Walter Mzembi, Zimbabwe's former Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, has applied for readmission to the ruling ZANU PF party. Mzembi's bid to rejoin the party comes after years of self-imposed exile, during which he allegedly lost his real estate portfolio and other assets. Local reports suggest that Mzembi is currently staying in a spare room at his nephew's house in Harare. Mzembi has denied claims of financial ruin, but his situation has sparked widespread attention.
Mzembi's application for readmission to ZANU PF has been confirmed by party officials in Masvingo. Before his application is considered, he has been summoned to account for tweets and Facebook posts critical of the establishment. This development marks a significant turn of events for Mzembi, who was once a key figure in the G40 faction of ZANU PF. His attempts to rejoin the party have raised questions about the dynamics of power within Zimbabwe's ruling party.
The concept of "it's cold outside ZANU PF" has been a central theme in Zimbabwean politics. Coined by late party patriarch Edson Zvobgo, the phrase serves as a warning about the consequences of leaving the ruling party. According to political scientists Nic Cheeseman and Brian Klaas, dominant ruling parties in Africa often control access to state resources, public-sector jobs, and commercial opportunities. In such systems, leaving the party can result in financial and structural isolation.
ZANU PF's role as a gatekeeper of state resources and economic opportunities has significant implications for members who leave or are cast out. When an insider loses their party card, they are often stripped of their economic ecosystem and left to fend for themselves. This reality has been demonstrated in the cases of several high-profile figures, including Edgar Tekere and Joice Mujuru, who were both financially and politically diminished after leaving ZANU PF.
Tekere, a former ZANU PF secretary-general, broke away to form the Zimbabwe Unity Movement in 1989. However, his party won only two parliamentary seats in the 1990 election, and Tekere spent his later years in financial and political isolation. Similarly, Mujuru was cast out of ZANU PF in 2014 and went on to form several new parties, but without the support of the state apparatus, her political capital quickly collapsed.
Saviour Kasukuwere, a former ZANU PF commissariat chief, also found himself in exile in South Africa after falling out with the party. These examples illustrate the difficulties faced by individuals who leave or are expelled from ZANU PF. Mzembi's bid to rejoin the party highlights the complexities of Zimbabwe's political landscape and the challenges faced by those who seek to navigate it.
Mzembi's situation serves as a testament to the consequences of falling out with Zimbabwe's ruling party. His attempts to rejoin ZANU PF have sparked debate about the dynamics of power within the party and the implications for members who leave or are cast out. As Mzembi awaits a decision on his application, his case has raised important questions about the intersection of politics and economics in Zimbabwe.
Key points
- Walter Mzembi applies for readmission to ZANU PF amid financial difficulties.
