A CROSS-section of Zimbabwe’s leading political analysts said this week the ruling Zanu PF party has been thrown off balance by a shifting regional political landscape, as it comes under fire over allegations it interfered in elections held in three countries.
Zanu PF has been accused of meddling in elections held in Botswana, Mozambique and Namibia.
In Botswana, Duma Boko of the Umbrella for Democratic Change stormed to power, ending the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)’s 50-year stranglehold on power.
But ex-president Ian Khama slammed Zanu PF for attempting to push through the BDP — a former liberation movement’s agenda.
The Sadc landscape has been generally divided between the parties that liberated its countries from colonial rule, and newly-formed movements fighting to reshape the bloc’s trajectory.
Mokgweetsi Masisi, the BDP leader, lost to Boko.
In Mozambique, Zanu PF faced a backlash after being accused of mobilising Zimbabweans to vote for the ruling Frelimo’s presidential candidate Daniel Chapo in a disputed poll pitting him against opposition candidate Venâncio Mondlane.
In the aftermath of the contentious polls, Mozambique sipped into bloody turmoil, which forced Mondlane to flee.
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Political analyst Vivid Gwede said Zanu PF had been threatened by the “regional electoral changes, which have propelled opposition parties into power”.
“Frelimo’s grip on power has been challenged. Zanu PF has been unsettled by opposition victories or gains in the region, including in Zambia, South Africa, and Botswana. For Zanu PF, this is a threat to its politics of power retention.
“Given its undemocratic politics, democratic breakthroughs or consolidation in the region risk Zanu PF’s diplomatic isolation and may rejuvenate the opposition.”
Across the Limpopo, the African National Congress failed for the first time since the end of apartheid in 1994 to garner majority votes and was consequently forced into a coalition with the Democratic Alliance, among other opposition parties.
In Zambia, Zanu PF has had uneasy relations with the administration of Hakainde Hichilema.
Another analyst, Rejoice Ngwenya observed that the growing tide of change in the region unsettled Zanu PF.
“Zanu PF feels insecure given the trajectory of political reform in the region. Of course, Zanu PF feels threatened by Hakainde Hichilema and Boko. ANC was lucky, Frelimo is on tenterhooks,” Ngwenya said.
In Namibia, following its recent elections, which were won by the ruling Swapo’s Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the party dismissed allegations that Zanu PF had meddled in the country’s elections.
Reuben Mbofana, also a political analyst, alleged that Zanu PF was actively meddling in the politics of countries in the Sadc bloc to perpetuate its hegemony.
“This is a carefully designed strategy by Zanu PF to remain in power in Zimbabwe. Zanu PF needs these former liberation movements more than these former liberation movements need Zanu PF,” he said.
“That is why it is Zanu PF that makes all the noise about solidarity and ‘safeguarding our sovereignty and independence’.
“Zanu PF is arguably the only former liberation movement that went rogue after independence due to their powerful greed and betrayal of the ideals of the liberation struggle.”
However, Zanu PF information and publicity director Farai Marapira dismissed the allegations that the party was interfering in regional electoral processes.
“It is unfounded and pure lies that Zanu PF has been interfering with elections in other countries. The parties involved in these elections have never lifted a finger to say anything about Zanu PF, but just some other overzealous individuals like Mmusi Maimane and (Ian) Khama,” Marapira said.
“We only wish to have the full mandate of the people. By following the vision of the people, following the needs of the people, we can continue to take our country forward to ensure that Zimbabwe is prosperous.”
Zanu PF has maintained close ties with former liberation movements in the region, which include Swapo, ANC, Frelimo, Chama ChaMapinduzi and the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola.
