“THAT THING”: The last edition of political coolness

will they get jobs after being serious about school, what is the essence of sovereignty, what is bad about being a coconut (black skin-white masks), are sanctions real, will they ever be rich? etc. All these are struggles that the young consumer fights today and they define a Chimurenga defined by the fighter. Zvimurenga defines multiple struggles to liberate oneself from any hangover you may think of, colonial, apartheid, neo-imperial etc. It’s a continuing struggle that has to be won by acquisition of answers. It is not enough for the party to drive the melody of how we conquered Smith and the Rhodesian maleficent yet in its importance it speaks to selected survivors of that time and leaves out the most important consumers — yikho lapho okulemali khona.

I do not undermine the role of all Zvimurenga they are central to our being, they were a good narrative in the build-up elections of 1979,1990s and early millennium dawn, but like any other lesson, they should be re-curriculumed to appeal to the new market. If some of you used to watch Tour of Duty on ZBC TV in the early 90s you would agree with me that the series depicted American soldiers in Vietnam as heroes and always successful. In as much as that series was effective in doing so at that time, it will not sway as much today because the market does not resonate that much with Thomas Dudikof’s starring and narration hence preferring Captain America the Winter Soldier. They both present a Chimurenga of America but in a different picture with new challenges that relate to a living American. My thrust is to say, lets model our Zvimurenga to speak to the new market. Perhaps our repetitive heroes’ commemoration should start to encompass not only the sorry emptiness of the gallant sons and daughters we lost but tell the success of those living. Maybe I am the only one who hasn’t heard success stories of heroes living except their misfortunes in the liberation struggle. If only the emerging trend of heroism focused on how some escaped from Gonakudzingwa, evaded arrest, escaped the jaws of Rhodesian repressive laws all for the sake of saving and serving us, that would be a new narration. If only attention is shifted on the multiple struggles the new market faces, the party would attract more political sales. Zvimurenga zvasiyana — it’s a continuing struggle and the revolutionary party should find itself leading the fight against these struggles. When young people are struggling with their sexuality, identity and nominal politics, they are also struggling with tuition, income and individual growth space. That needs to be Zvimurenga reloaded 2.0: rebranding the party.

Latest: The truth about Zimdef The elusive truth about this matter is that it may be delayed to come to your attention because for a series of weeks journalists followed it up. I am not one to be quick when it comes to scoops, I resent, realise then react, which is actually a delayed action at most times but worthwhile. It’s my style, I am cool like that, I bring out the truth that no one really thought of. Remember, I am still on the “cool” politics and Zimdefgate or anything similar to it is not a cool product in the market, the consumers are grumbling and it will deter lowyal consumers. So what are my thoughts on this subject matter, one may wonder; I am not name shaming, my job is not to imply that so and so affirmatively repossessed the young consumers’ funds, and I am not the jury to declare what should be done to whoever, I am simply suggesting political rebrands in a quickly consumer confidence loss market.

At least this past week I was surrounded by a lot of the beneficiaries of the Zimdef fund in Mutare. I had a nice time there when I resided at Leopard Rock hotel courtesy of Mutare Teachers’ College, the pleasure of being a citizen in a country with Vumba resort where I am in an unAfrican Africa, if you have never been there I urge you to take your family, it’s a good vacation. I am digressing from my plot, anyway it’s a nice place but apart from that the interaction on Zimdefgate is of interest.

So, the biggest consumer, teachers, the ones who lead the revolution from the chalkboard, those who train our STEM students who should realise the benevolence of the party and its governance, those who socialise the young and important consumer, sounded really bitter about what is happening. The very fact that no one has been affirmly incarcerated makes the consumer question the ability of our investigation department.

With that in mind, it opens room for conspiracies that the party tolerates corruption, of which the reverse is true. What the young consumer wants is confidence rebuild through systematic application of justice to the offender in the Zimdefgate, regardless of who it is.

They care less about who it is but when justice delays, they cease to appreciate the political product (Zanu-PF). It’s not my interest to write more about Zimdefgate, but all I can say until I continue next week is Zimdefgate or any other close to it, is a mould on the product and that product should be recalled as it will affect other brands. Next week I shall look deeply into it as I introduce a new approach to my commentary which is more interactive as it involves opinions from people of different political products. Have a great week.

Micheal Mhlanga is a research and strategic communication specialist and is serving Leaders for Africa Network (LAN) as the Programmes and Public Liaison Officer. He also administrates multiple youth public dialogue forums in Zimbabwe including the annual Reading Pan Africanism Symposium (REPS) and Back to Pan Africanism Conference. Feedback can be sent to michealmhlanga@abakhokheli.org