Thread by @Laque_davis

1] #BulilimaReflection

The outcome of 3 Bulilima council by-election results will certainly give CCC and citizens supporting the movement, a lot to cheer about, going into the rest of the week & perhaps the 2023 elections.

Most definitely, the yellow excitement is well earned.

2] The 3 Bulilima wards were all previously held by ZanuPF Councilors, as was the case with the rest of the council seats.

The three seats fell vacant around the same time (unusual phenomenon), two due to resignations, the other, death

In the end, CCC won 2, ZanuPF snatching 1.

3] What's the significance of the win, including potentially key lessons from the same?

First thing that immediately comes to mind is that CCC effectively unseated ZanuPF.

That's no mean feat, considering how ZanuPF traditionally takes by-elections seriously (more than Opp).

4] In normal democracies, (normal in that elections are run cleanly), by-elections are a mid-term referendum on the government.

From that end, the unseating of ZanuPF gives weight to CCC argument that ZanuPF has failed the citizens.

The result gives credence to that logic.

5] Secondly, the significance of the win is that there are growing footprints showing CCC presence in the rural areas.

In ward 16, I'm told an Opp candidate has won for the first time since the dawn of Opposition politics.

That it's a female candidate is icing on that cake.

6] There have been concerted efforts from pro-regime functionaries to downplay CCC's previous performance, on the basis that it has been 'retaining Urban seats', never mind that it's 7 months old.

From the results, CCC will be buoyed by the #Mugwazo rural outreach campaign.

7] Another issue has been proper coordination.

From the optics, CCC leaders camped in Bulilima, leaving the proverbial stones, very much turned.

Fundraising initiatives played their own role, through Twitter spaces. That may go unnoticed, but it certainly helped ground efforts.

8] I once again, praise the CCC Matebeleland leadership as a collective, for continuing to show proper coordination, & a scientific approach to the same.

They had a clear plan with their voter registration, and used the same with the campaigns.

It has been refreshing to observe

9] The evident presence of leadership & unity of purpose, from the broader Matebeleland region, has been refreshing due to the historical significance of the regions to Opp politics, replaced by tragic in-fighting & party splits, & vote splitting.

Clearly, there's a new approach

10] Enter, Dr. Khupe.

Politics is certainly a strange game.

At a time when there's some perhaps warranted praise for her role in campaigning for the CCC candidates, some wounds haven't healed.

There's equally some pushback, & some measured recognition of her contributions.

11] I would assume that those in Matebeleland have embraced her, begrudgingly or otherwise.

Also, there's recognition of her usefulness as a workhorse in the campaign trail, which explains why she's seen addressing voters, something some may interpret as her occupying a post.

12] It would be tragic, if some decided to downplay how much her presence doesn't seat well with a significant number of CCC members.

I've personally accepted that she will forever divide opinions, and only the future will decide whether or not, embracing her was a wise move.

13] It certainly would be a different topic altogether, if she was coming in as some 'Coalition partner', with her own hangers-on, without their own recognizable inputs.

For CCC, there's logic to the madness, and the proponents of the "pro-unity" argument, have won the day.

14] However, the current setup in CCC, makes the "risk" somewhat worth trying

Because there's no contestation for positions, those with essential skills, can be given space to contribute, within the framework of the party, being just individual citizens like the rest of us.

15] I equally recognized some desperate attempts to fully credit MaKhupe for the win, whilst persisting with their thin veiled attacks on CCC.

Well, whereas MaKhupe has her political qualities, they are clearly only useful within existing CCC structures, certainly not outside.

16] Theres a clear logic to the deliberate characterizing of MaKhupe as the individual game changer, whilst sidelining other extremely capable CCC leaders who played significant roles.

They can't remain unheralded.

But I can imagine they remain focused on the broader picture.

17] So really, it's a waste of time, accepting an invitation to debate what particular role MaKhupe supposedly played in the Bulilima wins

It's not like this a scientific way of calculating how many votes she actually brought

She's just part of a working formula in Matebeleland

18] Lastly, it was equally significant that the majority of the voters in Bulilima were older citizens, mainly due to the dual challenge of youth migration to South Africa, and the ID challenge, due to Gukurahundi.

Winning in such a constituency carries its own significance.

19] What this means is, youths don't belong to the Opposition, and our parents don't belong to ZanuPF.

With proper planning, execution, and having a relatable message, any and every vote can be mobilized for change.

That message from Bulilima should be properly decoded.

20] Will leave the rest of the issues I wanted to raise, particularly on structures vs organization,,,for another thread

For now, kudos to all those playing different roles to give the alternative significant ground to fight from, come 2023.

For now, amhlope Mthwakazi.

enkosi!

like there's*