Accusations of ZANU PF’s “Evil” Nature Continue to Unfold Amid Controversial Incidents

Political debate around ZANU PF, the ruling party of Zimbabwe, frequently teeters precariously between passionate defense and deeply ingrained accusations.

New divisions within the party have been exposed by recent remarks made by Tafadzwa Masvayamwando Shumba, an independent candidate for Mwenezi West who was once a member of the ZANU PF Central Committee.

Tafadzwa broke from the customary sorrow ritual during a solemn period at his mother Clara Shumba’s funeral, calling ZANU PF a “evil” organization—words that sliced through the gathering like a chilling wind.

His charges bear a great deal of weight in light of Zimbabwe’s unstable political environment, particularly in light of the recent elections that were marred by violence and intimidation.

Tafadzwa’s accusations extended beyond criticism of politics.

His emotional outburst during the funeral was an attempt to draw attention to his own suffering and to the trauma his family purportedly suffered at the hands of ZANU PF agents.

His Toyota GD6, which was allegedly torched after being taken at gunpoint and set on fire, is a menacing reminder of the serious consequences Zimbabwean politics entail for individuals who dared to question the established quo.

His personal anguish is entwined with disappointment across the country, adding fire to the continuing discussion regarding the role played by ZANU PF in Zimbabwe’s socio-political turmoil.

His claim that a lot of people are “suffering because of ZANU PF” is in line with the opinions of opposition figures all throughout the nation.

However, it is unclear how common these opinions are among regular Zimbabweans, which is an important point that is frequently missed in media reports.

Naturally, ZANU PF supporters have put up a wall to stop the speech’s effects.

Rabson Mavhenyengwa, the provincial chairman of Masvingo, quickly retorted, saying Shumba’s statements were only harsh political posturing.

The fact that Mavhenyengwa’s answer included the accusation that Tafadzwa “can say whatever he wants” in an attempt to damage the party illustrates how divisive this topic has become.

Beneath this public backbiting, however, comes a far deeper question: If former members of the ruling party feel obliged to lash out in such scathing ways, what sort of political culture does Zimbabwe currently foster?

It is difficult to overlook the story of independence candidates and their violent run-ins with ZANU PF agents during the 2023 elections, which adds even more layers of drama.

Shumba’s experience is not unique.

Many people are still grieving over the mysterious murder of independent candidate Christopher Mutonhori Rwodzi of Gutu West a few weeks before the national elections.

Although Rwodzi’s vehicle collision on the Chivhu-Mpandawana highway was called a “freak accident,” observers and members of the public alike are still puzzled about the circumstances and timing of the incident.

While political violence is not new to Zimbabwean elections, its development in 2023 indicates a concerning trend toward the use of calculated terror rather than direct confrontation to silence opposition.

It’s evident that independent voices in Zimbabwe’s political sphere are losing ground quickly.

What was once considered “opposition” barely qualifies as a life-threatening challenge.

The involvement of purported agents such as the Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) and the equally potent but less noticeable Forever Associates of Zimbabwe (FAZ) raises the possibility of a tightening of control over the political narrative.

Independent candidates like Tafadzwa will need to prove their mettle not just against the overt structures of ZANU PF but also against its subtle but all-pervasive influence if they are to succeed.

At his mother’s funeral, Tafadzwa brought up a topic that transcends beyond the personal.

His regretful analysis of his father’s choice to join ZANU PF and his lamentation over the dehumanizing effects of political engagement spark an awkward conversation about the price of loyalty to the ruling party.

What does it indicate about the internal divisions inside ZANU PF if a man whose family made a big contribution to the party’s legacy feels this kind of betrayal?

More importantly, what does it say about the political environment in Zimbabwe as a whole, where even loyalty can have dangerous consequences?

As the nation sways closer to the end of 2024, with a disintegrated opposition and a ruling party clinging to power, it is impossible to ignore the claims’ wider ramifications.

Even though Shumba’s assertions are dismissed by ZANU PF as the angry rants of a political outsider, his story resonates with a growing unhappiness that is particularly felt among the nation’s youth and downtrodden.

The claimed efforts by the ruling party to quell dissent, whether by economic pressure or intimidation, have only served to widen the divide between the people of Zimbabwe and its leadership.

It appears that those who make it through the increasingly perilous political seas of Zimbabwe will decide the country’s future.

Even if ZANU PF keeps projecting strength, it is important to consider how long that façade can withstand growing pressure from both the inside and the outside.

More: The Zim Bulletin