By Patience Rusare and
Golden Guvamatanga

THE year 2013 will be remembered by many for its dramatic twist and turns in the political arena.
It is a year in which many would want to quickly forget while others are still basking in the glory of their successes.
There were no doubt newsmakers and noisemakers who kept the nation on the edge.
Below are some of the major highlights that took the nation by storm.

Noisemakers
Eddie Cross
At the beginning of the year Eddie Cross who was then the national policy coordinator in the MDC-T hit the headlines when he claimed that his ‘crystal ball’ was giving him a vision to the effect that his party would win the elections which were held on July 31.
Cross who was one of the senior members of the Rhodesian establishment in the MDC-T laid bare his party’s plans for the country after ‘winning’ the elections when he said they ‘intend to overhaul the State administration by expelling all companies mining diamonds in Marange and restoring secure land rights’ if his party won the elections.
As fate would have it, the MDC-T including Cross himself were thumped in the polls.
Cross was also suspended for calling for the ouster of MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

Morgan Tsvangirai
Boy oh boy this man’s suicidal inconsistencies are legendary!
Tsvangirai picked up from where he left off in 2012.
This year it was not just the ‘shut mind open zip’ policy but a muddled political strategy.
Tsvangirai shamelessly advocated the promotion of homosexuality rights on BBC only to make what was supposed to be a U-turn moments after his return from the United Kingdom.
But Zimbabweans would have none of it as they condemned Tsvangirai to the dustbins of politics where he has found permanent residence.
As usual confusion reigned supreme.
On July 31, Tsvangirai confidently told journalists that the process was going on very well but when it became clear that he was heading for a nasty defeat, he started singing a different tune claiming that the election was marred with irregularities and ZANU PF was ‘rigging’ the election.
The rest is history.
Currently Tsvangirai is battling to save his job following his drubbing by President Mugabe.

MDC formations
If there are people who will forever curse the year 2013, it is those who belong to the MDC formations.
What started off as a year full of promise for them turned into a horrible nightmare that they would quickly want to be awakened from.
The crushing electoral defeat at the hands of ZANU PF has condemned many of them into perpetual political oblivion.
Reports that some former ministers in the inclusive Government have now turned to beggars make sad reading for those who enjoyed the glamour of power and status.
One of the former ministers reportedly asked a security guard at the party headquarters for US$5 for fuel.
Tendai Biti of the infamous ‘I will sue you to the m***a’ fame is now a practising lawyer.
Poor Welshman Ncube has retreated to his shell with no future ahead of him.

Newsmakers

President Mugabe
He is the man of the year.
A charismatic and an esteemed leader, President Mugabe once again made the headlines when he came unstuck at the SADC Extraordinary Summit in Maputo in June when he interpreted the country’s laws to an ill-informed regional bloc.
He would go on a trailblazing campaign that mesmerised the electorate which duly voted him to power.
President Mugabe presided over the successful completion of the new constitution, the referendum in March and the July 31 harmonised elections, and the new economic blue print Zim-Asset which is expected to take the country to greater heights
He capped the year in style when he led his ZANU PF party to its 14th Annual National People’s Conference in Chinhoyi last week.
Thumps up Mr President!

Rita Makarau (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Chairperson)
Widely described as a woman of steel, Makarau presided over some of the most difficult assignments in the country but came out with flying colours.
Facing stinging criticism, she silently and diligently executed her duties and delivered one of the most successful elections in Zimbabwe.

Constitutional Referendum
A constitutional referendum was held on March 16 and 17 2013 and ultimately the new constitution was approved by 94,5 percent of voters.
The new constitution was signed into law on May 22 to replace the 33-year-old charter crafted in the dying days of British colonial rule.
It abolished the post of Prime Minister, and established an independent prosecuting authority, a peace and reconciliation commission and an anti-corruption commission.

Harmonised Elections
About 3, 4 million voters turned out to cast their ballot on July 31- the largest turnout since Zimbabwe’s independence in April 1980.
President Robert Mugabe was re-elected, while his Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU PF) party won a two-thirds majority in the House of Assembly.
Reflecting on the proclamation of the election date, party rallies, elections, inauguration of the President, swearing in of House Assembly members, opening of the Eighth Parliament, appointment of Cabinet, the remaining half of the year was surely action packed.
For many it was a fruit-full year with many historical milestones yet for the few it was the END.