Accountability and transparency are essential pillars of any functioning democracy, serving as safeguards against corruption and abuse of power. However, recent developments in Zimbabwe have raised concerns about the erosion of these vital principles. The controversy surrounding the new cars provided to the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD), a multi-party forum, sheds light on a dual-core utility strategy employed by the ruling party, Zanu PF.

ZANU PF’S BLINKER AND INCENTIVE: THE DUAL-CORE UTILITY

The cars provided to POLAD members, which may have been financed through donations from Zanu PF’s top client, Tagwirei, serve a dual purpose. First and foremost, they act as blinkers, diverting attention away from the urgent issues facing Zimbabwe. Secondly, they serve as incentives to maintain support for Zanu PF in its quest for a one-party state.

In the context of a power struggle within Zanu PF, the ruling party is keenly aware that establishing a one-party state would provide them with unchecked access to resources and the ability to loot without consequences. The cars distributed to POLAD members are part of a broader strategy to maintain Zanu PF’s grip on power and undermine accountability and transparency.

THE DEFORMED FACT: ZANU PF AND THE GOVERNMENT

POLAD beneficiaries have attempted to justify the receipt of these cars by arguing that they are gifts from the government, not Zanu PF. However, this argument fails to acknowledge the fundamental problem at hand – Zanu PF’s questionable legitimacy and its unconstitutional retention of power. The government and Zanu PF have become dangerously intertwined, leading to a lack of separation of powers, a non-partisan military, and a compromised fourth estate.

Centralization of power, facilitated by Zanu PF, has undermined the supremacy of the constitution and led to a situation where the rule of law is subverted for political gain. This sustained devaluation of the constitution has given rise to a culture of impunity, enabling Zanu PF to engage in unchecked looting and violations of fundamental rights.

THE CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS

There is an undeniable constitutional crisis in Zimbabwe, characterized by questions surrounding legitimacy, popular will, and consensus. The acceptance of cars from Zanu PF by POLAD beneficiaries further entrenches the status quo, perpetuating the conflation and paralysis of the state. This crisis threatens the stability of the country and pushes it closer to state failure.

Zanu PF’s manipulation of POLAD members through gifts and favors forces them into sycophantic and submissive positions. These beneficiaries, in their gratitude, become pawns of Zanu PF, helping to perpetuate the false narrative that the ruling party is inclusive, democratic, and reformed.

THE WAY FORWARD

If Zimbabwe is to transition into a true democracy and escape the cycle of looting and plunder, accountability and transparency must be restored. Zanu PF’s dual-core utility strategy, exemplified by the distribution of cars to POLAD members, only serves to maintain the status quo.

For Zimbabwe to move forward, it must address the constitutional crisis, uphold the rule of law, and promote accountability and transparency. It is essential to separate the government from Zanu PF and ensure that the constitution is upheld as the supreme law of the land. Only then can Zimbabwe break free from the grip of corruption and abuse of power and work towards a brighter future for its people.