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Fungi Kwaramba, Zimpapers Elections Desk 

RELENTLESS, passionate and indefatigable in his pursuit to industrialise and modernise Zimbabwe towards an upper middle-income economy by 2030, President Mnangagwa was rewarded by Zimbabweans with another term to continue his development works that are leaving no one and no place behind.

The President and Zanu-PF victory are underpinned not only by the massive infrastructural development programmes that have found resonance with the whole nation, but also his clear vision for the country, analysts said.

President Mnangagwa, who was Zanu-PF candidate in last week’s harmonised elections, retained the presidency after he garnered 2 350 111 votes which constituted 52,6 percent against Citizens Coalition for Change leader, Mr Nelson Chamisa who got 1 967 343 votes, representing 44 percent of total votes cast.

In his first full term, President Mnangagwa traversed the country as a crusader of development. He took development to every corner of the Republic, opening once remote areas like Binga to the world. It is on that firm foundation that the Zanu-PF victory was built from, the analysts said.

“The President’s victory can be attributed to his relentless work ethos and his campaign strategy which was inclusive as epitomised by his adage, leaving no one and no place behind. Isn’t it incredible that the Beitbridge-Masvingo highway is now trafficable, the massive steelworks being undertaken in Chivhu, the world class Robert Mugabe International Airport, the solid Parliament building, the food sufficiency before us and the now available power from Hwange. Even the fiercest of critics can only envy such a meticulous work ethic which has transformed Zimbabwe,” political analyst, Mr Collin Mharadzano said.

Even though Zimbabwe still groans under baneful economic sanctions, unflinching, the President has refused to let that be a setback. 

“Instead they have taught us to think outside the box,” the President-elect told a Zanu-PF rally during a gruelling campaign trail.

“Essentially the victory was hard-earned given the concerted effort by the nation’s detractors who have continued to buttress their economic warfare on the nation and its people.”

With a fresh mandate, the country’s future is bright, the analysts added and Zimbabwe will emerge into an upper middle-income economy.

“Now is the opportunity to continue growing the economy and ensuring that such growth is felt by the masses who have hitherto been at the receiving end of the West’s diastolic sanctions. 

“The opposition has to be magnanimous in defeat and remember that Zimbabwe is for all Zimbabweans hence the need to unite with the revolutionary party to enhance the people’s livelihoods. Any other effort which relegated unity to the periphery will backfire for them in terms of their electoral dividends in any other electoral contests,” an analyst said.

In their preliminary reports on the recently held elections, observers said the poll was peaceful, transparent and a reflection of the will of Zimbabweans. Such an endorsement, the President noted in his address to the nation, shows that the country’s democracy has come of age.

“The democracy and right we have exercised through our vote was paid for by the supreme sacrifice of many sons and daughters of our great country. I thus commend the nation, across all provinces, for the huge turnout in exercising this sacred right to vote.

“As the people of Zimbabwe, we have demonstrated that we are a mature democracy. In line with our Constitution, we are collectively deepening and entrenching constitutionalism, the rule of law and good governance in our beloved motherland,” said the President.

Another political commentator Mr Godwin Mureriwa said President Mnangagwa’s agenda has always been clear from the onset and people follow a person with a vision.

“When he came to power, he categorically stated that the land reform programme was irreversible, and that the land itself would be the backbone of his domestic policies hinged on production and productivity. The Transitional Stabilisation Programme and National Development Strategy 1 vindicated his declared shift from populistic politics to market-driven economic principles.

“Austerity measures cultivated a culture that despised extravagance in favour of ‘eating what we hunt and catch’; and developing our country stone upon stone using our local resources. The massive infrastructure he built across the country in just five years of his first term made him deserve another. 

“Dams and irrigation boosted agriculture, production in the mining sector doubled, industrial utilisation and the manufacturing sector improved massively. The expansion of Hwange Units 7 and 8 is now a milestone that will further boost production and create employment. 

“His policies have enabled general economic growth. The Zimbabwe is open for business mantra has attracted FDIs because of reforms to ease partnerships. His second term is highly deserved and will gear Zimbabwe to achieve the vision of an upper middle-income society by 2030.”

Political commentator, Mr Naboth Dzivaguru said President Mnangagwa has proved to be a hands-on leader, something that has charmed the electorate.

“President Mnangagwa has got one good strength which is unparalleled. He is a hands-on man. He believes in less talk and more practice. He equally puts more of his energy on economic development than politics.

“This is what has made him excel in this election. Zimbabweans were thrilled by his economic bias ahead of everything. He created more and quicker entrepreneurial opportunities in a very short space of time than ever expected by a keen electorate.

“So, naturally people are more guided by what they see and not what they are promised or by faith. So the election was a battle between faith and work. The opposition politics was based on faith while President Mnangagwa was more biased on works,” he said.

Mr Dzivaguru predicted that the next five years would be easier for President Mnangagwa as he would simply pick up from where he left.

“Now he has been given the second mandate by Zimbabweans, his new trajectory will be beneficial to the economic reforms that he had kickstarted in his first five years.

“He will fine tune his foreign policy, domestic policy and his international economic relations. It will be really an exciting term as the final season will be hinging on improving from what was started in the initial stages of the New Dispensation,” he said.

Catholic University of Zimbabwe lecturer Dr Tongai Danai echoed the same sentiments saying President Mnangagwa would surely take the country forward.

“We will also see new projects and investments being introduced in line with Vision 2030 as the country marches towards becoming an upper middle-income state.

“With unity and effort from all Zimbabweans across provinces and political affiliations, not just Zanu-PF, I know becoming an upper middle-income state is a possibility especially considering what has been achieved so far across sectors since 2018. As a work horse I know soon after inauguration Dr Mnangagwa will hit the road running and by the end of 2023 there will be a lot to show. All Zimbabweans will smile,” he said.

Political Commentator Mr Ben Chivandire said the President’s win was inevitable.

“President Mnangagwa’s victory has always appeared to be a delayed match. This is due to many reasons that include political and economic achievements.

“On politics and internal security, President Mnangagwa has managed to maintain a calm and tranquil environment right from the time he assumed power. The bread and butter issues have been handled fairly well on the economic front, the economic side of things in the country gives the general citizenry peace of mind and hope that good living is a sure case ahead”.

Besides the implementation of sound economic policies, there has been tangible development right across the provinces that the masses have witnessed in a period of five years, while international relations have also improved through engagement and re-engagement.