FACTIONALISM IN ZANU PF: DEATHS, CORRUPTION, AND A NATION IN CRISIS
It has been said, proven beyond doubt, that birds of the same feathers flock together. This deceased businessman, through association with Scarfmore and the criminal Zanu PF, the party of old, out-of-touch leaders, was also corrupt. You cannot serve two masters, a corrupt Scarfmore, without looting and plundering like the unconstitutional Scarfmore, or be restrained by the non-existent rule of law. However, that is not the focus here. The focus is on the degree and status of factionalism in the corrupt, criminal Zanu PF, which recently saw the controversial deaths of coup plotters Moyo and Shiri, breaking out of a fire at senile Chinamasa’s home.
Anyone familiar with logic would immediately link the seemingly isolated, natural death of this businessman to worsening factionalism in Zanu PF. This party is responsible for misery and state paralysis in Zimbabwe, just like the deaths of coup plotters Shiri and Moyo. The same factionalism has exposed and put this country at risk of a civil war and state collapse. This will be the result of Zanu PF’s unconstitutional power retention for decades. It is not enough to only diagnose the cause of death, which in this case is factionalism, and wrong affiliation to an individual who some Zanu PF members see as having reneged on the coup terms and assurances. A proper post mortem of the motive behind the death of another potential criminal close to Scarfmore should complement the initial diagnosis.
The paralyzed state of Zimbabwe, due to Zanu PF’s no-holds-barred attitude towards looting, is marked by a weak and devalued supreme law. This law has been mutilated and assaulted by Zanu PF, abusing its rigged parliamentary majority and the convenient pandemic. They collude with the partisan judiciary, expelling constitutionally elected opposition members of parliament, who would have resisted the raping of the constitution by Zanu PF. This seeks to centralize power, aiming for a futile one-party state. A weak and devalued supreme law means the rule of law is exiled, there is no equality before the law, and the judiciary and legislature are not independent. In other words, as a Zanu PF member, you can loot, plunder, and pillage the state with impunity, protected by selective law application and a politicized police force.
What does this have to do with the death of the businessman linked to Scarfmore and factionalism? The answer is everything! When you are a parasite in a paralyzed state, protected by selective law application and a seemingly blind police force, you aspire to be the top parasite, like a queen ant or bee. Why? Because you can loot more. This is shown by the arrest of Rushwaya, a relative of Scarfmore, who was caught with gold worth millions. Despite this, she was released and continues her trips to the Middle East, where the gold ends up in central banks and electronic gadgets. Some might wonder what all this has to do with the death of a less scandalous corrupt criminal.
Think about it, like the cold war, the powerful cannot attack each other but can attack each other’s proxies, like the businessman. This arrangement allows faction leaders to maintain a façade of civility and plausible deniability. Attacking proxies sends a message to the attacked faction, in this case, Scarfmore’s camp, that they are vulnerable and can be removed from power, brutally. It also sends a message to other proxies in Scarfmore’s camp that they too could be targeted and that Scarfmore cannot protect them. It’s a message to Scarfmore himself.
In conclusion, the death of the businessman is a symptom of the deep-rooted factionalism and corruption within Zanu PF. This factionalism has not only led to individual deaths but threatens the stability and future of Zimbabwe. The country’s paralyzed state, weakened laws, and selective law enforcement all contribute to a cycle of violence and power struggles. The situation calls for urgent reform and a move towards a more democratic and transparent governance system.
