Time People First regrouped: Analysts

via Time People First regrouped: Analysts – Southern Eye

The death of former Energy minister, Ambassador Amos Midzi provided an opportunity for former Vice-President Joice Mujuru to bring together all her loyalists and map the way forward to revive their somewhat dwindling political careers, analysts have said.

BY OBEY MANAYITI

Since late last year, Zanu PF has removed from its rank and file more than 140 senior officials through suspensions and expulsions for allegedly working with Mujuru to topple President Robert Mugabe.

The late ambassador Midzi was handed a five-year suspension from the party under the same accusation and the majority of members affected by the “cleansing” were said to have played key roles during his funeral. They have been visible since Tuesday when Midzi was found dead in his vehicle at his Munandi Farm in Beatrice.

Political analyst Charles Mangongera said Mujuru should take the opportunity to unite and plan the way forward with all her supporters.

“Certainly, this is an opportune moment for them. The tragedy had to unite them. It has to be a turning moment because if they don’t do that, they will continue to suffer more setbacks,” Mangongera said.

He challenged Mujuru to be decisive and bold so that she gives direction to the majority of affected members in building their agenda.

The camp which calls itself Zanu PF (People First) was allegedly mooting challenging President Mugabe in the 2018 harmonised elections.

“They seem not to have a plan to come together, to not only plan for the future, but to commiserate among themselves and give each other strength. They seem to be in disarray and some of them are failing to deal with their political catastrophe at a personal level,” Mangongera said.

“These guys seem to be at a very low ebb. They require a commander who will rally them together. I suspect most of them are going through very difficult times and they require bold leadership to rally them, but it seems their commander Mujuru is lacking that, hence we see people like [Temba] Mliswa publicly expressing frustration.”

Mliswa recently fired a salvo at Mujuru, accusing her of failing to stand by her loyalists during the purges and also for keeping her loyalists guessing on her next political move.

Political scientist, Eldred Masunungure said it made sad reading that the group did not regularly meet as confirmed by Rugare Gumbo, People First spokesperson, who said he last spoke to Midzi a long time ago.

Masunungure said if the group wanted to hit back at Mugabe through polls in 2018, they should start building and planning now.
“This is a golden opportunity for People First to come together and try to strategise on the best way forward,” he said.

“Many have been expelled and some suspended. For those who are suspended, it can be difficult to wait outside the party for the period they were suspended. I think they are likely to be tempted to come up with a political vehicle to mobilise the frustrated Zimbabweans to give Zanu PF a good run for their money in 2018.”
Masunungure said the opposition was so fractured at the moment that it was time Mujuru loyalists from across the country met and strategised.

Most of Mujuru’s loyalists have complained that they are in the dark on the way forward. Mujuru, the other hand, has said she doesn’t want to be pushed.