Thread by @Laque_davis

1] Politicians are strange human beings.

This strategy by the ZanuPF youth league to armtwist the 'Zimdancehall genre industry' into their party commissariat department is self-flattery.

Evidently, this free show-cum-rally will attract thousands yet it could be meaningless.

2] The event will be meaningless because all rational young people are fully aware that ZanuPF has no program aimed at changing their lives.

Heck, ZanuPF hasn't introduced any deliberate policy/program to assist those artists on the poster.
The covid situation made things worse.

3] At the end of the day, for those citizens attending, free shows are for fun. For the artists, shows are just another day at work.

Both will probably get what they came looking for.
As for the organizers, this won't bring any meaningful political dividend.

4] Politicians enjoy addressing "large gatherings" even when it's not a true expression of their actual popularity

It's for this reason that people (including non voters) are bussed &/or frog-marched to attend rallies

If the optics don't translate to winning, they'll expose you

5] I recently learnt from a community member, that I'm a "ZanuPF youth" in my ward, as per their database.

The only qualification for this development is that I'm a "youth".

All my life, I've never attended a single political rally, & specifically never attended a ZanuPF one.

6] In fact, during the recently ended ZanuPF internal elections, many of us were in a cat & mouse game with those contesting party posts.

There was a deliberate attempt to mobilise anyone to vote.
Consequently, their polls had thousands of votes, from non-members.

To what end?

7] Was in conversations with family & friends who ended up voting in the ZanuPF internal polls, as a form of "security"

These people are however clear, on their political preference, when it comes to national elections

Weird enough, those ZanuPF leaders know this all too well

8] It would seem like, for those tasked with mobilization, their only concern is appeasing the "shefs" who won't come to address paltry crowds.

They equally need to justify the freebies thrown at them.

They are somewhat unbothered by what eventually happens come election time.

9] The fact that ZanuPF almost always 'organises" well attended rallies in the urban areas, which seldom translates to electoral triumph, is an expression of "rationality", from those who attend 4 their own reasons

I've learnt not to be too bothered by it & can even encourage it

10] But that obsession with self-flattery is evidently not a ZanuPF problem

Have consistently challenged leaders in the democratic alternative to show that they are scientific in their approach, when it comes to membership in general, & the voter registration drive in particular

11] It's only sensible that leaders at whatever level, have set targets, whose results are traceable.

Social media campaigns & all media optics serve no purpose if they are not an expression of real action on the group.

It would be unforgivable to simply mislead the leader(s).

not only*

12] Serious politicians know real political organisation, is coming up with programs & policies that attract the attention of citizens, & woo them to join whether publicly or privately

Also, real political mobilization is scientific & locates citizens in their diff localities

13] Effective mobilization deliberately creates space, where strategies don't only come from the organisation, but also from citizens who device innovative ways of attracting those they can influence

This is because they would identify with the cause, beyond historic allegiances

14] CCC's headache isn't on matching ZanuPF's rally attendances.

It's on coming up with a political message that attracts citizens in their diversity.

Good this is, CCC has interpreted this extremely well, & is focusing on citizens taking the center stage & owning the change.

15] Don't be too bothered by ZanuPF desperation to communicate electoral dominance using misleading tactics.

Not all of us can ever brave publicly expressing allegiances to the citizens' alternative

We are members of different political constituencies with conflicting dynamics.

16] There are some who have to behave accordingly, to save their careers & jobs

Some are genuinely concerned by their welfare/security

Some know that they have to play stupid, ululating at empty ZanuPF rally rhetoric, getting freebies, but communicating decisively in the ballot

17] I've personally engaged many who are forced by circumstances to act in certain ways.

A brother recently invited me to get a free haircut, yet circumstances don't allow them to publicly comment on anything political.

They've been many other pvt engagements
Citizens are clear

18] Ultimately, it's about understanding what needs to be done, & individually doing what we can.

Where circumstances allow, ACT.
An inspirational brother has turned his car into an office, to push the registration drive.

Do what you can, publicly or privately

enkosi!!