‘Democracy is not for sale’

This week, the Zanu PF Youth League jumped in to protect democracy that had apparently come under siege from the moneyed.

Zimbabwe is faced with a key process to amend the constitution with Parliament being the key institution at the moment.

Parliamentary Public Hearings to seek the people’s views on proposed Constitutional Amendment Number 3 (CAB3) were recently undertaken and it is clear, at least from what the people said, that the majority could be in favour of the proposed amendments.

The process has moved to Parliament where the matter will be debated and concluded, if it is successful, with the President’s signature.

In comes Chivayo’s money to muddy the waters

Wicknell Chivayo has occupied a very interesting corner in modern day Zimbabwe and his name may be spoken of for years to come.

“In Zimbabwe, there was once a man who would wake up to dish out luxurious vehicles and hordes of cash but to those who he just felt like giving out to. He would give the latest vehicles to his preferred and he spent close to half a billion in his ‘philanthropic’ work,” the story will be told, of course, to a disbelieving audience.

Though Chivayo has distributed money to his chosen ones with no one expressing any problem with that, announcing a ‘donation’ to Parliament which is in the process of dealing with CAB 3 which he has expressed his view on, is taking democracy for granted.

Chivayo announced on Independence Day that he was going to give money to the National Assembly and the Senate to ensure community development.

He said he would hand over the cash to the Speaker of Parliament for onward distribution to all the MPs including in the opposition.

His act of benevolence stirred the hornet’s nest and many we would think revered him stopped him from compromising Parliament.

The first and most brutal of attacks came from the Zanu PF Youth League.

Hands off Parliament, Chivayo told

“Parliament as the legislature stands as one of the most critical arms of the state and will never survive on handouts. It cannot be seen as being bought or swayed through donations, be it in cash or kind, that appear transactional,” Youth League deputy secretary John Paradza fumed in his strongly worded statement to Chivayo.

“We call upon members of parliament to also take a stand against any attempt to bring the Parliament of Zimbabwe into disrepute. We have an obligation to our constituencies, and the nation at large, to safeguard Zimbabwe’s democracy,” Paradza added.

Indeed, that is how the vanguard should stand, without fear or favour to what is right for the country.

Chinamasa weighs in, castigates “ill-advised” move

Patrick Chinamasa strikes many as a brilliant lawyer and experienced politician hence when he speaks, many people listen.

He has become a fan of X, formerly Twitter, where he often expresses his political thoughts in lengthy narrations.

The former Attorney General, Justice and Finance Minister did not mince his words in yet again a lengthy criticism of Chivayo.

“I totally agree that the proposed donation is misguided, ill advised, ill conceived, uncalled for, and a brazen but futile attempt to put our President Dr. Emmerson Mnangagwa, our State institutions, and the entire Parliamentary and government leadership and system into disrepute,” Chinamasa wrote.

He added: “The announced donation can only be interpreted by right thinking men and women as a base, unethical, unprincipled, and unnecessary attempt to influence the outcome of the ongoing debate on CAB3. The Zanu PF Youth League is ideologically correct and, with youths of this ideological clarity, I can safely say that the country and Zanu PF are in safe political hands.”

The Gupta state capture comparison

In South Africa, there was a family called the Guptas. The Gupta family – brothers Ajay, Atul, and Rajesh – are Indian-born businessmen who built a massive, diversified empire in South Africa, including Sahara Computers and mining interests.

They became central to a major “state capture” corruption scandal, accused of using close ties with former President Jacob Zuma to influence government appointments and misappropriate state funds.

In Zimbabwe, we may not have reached that level yet and thanks to the Zanu PF Youth League, they have at least shown they do not want that kind of capture.

The philanthropist may not have extended his hand to Parliament out of malice and in his own admission, because he is a novice in politics.

Proximity to power mustn’t entail abuse of that closeness and though it is not the intention, the people may interpret such actions as buying Parliament support to push whatever agenda.

The processes of Parliament have been smooth so far as the voice of the people is prevailing judging by what came out of the public hearings and will be debated by Parliament in days to come.

Lawmakers need not be enticed by anything to debate CAB3 for they definitely will be guided by the views of the people as expressed during the public hearings.

That lawmakers are a key part of the process now makes the decision to announce a donation to them ill-advised and to his credit, Chivayo admitted, apologised and restrategized.

Parliament is part of the governance system and an arm of the state hence using money perceived to be buying or influencing a position can be a grave mistake.

The AIPAC example and dangers of money in politics

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has become a central, highly contentious player in US electoral politics, particularly following its 2021 decision to create a PAC and Super PAC (United Democracy Project) to directly influence elections. AIPAC’s intervention, characterized by massive financial spending, has caused controversy over its influence on US democracy, the targeting of progressive Democratic candidates, and its alignment with Republican donors.

There was massive “Financial Intervention” in the 2024 election cycle where AIPAC-affiliated groups spent over $100 million to influence congressional races, making it one of the largest single-issue spenders in the US.

The platform has also been targeting critics of Israel with its primary targets being progressive members of Congress critical of the Israeli government’s policies and its actions in Gaza. High-profile wins for AIPAC-backed candidates included the 2024 defeats of Reps. Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush.

AIPAC has irked many in the US and the lesson is money becomes dangerous if it is used to shape policy making and it muddies clear waters, like in this case that, gladly, the Zanu PF Youth League thwarted it and was widely supported.

Apology accepted and salute for quick action

It is human to err and even more human to accept and correct. This is what Chivayo did in the form of a lengthy statement posted on his social media platforms.

Chivayo took time to set the record straight and was even quicker to right a wrong.

“However, upon full reflection and having carefully considered the concerns raised by my fellow comrades (Zanu PF Youth League deputy national Commissar Taurai) Hon Kandishaya and Cde Paradza, and giving due regard to and respect for their appointing authority, acknowledge that my approach, though well-intended, may not have fully appreciated certain institutional sensitivities, As a political novice, I acknowledge that there are structures and protocols which perhaps I ought to have observed and consulted,” Chivayo said.

“In hindsight, I recognise that the channel through which the pledge was communicated was probably not the best and I could have given better consideration to the timing of my pledge. For that reason, and for the unintended consequences that may have resulted from my well-intended pledge, I express my deepest regret.”

Apology may be accepted and a lesson is, democracy is not for sale and it shouldn’t.

Livimarufu@gmail.com
Displaying FBC Economic Snapshot, March 2026.pdf.