ZANU PF, the ruling party in Zimbabwe, has long demonstrated a swift and intolerant approach when dealing with the country’s frustrated, alienated, and marginalized youth. These young people, feeling disenfranchised by a government they accuse of economic mismanagement and violations of fundamental constitutional rights, have resorted to peaceful protests as their only recourse. However, ZANU PF’s response has often been heavy-handed, curtailing their right to assemble and express their grievances.
The selective and politically motivated deployment of partisan police, serving as a tool for ZANU PF’s unconstitutional power retention, has given rise to a culture of rule by law, impunity, and lawfare. This situation has created an environment where only opposition youths attempting to exercise their constitutional rights are consistently denied the space for peaceful assembly.
When freedom of assembly is infringed upon, and those who defy this restriction attempt to assert their rights, ZANU PF turns to its compromised and dependent judiciary to unleash lawfare. Young activists like Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chirova, and Happymore Chidziva have found themselves repeatedly entangled in legal battles. ZANU PF has shown a clear aversion to democratic change that could bring an end to its stranglehold on the country.
Interestingly, when it comes to certain rogue and criminal youth elements, known for their involvement in the chaos of gold-rich regions, ZANU PF’s so-called long arm of the law suddenly comes into action. This should not come as a surprise, considering that ZANU PF has no clear procedural succession and transition plans, leading to the emergence of factionalism within the party. These factions have exploited their ties to ZANU PF, evolving into semi-terrorist groups affiliated with various party factions. Their primary role is to protect ZANU PF’s interests, particularly those involved in illegal gold smuggling.
These youth elements have also been used by ZANU PF to create a negative image of the opposition. They have been instructed to pose as disgruntled opposition members, even going as far as wearing t-shirts provided by ZANU PF. This cynical manipulation of the situation illustrates ZANU PF’s disregard for the state of the country, as long as its grip on power remains intact.
Moreover, ZANU PF has not stopped at this point. The party has turned to a new generation of militants in the artisanal mining sector by involving the children of war veterans. By granting them gold claims, ZANU PF has gained the loyalty of these young miners, who will now work to protect the interests of their parents, the war veterans. This comes despite the fact that the war veterans themselves were compensated with land seized from commercial farmers or a one-time payment of fifty thousand dollars per person after threatening the state.
The children of war veterans have also received free education, but this ironically comes in a country with a staggering unemployment rate of ninety percent. The economic hardships, exacerbated by the government’s handling of the pandemic, have led to further job losses and retrenchments, leaving many young people without opportunities.
ZANU PF’s leadership, consisting of older individuals out of touch with reality, has continuously miscalculated the consequences of its actions. By failing to address the need for genuine political reform, the party has been digging its own grave for decades. The recent move to grant gold claims to the children of war veterans has further entangled the partisan military in the party’s web. This has left the military disillusioned, as they have not received the promised new cars, leading to some resorting to armed robberies.
As Zimbabwe approaches the 2023 elections, the deteriorating economy and disillusioned armed partisan military elements may serve as midwives to a potential transition. ZANU PF, caught in its own web, can only find a way out through meaningful reforms. The future of Zimbabwe hangs in the balance, and the nation watches closely as the youth demand change and accountability from the ruling party.