The airwaves have once again been charged with the electrifying voice of Chimurenga music legend, Thomas Mapfumo, this time echoing a call for the complete dismantling of Zanu PF, the ruling party that has held sway over Zimbabwe for decades. In a scathing critique of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration, Mapfumo, who remains in self-imposed exile, has declared that the party’s grip on power must be broken for the nation to truly find freedom.
“Don’t listen to lies,” Mapfumo thundered in an interview with The Standard. “Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF leaders are liars. They are not genuine people. Even if Mnangagwa leaves office nothing will change, the whole party is the root problem and it should be removed.”
The veteran musician’s pronouncements come on the heels of Mnangagwa’s recent statement in Mutare, where he declared that he would not seek a third term in office, adhering to the country’s constitutional limitations. While this declaration might have been met with a sense of relief by some, Mapfumo dismisses it as mere political theatre.
“Chiwenga (Constantino) is also on the sidelines, waiting for his chance to take up office,” Mapfumo added, highlighting the perceived power struggle within the ruling party. “The party stinks of corruption and maladministration. Nothing will change. They grabbed power from Mugabe and if you ask him (Mnangagwa) why he did that and if it has helped the people he won’t have any response. He just wanted power and nothing to benefit the people.”
Mapfumo’s words resonate with a growing sentiment of disillusionment amongst Zimbabweans who have endured years of economic hardship and political instability under Zanu PF’s rule. The musician’s call for a complete overhaul of the party, a sentiment echoed by many in the opposition, is a stark reminder of the deep-seated grievances that continue to simmer beneath the surface of Zimbabwean society.
The veteran musician, known for his politically charged lyrics that have often served as a voice for the voiceless, is urging citizens to take a stand against the status quo. He sees mass action as the only viable path to change.
“I told (Nelson) Chamisa that nothing will change if he and the people keep quiet,” Mapfumo said, referring to the former leader of the main opposition party, the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC). “All those talks of God is in it won’t change the status quo. If you don’t fight back nothing will. Keeping quiet gives Zanu PF an advantage; they know that you are afraid of them. People should go into the streets, look at Kenya, they live better than Zimbabweans but they went into the streets.”
Mapfumo’s call for street protests, a tactic that has been met with brutal crackdowns by the government in the past, is a bold statement that reflects the growing frustration with the current political landscape. While some may view his call as a risky proposition, given the history of state repression, it is a testament to the depth of his commitment to seeing a free and prosperous Zimbabwe.
