Editorial Comment
Zimbabwean politics is marred by stunted growth, lack of initiative and seeing the same faces over and over again.
As we are moving towards another much-expected harmonized election in 2023, political parties should consider shuffling representatives to include new blood in the system.
The political environment needs new ideas, which can only come from new and young people who are up to the task with the prevailing trends.
To put it into perspective, let’s look at some examples of politicians who have been in the game for too long.
Innocent Gonese, the current Member of Parliament for Mutare Central was first elected into the National Assembly in 2000 and has since held the seat for the last 22 years.
Even though she has suffered some losses along the way, the current Nkayi North Member of Parliament, Sthembiso Nyoni also started as a cabinet member in 1995.
Nyoni lost a parliamentary election in 2000 and 2005 but was letter appointed as an MP without constituency that same year. She has been on top of that food chain since then.
Down here in the Midlands, Mkoba’s own Amos Chibaya was first elected into Parliament in 2005 and has been at the helm ever since. Chibaya has been running the seat for the past 17 years.
The same can also be said for Enock Porusingazi, who has been at the helm of parliamentary politics in Chipinge South since 2005, also giving him a 17-year run.
It only leaves one to wonder, who would be holding positions of power if the 2017 coup did not happen as some political players fell out of favour.
That regime had active politicians who had seen more than three decades in power.
This is just but a snippet of the long list of politicians who have held on to power for too long, a move that possibly holds down other capable candidates to fill in those positions in councils, parliament, the cabinet and the heads of government departments.
There are dangers associated with career politicians as the same mindset runs for a long time and there are high chances of developing self-serving actions within their areas of influence.
New ideas for development in constituencies can only come from new blood, who at this point are disempowered by political godfathers and godmothers.
The government should also consider term limits for running politicians.
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