rallies
and the holding of by-elections, the party generally takes the undemocratic
path of event based activism which is breeding ground for vote buying and the
creation of internal oligarchs. - 4.
Ensuring Organic
Cross Generational and Gender Representation- In most opposition movements,
there is limited scope for the participation of young Zimbabweans in key policy
making processes. A successful opposition
party will respond with urgency to the needs of Zimbabwe’s young on the basis
of their socio-economic concerns and with the intention of ensuring that these
are represented at the highest levels of important party documents or
structures in the party. This in order
to not only to keep in touch with young citizens but also to ensure the
development of a future leadership in the party that is grounded in democratic values
and principles from an earlier stage. - 5.
Linking
Policies with Civil Society Concerns:
In order to understand broader society, opposition parties need to look beyond
eh pursuit of power and understand the aggregation of interests in the
societies in which they operate. Where
research is done into what non-political actors (churches, labour unions,
students unions, residents associations, youth groups, womens groups, war
veterans, farmers unions, civil servants unions, business associations,
informal traders interests) party policies must respond to these in order to
not only incorporate them but to demonstrate
a greater understanding of the challenges Zimbabwean society faces.
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