Politics turning into a business as parties mushroom towards elections

By Lance Guma
07 January 2006

Zimbabweans have been urged to be wary of political parties that mushroom overnight, particularly towards election time. The call was made by political commentator Dr John Makumbe commenting on the recent formation of several new parties in Zimbabwe. With a Presidential election constitutionally set for 2008, a growing number of obscure individuals are already throwing in their hats and declaring their intention to contest. Their motives however have been questioned with Dr Makumbe accusing some of the aspiring politicians of merely eyeing donor money. Adding to suspicions is the fact that such outfits and individuals often disappear immediately after the elections

On Tuesday, News Agency African News Dimension (AND) reported that previously unknown Justine Chiota, a Zimbabwean ‘politician cum businessman’ stirred controversy in Malawi by declaring his intention to contest the 2008 presidential election in Zimbabwe. He says he is President of the Zimbabwe People’s Party (ZPP). According to the AND network he arrived in Malawi on Thursday and told the media he wanted to check on investment opportunities in Malawi and strengthen his financial base for the elections.

He was accompanied by his wife and two bodyguards and says in future he will arrange to meet President Bingu wa Mutharika and other opposition leaders. AND Network however reports the Zimbabwe High Commissioner in Lilongwe Thandiwe Dumbutshena accusing Chiota of playing games to exploit non-governmental organizations that fund political parties.

Dr John Makumbe says politics is now turning into a business and many individuals were forming parties to try and get on the gravy train. While people were free to form these parties, the end result was that they were confusing the electorate. Dr Makumbe says a popular analogy he often uses is that ‘if you leave two Zimbabweans on the moon and go visiting them the following day, you will find they have formed three political parties.’ The country was beset by a ‘where do you come from syndrome’ and this has resulted in aspiring politicians setting up their parties to draw from hometown support mainly along tribal lines.

Former Zanu PF Provincial Chairman, Daniel Shumba recently launched his own United People’s Party, while former Information Minister Jonathan Moyo is behind the United Peoples Movement. The country has over 12 political parties with some of them only emerging at election time.

List of Zimbabwe’s Political Parties

Zanu PF, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Zanu Ndonga, United Peoples Party (UPP), United People’s Movement (UPM), Zimbabwe People’s Party (ZPP), Zimbabwe Integrated Programme (ZIP), Zimbabwe Youth in Alliance (ZIYA), Zapu, Zimbabwe Peoples Democratic Party (ZPDP), Democratic Party (DP), Zimbabwe Labour Party (ZLP).