By Ndumiso Tshuma
Zimbabwean national events are now viewed by some citizens as platforms for promoting political party agendas instead of honouring the main cause of the day.
During the recent Independence Day celebrations at Murambinda, Manicaland Province, citizens who attended and followed the event through various media said they felt the celebrations had been hijacked by the ruling party, Zanu PF, to push its agenda.
Contributing to the debate on This Morning on Asakhe, one participant mentioned that during the event, “they were playing political songs instead of national songs about independence.”
“They were playing songs to vote for the President and promote his political party agendas, which had nothing to do with us. We wanted to see pictures of Jason Ziyaphapha Moyo, Josiah Magama Tongogara, and others because that’s where our history is anchored,” he said.
Another participant stated that they saw little value in attending the event as national events are mainly focused on political party slogans.
“If an opposition party leader or a regular citizen like me attends a national event and the opposition party leader decides to encourage people to vote for their party by chanting their slogan, how will the opposition party leaders respond? Opposition party leaders should accommodate not only party leaders but also us regular citizens who just want to enjoy our independence day,” he said.
Some attendees stated that they were only present to see other political party leaders because they admire how they connect with the people.
“I think I am only here to support Tshabangu. I have heard people talk about Tshabangu as if he emerged from nowhere. People should get used to Tshabangu. When he attends events, he connects with the people, and I like people who get involved with the people. He was even seen at the Chief Dakamela awards where he was wearing traditional regalia, connecting with the people and the event,” said a participant.
Another participant said the ruling political party has deprived them of the freedom of independence and suggested that protesting and boycotting these events would be more appropriate.
“We are being deprived of the freedom that has been fought for and died for us. Protesting and boycotting these events would be appropriate. We get confused when we see opposition party leaders that we support now drinking and eating with these opposition leaders, which makes the whole situation controversial because we now begin to lose our trust in them,” said a source.
