However,
unlike Matigari, Baba Jukwa is real and not fictitious although he prefers
anonymity, promising to disclose his identity at the appropriate time. Baba
Jukwa’s nasty public spat with Amai Jukwa, reflects the succession dynamics in
Zanu PF where the Mnangagwa and Mujuru factions are pitted in a ferocious tug
of war to succeed Mugabe. Unlike Amai Jukwa who is an advocate of the status
quo, Baba Jukwa is a reformist whose grand plan is to reform Zanu PF in order
to ensure the party’s survival and continued relevance. In Baba Jukwa’s view,
Zanu PF desperately needs renewal and a change of direction, if ever the former
liberation movement is to survive and weather the challenges of
post-independence Zimbabwe. The party fights for relevance and its liberation
credentials alone cannot save it from extinction if it fails to reform and
adapt to the challenges of the day. As Baba Jukwa views it, the current
leadership in Zanu PF — the government, the military and police force have
diverted from the core principles that guided the struggle, hence the urgent
need for reform and a change of course by the party if ever it is to survive.
Attempts
to rebrand the Mugabe image, which is already soiled, are futile as that would
not resuscitate the fortunes of the party. Leadership renewal in Zanu PF,
according to Baba Jukwa, must go parallel with a change in direction of the
party, as the two are paramount to its survival. The old guard who are the
torch bearers of the party are both physically and mentally incapacitated to
effect the much-needed reforms. Their ideas, besides being archaic, no longer
resonate with the electorate 33 years after independence. The Young Turks, who
are expected to be better positioned to take over from the old guard, are in no
better position as they lack credibility. This group, like the old guard, does
not have the party at heart but just masquerade as reformers in an attempt to
disguise their hidden agenda which deviates from the aims and aspirations of
the struggle.
Nobody
within Zanu PF has dared to challenge Mugabe and his leadership publicly
before, besides feable attempts by Dzikamai Mavhaire, Margret Dongo and Michael
Mataure. The above three have called for leadership renewal in Zanu PF before
and as usual, Mugabe descended upon them with the force of a sledge hammer,
with devastating political consequences.
Unlike
Dongo, Mataure and Mavhaire, Baba Jukwa calls for not only leadership renewal,
but a change of culture in Zanu PF which glorifies incompetence, corruption,
nepotism , lack of accountability and violence. Mugabe, according to Baba
Jukwa, is surrounded by a bunch of sycophants who compete to outmanoeuvre one
another in praising the president, not because they love him so much, but for
favours. Surprisingly, the president seems to enjoy all this drama, as he has
become the biblical Nebuchadnezzar listening only to praise songs and not to
criticism. This culture, according to Baba Jukwa, has created a semi-god in
Mugabe, thereby ruining the party as very few advisors surrounding the
president are genuine and bold enough to correct him when he goes wrong. The
rest just sing along, not because they enjoy the music, but because by singing
as loud as they can, that guarantees them positions in government and
protection of the wealth they have amassed. Instead of addressing the genuine
issues that are vital for the party’s survival, many in Zanu PF are up in arms
against Baba Jukwa. Thousands of taxpayers money has been put on this
mysterious figure’s head. Does anyone in Zanu PF bother to scrutinise the
truths raised by Baba Jukwa? Who really
is this Bradley Manning of Zimbabwe who has dared to swim in crocodile-infested
river against the tide? Is this character a real Zanu PF cadre or is a mole
from the opposition? How does he/she get access to all the classified
information? Zanu PF risks making the same mistake made by Jews in crucifying
Jesus assuming that their redeemer was yet to come , unknowing that by so
doing, they had murdered their own son who holds the keys to heaven.
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