I think it is pretty much agreed – by the sane and rational, not by those with vested interest – that Zanu PF is unpopular and clinging to power. But to what end?

“To keep the whites out” is a theme I have heard often. And it has some resonance with a lot of people. Land reform was more popular than many will admit, because, even if it meant to many losing food, jobs, houses, health, schools, etc. it was a final nail in the coffin of Rhodesia. Old whites, especially those on farms, in many ways saw the new regime as the old. Life carried on, on the farms. White was the boss, black was the labour. White told black what to do. Lived at a higher standard. In a more comfortable house. Better. In many ways, it was the nature of the business, the farming business. Boss tells labour what to do. Boss makes more. Boss lives better. Just that boss was white, labour was black. And in many ways, land reform was welcomed because it ‘upset’ the traditional way. No one wants to remain labour, underclass, less well off. The fact that land reform was not about to change that, was not about to make labourers bosses and bosses labourers. Was only going to bring new bosses in (of the same race). Labour was going to remain labour and actually be worse off because cheap food was suddenly not available, as well as many other things lost. They (labour) did not know that, and they welcomed the change, and even know they know now, it is still not completely unpopular because it brought a change of/from the old regime that was frustratingly continuing. It is not better, but it is different.

So land reform, to me and my perception, ended white power. White domination of the economy. It ended land and agriculture (dominated by whites) as a an economic force. It pretty much ended the economy as well, but that is a burden we have to bear for change.

It seems to me then that “keeping the whites out” is not a real reason. The whites, as a force, a power, are dead and gone. However, this is not a good enough reason to stop using that as an excuse. First, as mentioned, it has a resonance with people. They like it. They understand it. Second, it is all Zanu PF have ever done. While it is important to note that they did that well – who else (even if they did not do it alone) has managed to mobilize the masses against an existing regime? A force in power? Certainly not the MDC. They have managed to mobilize themselves to some nice houses, new cars, and other good things, but they defiantly have not managed to mobilize the overthrow of a regime!

So that excuse is used, but moot (good for debate, but not actually valid in reality). A point the population generally does not see, and Zanu PF is thankful for that! It works! Even if it does demonstrate that the ‘reason’ for Zanu PF s over.

So why are they clinging to power? So we can move from a European colony to become a Chinese colony? Look East?

The vested interests want Zanu PF power there. Must have it there.

Money. You can make money. A great deal of it. And Zanu PF have ushered in a big capitalist regime – not socialist by any stretch of anyone’s imagination. Money is all that counts. Private vice equals public virtue (read Adam Smith). Even those who learnt ‘politics’ (rhetorical propaganda) under the Rhodesians cannot call the new regime socialist. In this regime, it is defiantly not what you know, it is who you know, if you want to make money here. Ask Mr Rautenbach. Ask the Chiadzwa diamond field ‘owners’. You can even hunt the Presidential herd!

So Zanu PF connections (or just being ‘inside’) was the way to make money. From the earliest. Ask why Maurice Nyagumbo committed suicide. And today, Zanu PF military! That is the ticket to wealth (and infamy).

And even if you made money, and don’t need to make anymore (yes, we have all been there!), in order to hold on to your money, you cannot allow “regime change”. Who will get hold of the records? And what records? And who will say what? And where anymore can you retire and keep your slightly dirty money ‘safe’? Ask Col. Mengistu.

Then, those with degrees in violence. There are few places safe to retire when you get that diploma. Ask Charles Taylor. And very cleverly, while they had theirs (from Matabeleland up to 2002 elections) they managed to get a new class in and graduated at the 2008 elections. Junior (none higher than Brigadier General), but still, suddenly, with a new vested interest. And therefore an inability to allow things to move on.

Other reasons to keep power? Some agenda to complete? Well, the manifestos are out. What are (any of them) about? One is obviously ‘change’. But change to what? The trough system, or the faces at the trough? Create jobs. Scoff… How?

The other big one? Not change but indigenisation, which is simply race based (“keep the whites out”) method of taking things for those inside. No go back on land reform (keep what ya got). Not much in either about ‘build’. Social justice. Equality. Standards, values, leadership. Health system. Education. Sure it is the details of both, but it is not noticed now, why should we believe it ever will be noticed.

Or acted on.

Check out the hilarious brand new music video ‘Ballots In The Box’ by the Even Mo Lil Swaggery Boyz from our Zambezi News show. Released just in time for the Zimbabwe elections on 31st July, its a cheeky, fun take on voting.

Kubatana recently asked citizens what question they would ask their councillors, MPs and presidential candidates. It is sad to note that the same tendency still exists in both political parties where councillors or MPs only resurface during election time. Thus many citizens want to ask them where their political representative has been hiding. And of course the Constituency Development Fund is the next question in line: What did you do with our money?

It is important that the electorate make the right decisions when choosing their leaders in their ward, constituency and country. But due to the fact the playing ground for all political parties and independent candidates is not level, we find that some candidates fail to reach out to the people. And the voters end up making uninformed decisions when choosing the candidate to vote for.

The Media Alliance of Zimbabwe and Combined Harare Residents Association are engaging in activities under the Right to Information campaign. They have come up with a newsletter, which will ensure access to information regarding the upcoming election. One broad area the newsletter will cover is the parties, candidates and their proposals. The first issue of the Election Special publication featured the five presidential candidates. Before one votes it is important they have full knowledge of what and whom they are voting for.

As I was going through the MDC and Zanu-PF’s manifestos I tried to pick up the stories being depicted by the pictures carried out in their manifestos.

Some pictures in the MDC manifesto look like they were downloaded on Google with a few where you get to question the nationality of the people in the picture. The policemen on the horse picture is surely an oldie goldie, going by the green trees. I don’t remember seeing such green and lively trees in Harare’s CBD. Well you can’t take away that the MDC had good images depicting their open palm party symbol which now has become synonymous with the party. The image of a woman working in a small to medium enterprise is worthy to take note of, not everyone is farming on a big farm but most Zimbabweans are surviving and earning living out of their small garden structures.

Zanu-PF’s manifesto seems to have really dug out their oldest archive pictures. It’s really sad to see Zanu-PF using a de-campaigning picture of their opposition MDC party in their manifesto! Truly if I am reading your manifesto I don’t want to know what the neighbours are doing, I need you to strongly convince me that you deserve my vote and you promise a better life for my son. And Zanu-PF too has some Google images. My thumbs up go to their choice of President Mugabe’s picture, a better reflection of his old age.

The fact that entrance into politics is now informed by financial rewards that accrue from that office more than anything else for me stands out as one the things that ought to inform how people will vote. But then, “now” seems a misnomer as public office has since independence always been viewed as a springboard to wild riches!

The bitterness that emerged from all political parties concerning who will present their respective parties is enough to point to the very bad turn issues of governance have taken in this country.

And many will readily say this is one of Zanu PF’s legacies that will continue to hound political space years for some time to come even with the coming into power of another political party.

True. Some say while Zanu PF extols itself for bringing independence (remember Chris Mutsvangwa’s SAPES outburst ), it should equally accept that it also institutionalized corruption, cronysim, thievery, where hard work is not a virtue.

I was puzzled the other week when a female MDC-T parliamentary candidate in Bulawayo said her ultimate goal is to become a government minister without any hint of sarcasm.

For one to actually say that openly does raise issues about why these people choose to enter politics in the first place.

It certainly has more to do with the perceived perks than serving God and country, and a person who harbours such ambitions will indeed punch their way into public office, no surprises therefore about the bloody nose some received during the primaries!

Another chap seeking re-election as an MP recently told the courts in a maintenance case hearing that he could not pay the monthly allowance his wife was demanding because parliament, his claimed sole source of income, had been dissolved.

And these are the same people who demand ridiculous allowances from the national purse, imagining that these resources are infinite. And they become career politicians.

That certainly should be a reminder to voters about politicians seeking their vote which these men and women must earn not just regurgitate condescending nonsense imagining they are dealing with an illiterate electorate.

It certainly is time voters interrogated issues, and the very fact that some of these political party manifestos are literally pies in the sky says a lot about politicians thinking voters will believe anything.