Staff writer
…sends MDC-A to the ropes
The ruling ZANU PF has sent out a clear statement of intent for the 2023 elections by holding a massive restructuring programme across the country during the weekend.
The ruling party successfully conducted district elections which resonated well with the party's thrust of mobilizing at least five million voters for the 2023 elections.
The party was in a buoyant mood as it conducted the polls which sent shivers down the spine of the rival MDC-A which was left clutching thin air. In a bid to douse the fire, Antony Mutodza, the MDC-A Mash East Chairman desperately tried to spin a sideshow by holding branch formation meetings in Chikomba Central during the same period which was, nevertheless, a total flop.
While ZANU PF gatherings across Chikomba averaged 400 people, the MDC-A meetings at Dambatsoko, Manyanga, Masasa and Chomunhenzva were attended by an average of 25 people.
The MDC-A is embroiled in factional fighting pitting the Chamisa and Biti factions which has brought the party to a dead end. This has seen the party struggling to constitute branch structures as a number of supporters have crossed floor to the MDC-T.
Contacted for a comment by this publication, Mutodza admitted that the MDC-A was in a total mess and partly blamed the Covid 19 pandemic and factionalism for the state of affairs in his party.
"The party is in shambles because of ZANU PF tactics of blocking out the opposition meetings under the pretext of Covid 19 while the ruling party is allowed to conduct its activities without restrictions. The other problem is that we have renegades in the party such as Edwin Maseva who is working against the party day-in-day out," said Mutodza who is believed to be a Biti faction sympathiser.
He blamed Maseva for sabotaging the party's programmes including the restructuring exercise. In a separate interview, Maseva blamed Mutodza for destroying the MDC-A in Mash-East since he took over the reigns from Piniel Denga.
"The day Mutodza rigged the provincial elections signalled the end of MDC-A in Mashonaland East. Mutodza is a good farmer not a politician and lacks the political clout to advance the democratic change agenda envisioned by president Chamisa.
“Look at how he has destroyed the party by imposing his unpopular side-kicks in leadership positions against the will of the people," said the ousted District Organizing Secretary for Chikomba West.
Maseva is very influential and he is leading a faction in Chikomba which is aligned to Chamisa.
A political analyst who preferred to be anonymous said that the development on the political landscape this weekend sends a signal to the MDC-A that ZANU PF means serious business. He added that the opposition is likely to face a rude awakening in the 2023 elections.
He said that while ZANU PF was busy at work, the MDC A was preoccupied with peddling ideologically bankrupt and hollow catchphrases such as “Ngaapinde Hake Mukomana” currently trending on social media.
“ZANU PF is indeed on a rigorous journey of self-renewal and you could sense the revolutionary spirit among members during the restructuring exercise which is expected to galvanise the party ahead of the 2023 elections,” said the analyst.
