AS we approach August 23, we would like to have a look at the campaign trail of the two main contesting political parties — ZANU PF and CCC — and try to weigh their chances at the impending polls.
Right from the word go, ZANU PF had the advantage of incumbency.
The present Government has been in power since 2018.
During the campaign that brought it to power then, the Party made some promises which it pledged to fulfil.
And at the end of their five-year term, which is now, the Party has to show how far it fulfilled its promises.
That’s where the litmus test of incumbency comes in.
Through devolution, ZANU PF has made sure that its projected development projects, countrywide, would become a reality.
Indeed, countrywide, we see schools, clinics, hospitals, dams, roads and dip-tanks, as well as goat, fish and chicken projects, all at different stages of development.
With ‘Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme’, food security is now guaranteed.
Mind you, the advantage of incumbency would have been nullified if the Government had nothing to show.
The CCC had the same potential advantage in urban areas run by its councils.
It is quite evident the party deliberately avoids any mention of its administrative (mis)achievements in urban areas.
This should not be surprising with the rot afflicting all areas under their jurisdiction.
What with run-down buildings, heaps and heaps of uncollected garbage, flowing raw sewage, roads littered with pot-holes, water gushing from leaking pipes and water billing in shambles!
That’s how urban centres have crumbled into an eyesore.
Instead, CCC leader Nelson Chamisa has been gallivanting around the countryside pronouncing as new, projects being carried out or have already been completed by ZANU PF.
Who doesn’t know that Hwange Unit 7 and 8 have already been commissioned, adding 600 MW to the national grid!
He talks about value addition as if it is a strange concept in Zimbabwe.
We have already heard about this from ZANU PF and are aware that it is a process.
And when the CCC leader boasts the concept of devolution, he presents it as if it is a new concept from the moon.
In political campaigns, the aim of each party is to reach as many people as possible through star rallies by the respective leaders.
To attract the greatest number of people possible, the organisational skills of a party come to the test.
ZANU PF’s mobilisation prowess is a direct product of the Party’s sound organisation.
With structures, beginning with cells, messages including notification of rallies easily cascade to every level.
For over 200 000 to attend Mashonaland East President Mnangagwa’s Star Rally is a typical example of sound organisation.
And this has applied to the rest of other provinces.
Without any semblance of a structure, CCC is finding the going tough.
Chamisa is having to address several rallies in a day to get to as many people as possible.
He could have saved his energy by addressing more people from less rallies if his party was well organised.
We wonder how many rallies he would need to address 200 000 addressed by President Mnangagwa at one rally!
The holding of general elections soon after Heroes’ Day celebrations will augur well for ZANU PF.
Thus on the eve of an election, people, including the born-frees, are reminded of the role of ZANU PF as the vanguard of the liberation struggle.
On the other hand, CCC has stood as a party detached from the celebrations.
While they might get a pat on the back from those who were opposed to the liberation war, Zimbabweans regard this as a sellout stance.
The irony of their stance is lost on CCC.
Boastful utterances by Chamisa that once he wins he would immediately phone US President Joe Biden to lift the illegal sanctions were not taken kindly by patriotic Zimbabweans.
Mind you these are the very people whose vote is going to carry the day on August 23.
