"I do not belong to any of your (MDC-T) structures. I hope you will assist by removing my name. I do not want to embarrass myself, it’s better to continue with my work in council than to get two votes."
" I cannot stand for Mwonzora. They do not know me and I have never attended any of their meetings. I am not part of them and I won’t do that. Of course, I am popular in the ward, but I cannot represent Mwonzora.”
"I was supposed to be elevated to (MDC-T Bulawayo) provincial secretary when our colleagues who include the then chairperson Gift Banda were elevated to national leaders, but that did not happen."
"Later on, they told us that the organising team from Harare would visit us to restructure the province, but when we went to the venue of the meeting, we found the likes of Silas Chigora & Witness Dube, who were not part of the 2014 structures"
"..who told us that the meeting had been cancelled. Two days later, we heard that they held their meeting at Thamani Moyo’s home. I cannot be used & dumped just like that. I will not even be part of their congress. I'm in ward 9. They don't have structures.”
" Mwonzora has never met me and why does he want me to be his candidate? We have realised that he (Mwonzora) has installed his own provincial executive which was not even part of the 2014 structures. "
"Nomination court is coming. We've candidates. We've 2 months before by-elections & that's more than enough. That's almost the same period between which the party changed its name to MDC-A. Pple will be told, & have no confusion around who their leaders are"
"People know that Pres @nelsonchamisa is the leader of our movement. People know the real @mdczimbabwe leaders who were recalled; those who are with them in the communities; those who continue to champion their rights. They've no confusion about that. "
" Be patient. The strategy will unfold. We are dealing with a very sophisticated dictatorship. It's critical to remember this isn't the first time the MDC has had to deal with these issues. It's be done in the past & we've learnt many lesson."
1] ZEC shenanigans & ZanuPF's electro-phobia, as we edge towards March by-elections & indeed 2023 shouldn't be viewed in isolation.
For instance, ZEC was fully aware of by-elections dates & being a creation of the constitution, ought to have done more to entrench our democracy.
2] Last year, ZEC shared its "draft electoral road map" for by-elections.
It became imperative on them, to act swiftly in preparation of the same.
All over the country, (more so in the affected constituencies), ZEC should have ran a vigorous voter education/registration drive.
3] Now, after frustrating possible voters (in direct response to voter registration campaigns by CSOs), ZEC is happy to announce that registration is now on halt.
So many possible voters are being disenfranchised as a direct consequence of ZEC's deliberate incompetence.
1] There's a need to balance embracing ex political opponents & creating strategic allegiances founded on trust.
Politics is no child's play, neither is defeating an entrenched military dictatorship.
Any serious politician would do so, constantly checking their shoulder.
2] The same political leaders you're forcing to embrace some of these unrepentant characters like true Statesmen, will have difficult questions to answer, when you flip scripts, abusing the benefit of hindsight.
A simple case in point is the unfolding drama of Jabulani Sibanda.
3] Adv Chamisa once spoke of infiltration challenges which historically troubled the MDC.
He mentioned how ZanuPF would know some of their plans before their internal strategic meetings even ended.
Looking back now at the behaviour of these MDC-T people, you see whats at play.
2] Let's start perhaps with what the long thread ignored
Over the past few days, even if one ignored the genesis of this 'twar', Prof JN & his peers have been throwing all sorts of vitro & character assignation against WaMagaisa's person.
Prof decided to ignore this completely.
3] Prof's thread equally ignores that actual issues raises in response to his 'advice'.
Some felt he disqualified himself from having an opinion on how the funds are to be used by blueticking the initiative.
Others queried the legality of diverting funds raised through gofund.
1] When a whole Chief admits that he has had to swap jackets & vigorously campaign for his muzukuru, ED, & ZanuPF, then know he's part of the problem.
Chief simply need to maintain their identity as traditional leaders, and use that authority to lead their communities.
2] As long as Chiefs allow themselves to be entangled in partty politics, those actually occupying higher posts within those political institutions, will treat them as subordinates.
Chiwenga clearly spoke like he was reprimanding his party's self-proclaimed Provincial Commissar.
3] Individually & collectively, Chiefs needs to start conversations on how to reclaim their autonomy & identity.
They equally need not treat elected leaders as their equals, for their sources of authority are different.