Maravi

(NEWZIMBABWE) Ageing Zanu PF looks to ‘young turks’

COMMENT - ZANU-PF needs to be very wary of anyone coming into government out of the business world. Remember New Labour, or for that matter, the MDC itself.

Ageing Zanu PF looks to ‘young turks’
11/11/2012 00:00:00
by Gilbert Nyambabvu

A CROP of relatively young business executives and professionals are set to represent Zanu PF in Parliamentary elections next year as the party explores ways of connecting with the youth demographic ahead of the key ballot.

Zanu PF has largely resisted pressure for leadership change and renewal with President Robert Mugabe – at the helm of the country since Independence in 1980 - set to run for another term in office next March when he will be 88. The party’s youth leader, Absolom Sikhosana, is in his 60s.

Still, the party appears to recognise that the so-called born free generation – young people born just before and after Independence – now constitute a key part of the voting population.

Party spokesman Rugare Gumbo confirmed Sunday that a crop of young executives and professionals were being targeted to help re-invigorate the party.

“The issue of these so-called new Turks is an interesting and important dimension for the party and we would like to put it on record that we welcome all these young and enterprising people who are coming from the corporate world to invigorate the party,” Gumbo told the Sunday Mail.

“All the young guns have to do is to show commitment, loyalty and support the policies of the party. They must demonstrate that their allegiance is not a fly-by-night attraction but that it has deep foundations guided by the princi­ples and values of the party.”

The privately-owned Independent newspaper claimed Friday that provincial party leaders were warned during a recent trip to China that Zanu PF needs to be prepared to implement leadership renewal.

“We were warned of the need to constantly renew our party leadership so that we remain relevant and adopt as a priority economic development strategies that boost the economy and empower the masses,” a party official told the newspaper.

But Zanu PF has, over the years, notoriously resisted any attempts at leadership change. A number of senior officials were slapped with five-year suspensions after attending a meeting in Tsholotsho in 2004 where a re-gigging of the top positions was allegedly discussed.

Former Cabinet Ministers and Politburo members Simba Makoni and Dumiso Dabengwa also quit ahead of the 2008 elections, frustrated by the party’s refusal to entertain any change in its top echelons.

Said Makoni in a recent interview: “There has been, going back to the mid-’90s, a discussion within Zanu-PF about the need for change. We started about change of direction, change of policy and, much later, change of personnel.

“I was fully committed to participate in the making of change from within. We came through a number of landmark events. The Goromonzi (Zanu-PF) annual conference of 2006 was quite a watershed.

“The extraordinary congress of December 2007. Expectation and probably even anticipation of change was crescendoing from Goromonzi to Harare. And when no change took place, at the extraordinary congress of 2007, that's when I convinced myself that making change from within was not feasible.”

Even so, the party has come up with a number of measures aimed at connecting with the youth demographic and the decision to embrace young professionals and business executives appears to be part of the strategy.

Those said to be eying Parliamentary seats include journalist Supa Mandi­wanzira, business executive Chamu Chi­wanza, top Harare lawyer, Jonathan Samkange, miller Tafadzwa Musarara, Zimpapers chairman, Paul Chimedza and for­mer RBZ advisor, Munyaradzi Kereke. Gumbo however, insisted that the inclusion of the “young turks” would not divide the party.

“We have made it clear that there is not going to be any imposition of candi­dates in the forthcoming elec­tions, so everyone will be on an equal footing when the primary elections come,” he said.

The party has also deliberately targeted its economic empowerment programme at the youth with about US$1 million recently made available to each of the country’s 10 provinces for businesses run by young entrepreneurs under its indigenisation programme.

“Zanu PF goes for the real thing. Your wealth is the basis of your prosperity. If you control wealth, the future of the youth is assured,” said party strategist Chris Mutsvangwa.

Labels: NEOLIBERALISM, RUGARE GUMBO

posted by MrK @ 4:53 PM