In a Media Repressive Society, the Imposition of ZANU PF Reveals Desperation
In a society plagued by media repression and controlled by the iron fist of ZANU PF, it doesn’t take much to notice when something is amiss. Especially when individuals who were once marginalized and denied any media exposure suddenly find themselves in the spotlight on a television channel recently rebranded as “national.” But, in reality, there is nothing new about the propaganda surrounding alleged defections. Defections, whether alleged or imagined, have been a recurring theme throughout history – from biblical times to the Cold War era, even under Smith and Muzorewa. They tend to thrive on the uninformed, gullible, and politically apathetic Zimbabwean populace.
In essence, everyone, particularly those who overwhelmingly voted for the opposition, can see through ZANU PF’s feeble attempts to depict a decimated opposition. These efforts, like many others by ZANU PF, have consistently failed. The opposition, tested by time and seasoned with political maturity through relentless resilience, has weathered countless storms.
Unbeknownst to ZANU PF, it is merely an environment, while the genuine opposition is an organism thriving within this environment. Every shock inflicted on the organism by the environment, including the deprivation of constitutionally mandated political financing, only leads to innovative adaptation and triumph over adversity. These repeated shocks serve as a testament to the opposition’s significance and threat to ZANU PF’s very existence. The coexistence of ZANU PF and the opposition is becoming increasingly untenable, as light eventually trumps darkness, much like the eight minutes it takes for the sun’s rays to reach Earth. Time is running out for ZANU PF, hence the laughable parade of defections.
But are these defections genuine? When individuals like Timveous or Gutu, self-ordained political heavyweights, are involved, one might wonder. This is an objective question that this article aims to address. The answer is that these defections are as authentic as the programming choices on the Auxillia Mnangagwa Television. Consider the case of the woman whose baby was struck by a police officer’s baton during a protest. Then, think about the woman interviewed by the aforementioned television channel, where the baby’s plight seemed to vanish during the interview, illustrating the lack of rigorous fact-checking. One could argue that this incident, stripped of its propaganda, exposed ZANU PF’s fear of the power of the masses, a fear manifested through damage control and the use of another woman to conceal human rights violations.
However, one might question whether a single incident involving a baby is enough to draw conclusions. To eliminate subjectivity, let’s examine another example – the ongoing Chilonga crisis, likely rooted in the impending loss of ancestral lands and cultural heritage. This crisis once again highlights ZANU PF’s fear of the people, as evidenced by its clumsy attempts at damage control. People not directly affected were bussed in for interviews, a poorly thought-out strategy to create a favorable impression and save face during damage control interviews and political campaigns. In these interviews, individuals were made to express contentment about the impending loss of their ancestral lands in exchange for alleged job opportunities – a promise yet to be fulfilled by ZANU PF. In reality, these alleged defections are nothing more than desperate exploitation of vulnerable individuals.
So, why is ZANU PF so desperate? Why do they persist in their futile attempts to weaken the opposition? The answer is simple: fear. ZANU PF dreads the prospect of justice and the peaceful transfer of power that the opposition represents. It signifies a return to the rule of law, equality before the law, and an impartial, independent judiciary. With these positive implications of the opposition taking power, ZANU PF would be held accountable for gross human rights violations and property rights abuses that the nation has yet to reconcile with. Among these is the tragic Gukurahundi. ZANU PF’s fear of this impending reality drives their desperation to portray the opposition as crippled, a grossly inaccurate depiction of a resilient party that stands as one of the most vibrant in the entire SADC region.
In conclusion, the elevation of alleged defecting opposition members on the recently rebranded Auxillia Mnangagwa Television in a society mired in media repression is the first sign of something amiss. This desperation is driven by ZANU PF’s fear of the implications of a resilient opposition coming to power peacefully – a return to the rule of law, recovery of plundered wealth, and a reckoning for past atrocities. The futile campaign to depict the opposition as decimated is a stark departure from reality. Just as the opposition has triumphed over past storms created by ZANU PF, it will continue to do so, standing as a beacon of hope for Zimbabwe’s future.