From tension, drama to song and dance

BY KUDAKWASHE CHIBVURI

The Zanu PF Annual National People’s Conference has come and gone and contrary to expectations of blood on the floor, it turned out to be merrymaking, song, dance and beauty contests.

But this was not without a bit of drama.

The once powerful former Secretary General, Obert Mpofu, who was demoted weeks before the Mutare Indaba, was conspicuous by his absence and he refused to speak on whether this was protest or something came up.

Mpofu, the ICT secretary in the Zanu PF politburo, told Business Times that he was uncomfortable commenting on his absence and directed them to party spokesperson, Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa.

“I am not aware of what you are talking about. Please, I am not the party spokesperson. Seek clarity from Christopher Mutsvangwa,” Mpofu said in a terse response.

Far from Mpofu’s absence that was hardly felt, as his successor, Advocate Jacob Mudenda took care of business, there was no drama as Mutsvangwa had promised during a press conference on the eve of the conference.

“If you stay in Harare for this as journalists, you will lose the drama in Mutare. The whole game is in Mutare,” he said.

However, there was neither game nor drama in Manicaland province except a few incidences no ordinary eye would see.

The build up to the conference was full of drama though with Vice President Constantino Chiwenga producing a dossier that set to expose corruption and that brought tension in the party.

Chiwenga’s dossier was met with Justice Minister, Ziyambi Ziyambi, who rubbished it as “treasonous”, adding to the tension.

On the eve of the conference, Mutsvangwa had also taken a dig at Chiwenga saying: “I always tell people that we have a robust intelligence system in the country. The well-known dossier was discovered and known by the President earlier this year, which was said to be sent to South Africa to freeze the banks,” Mutsvangwa said in attacking Chiwenga.

Another issue that became a talking point and divisive in Zanu PF was the issue of businessman, Kudakwashe Tagwirei.

Tagwirei had for long been blocked from being a Central Committee member with reports saying it was Chiwenga at the centre of that.

But Tagwirei was accepted as a Central Committee member a day before the Mutare event and he turned up.

Unlike the other Central Committee meeting where it was reported Chiwenga forced him out, this time, there was no such drama.

Instead, the atmosphere was electrifying and songs were used to communicate political messages.

In what observers say was a direct challenge to Youth League secretary, Tinomudaishe Machakaire, youths turned into song and dance when he was called to present the resolutions by the Youth League.

“Mira panzvimbo usacheuke,” the youths sang in what observers say was a warning for him against “selling out.”

The Midlands province also used song and dance to air their position saying President Mnangagwa remains the people’s choice and therefore, “2030 is unstoppable.”

“Ngavarambe vachingotonga VaMnangagwa. (Let Mnangagwa continue leading),” they sang.

As Ziyambi presented resolutions and ordered that the government expedite the process to ensure Resolution Number 1 is realised, the room broke into song: “2030 ndeyaEmmerson, Chisungo takasunga… Mnangagwa ndewedu… 2030 ndeyedu! (We are very clear, 2030 is for Mnangagwa)”

And instead of tensions, the event also saw Zanu PF parading its models and fashion.

A modelling contest was held on the last evening of the conference and the women who won were paraded in front of the presidium and the delegates.

From higher expectations of drama, what only came out was song, dance and fashion.