The Sunday News
Tedious Ncube, Business Correspondent
THE last few weeks in Zimbabwe have witnessed a growing debate on topical social, political and economic issues.
This has involved public opinion leaders, scholars, businessmen and members of the public, inter alia. Since the 26 March 2022 by-election, however, the major vocal section of this debate has focused on the question of how the ruling Zanu-PF has managed to consolidate continued support from the general voting public and especially in areas like Tsholotsho, Matabeleland North province.
Broadly speaking, those who have monopolised this debate have argued as if there are some constituencies in Zimbabwe that owe the opposition their votes. They have pretended as if people in areas like Tsholotsho are not thinking and are incapable of making choices based on what is good for them and based on what is in front of them.
It is on this note that throughout this article I will argue that Zimbabweans notwithstanding Tsholotsho; are now voting for development ahead of anything else.
While I concede totally that Zimbabwe is fast approaching development by whatever indicator, I maintain that some in the corridors of political discourse have ignored the fact that development is a process and not an event. They have arrogantly stuck to one or two indicators of development and forgot that development comes in many forms and that it is contextual.
In their ignorance of these very basic concepts of development they have assumed that the voting public will also act blind to the steps that have been taken by the Government towards development. It is precisely on this context that some organisations and individuals have underestimated the potential of development initiatives pursued by the Government, in shaping and reshaping voter perceptions.
In an attempt to respond to this question of “how Government policies shape and reshape voting behaviour”, this article will draw lessons from a book publication by Hon Cain Mathema called “Ngibikela abantu Be Tsholotsho”. In this book publication, Hon Cain Mathema explains some of the development initiatives that have been implemented by the government of Zimbabwe in Tsholotsho since 1980.
In his recollection of some of the key development initiatives in Tsholotsho ranging from the construction of schools, hospitals, piped water schemes, dams and the construction of roads amongst many other initiatives; Hon Cain Mathema offers a refreshing perspective that links the Government’s policies to the success of development in Tsholotsho. After reading this book, one is left with a better appreciation of why Tsholotsho and other constituencies in general, would choose to stand with the Government ahead of any other organisation.
When reading Hon Mathema’s book, one is able to understand that; development is not an event, rather it is a process. This implies that, the incremental steps that we take to draw closer towards development are exactly what constitute development.
This definition of development is accepted without controversy, or so it would appear in public discourse at least. Raising the well-being and socio-economic capabilities of citizens everywhere is therefore, the most crucial social task facing us today.
Every year, funds are disbursed, investments are undertaken, policies are framed, and elaborate plans hatched to achieve sustainable development goals, or at least to get closer to them.
I quote this realist definition of development to remind some among us (who deliberately ignore all that is happening to focus on their own utopian type of development); that development is not a single issue phenomenon.
The reconstruction of the Godzo Dam in Tsholotsho is important to the people of Tsholotsho in the same way the reconstruction of the Egodini Mall is important to the people of Bulawayo. The problem usually starts when people who want to see the speed of WiFi improve and have free pizza delivery services assume that their problem is also a problem in Tsholotsho.
It is even funny that these very same people in their air-conditioned offices would want the world to believe that if people in Tsholotsho vote for the reconstruction of a dam or increased access to farming inputs they would have sold out.
In summary, politics will always be local and people will vote based on local issues. A party that responds to local issues in the same way parties like the ruling Zanu-PF have been responding to local issues, will always enjoy the popular vote and will always bring the development that is urgent in any given community.
n Tedious Teddy Ncube is a Political Scientist and Public Policy Analyst
