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Tracy Mutinhiri: Who is Fooling who?


                                                       
The recent media fever that gripped the nation about former ZANU PF women league political commissar, Tracy Mutinhiri, who was also a house of assembly member for Marondera East, joining MDC-T came not as a surprise to those who know the Zimbabwean political landscape very well. While many “celebrated" that  Mutinhiri had joined MDC-T, after being treated unfairly by ZANU PF ,Rugare Gumbo, the party’s spokesperson, had no kind words for her, he described her  as someone who had always worked against ZANU PF.
However, her deflection was   celebrated in the MDC-T to my utter amazement, of course her dismissal is testimony of the serious party squabbles and divisions within ZANU PF.The Zimbabwean political landscape has proved to us over and over that everyone who was once a member of ZANU PF is a suspect.Noone trusts them because even if their intentions are genuine, they remain public enemy number one.
 For example MP for Tsholotsho, Jonathan Moyo was kicked out of ZANU PF in 2004 after the infamous Tsholotsho declaration. The coming years saw Moyo turn into a fierce critic of Mugabe whom he once sang praise and worship hymns for on national television during his stint as information minister. He once compared Mugabe to a lame duck and even argued that even if Mugabe was to contest in an election, against a donkey, he would lose. He was later readmitted into the party and this time around he is now a critic of the MDC-T
This proves that politicians will never change, once a ZANU always a ZANU.The serious hero worship within Zanu on the person of Mugabe shows the gross demeaning bootlicking that is within the so-called revolutionary party. Honestly what is revolutionary about the party when it cannot deal with minor party disagreements, let alone succession? People don’t trust Moyo because of his ever changing political form. The same can be said about Simba Makoni, though unlike Moyo he hasn’t rejoined ZANU PF as yet, he remains suspect number one. Many still see his party Mavambo Kusile Dawn (MKD), as a mere ZANU PF creation meant to confuse the electorate. Though he has denied these claims, people never take him serious.
The same  can be said about  Dumiso  Dabengwa and Thenjiwe Lesabe who quit ZANU PF so that they could resuscitate PF ZAPU.For them their defection was met with hostility in matebeleland.Many still questioned why they didn’t quit ZANU earlier, why they neglected their region for so long and never brought meaningful change to matebeleland during their stay in ZANU.For many years they were in Mugabe’s government, they never  championed the concerns of Matebeleland through implementation of policies that would better their  people’s lives
.Even though PF ZAPU is revived as they say, many in Matabeleland still view them as sell-outs and heartless. Now another former Zanu PF person, Tracy Mutinhiri has been fired and maybe as a way of hitting back to her former party, decides to join their political opponents, MDC-T.While i have respect for Tracy Mutinhiri,i feel that her deflection to MDC-T leaves a lot to be desired. Is she joining the "party of excellence" because Zanu PF treated her unfairly or she has really seen Zanu PF for what it really is?.All these much ado about nothing questions remain unanswered for now, but if the truth be told what does she bring to the MDC?If she is to contest in the next election on an MDC ticket as what is being speculated, what does this mean for the MDC as a party? I strongly believe that Mutinhiri should take the bench for now while she ponders on her next political move. If she wants to join other former comrades whom she has worked with, like Makoni or Dabengwa she is most welcome to do so since they share the same concerns and identity. At least they would form a formidable force against ZANU PF which treated them "unfairly”. Why join people whom you fought against for many years and whose policies you were against?
Let us not fool each other; we have seen former ZANU people change form before us. Its just like saying that John Landa Nkomo has deflected to MDC.Honestly we are not fooled by such political games meant to confuse and misdirect people when voting. Maybe the comrades within the MDC-T can be fooled by welcoming Mutinhiri with open arms, but the people of Zimbabwe cannot. Only the politicians will be fooled since it’s a recurring game but not me, never! It is either you are with us, or you are against us! Rawlings Magede is political science student from Nkayi,Matebeleland North and can be contacted via email rawedge699@gmail.com

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