Former ZANU PF political commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere
By Dickson Bandera
Exiled former Cabinet minister, Saviour “Tyson” Kasukuwere and MDC-T president, Senator Douglas Mwonzora have confirmed that they will be contesting the 2023 presidential election.
The two senior politicians join ZANU PF’s Emmerson Mnangagwa and Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) president, Nelson Chamisa, who are expected to be the two leading horses for the 2023 presidential race.
Kasukuwere and Mwonzora are yet to make official announcements, but indications from their communication in the media are that they will be filing their names as presidential candidates at the nomination court, come June 21.
Kasukuwere confirmed his candidature in a reply tweet to SABC News Foreign Editor, Sophie Mokoena, who had asked the exiled politician if he was going to contest in the upcoming elections.
“Sophie good morning. The call has been made and yes I will be making a formal statement on my candidature. Thank you for asking,” replied Tyson.
His reply, however, has sparked tremendous interest, with the matter now trending on social media.
,A cross section of people is questioning Kasukuwere’s suitability, others raising questions on how he will execute his ambition as well as prospects of success.
Elections are due in less than 3 months and one wonders how the former cabinet minister will play his cards to garner support and be ready to mount a serious contest against the established and seasoned political parties.
If Tyson is to contest in the 2023 presidential race, he will have joined the league of former Zanu PF politiburo members, Simba Makoni, Joice Mujuru and Dumiso Dabengwa who all broke away from Zanu PF and went on to mount a challenge against a ZANU PF presidential candidate.
Dr Simba Makoni (Mavambo) was on the ballot in the 2008 elections, Dabengwa (ZAPU) in 2013 while Dr Mujuru (People’s Rainbow Coalition) contested in 2018.
Some have immediately declared their support to Kasukuwere, claiming that he has a glowing curriculum vitae while others rubbished his idea.
One KudaG wrote, “Despite being cut from the same cloth as ED, Saviour is a better candidate, young, well spoken, although he won’t stand a chance against Chamisa.”
Some opposition supporters said Kasukuwere’s participation would split ZANU PF votes, especially in his Mashonaland Central province which is ZANU PF stronghold hence that would give the opposition an advantage.
The former ZANU PF political commissar, who escaped the country in November 2017 at the fall of president Mugabe, has been vocal on political issues, and it has become clear that he does not agree with the Emmerson Mnangagwa leadership.
Kasukuwere, Jonathan Moyo, Patrick Zhuwawo and Walter Mzembi, among others who were the big players of the G40 have always argued that Mnangagwa and his Team Lacoste was heavy-handed in dealing with the G40 members, a stance which they say drove them into exile.
How Tyson plans to launch and execute his political ambition remains to be seen, but it is believed he will be leading the New Alliance Zimbabwe, a new party that has of late been pushing his name vigorously.
On the other hand, MDC-T president Douglas Mwonzora has confirmed that he will be contesting.
Mwozora responded to a tweet which had claimed he was not going to contest because he had squandered party funds, hence his party could not raise the $20 000 registration fee.
“Some people and organizations pretend to know even when it is obvious they know nothing. They resort to outright lies. @mdc263 has resolved on fighting the elections. And it will field a Presidential candidate! Lies have short legs. @cozwva,” Mwonzora tweeted.
Out of all the political parties that are likely going to participate in the elections, only ZANU PF has held its primary elections and now their candidates campaigning on the ground.
Mwonzora is expected to field candidates in all the three tiers but analysts say prospects of success are minimal given that the party had a dismal show in the by-elections where it failed to win a single seat out of the total 133 seats.
MDC-T had to stop fielding candidates in the remaining by-elections and announced that it would only field in the 2023 elections. The party recently tried, without success, to delay the elections when Mwonzora approached the Constitutional Court seeking nullification of the delimitation report which demarcated the new bounderies to be used in the upcoming general elections.
Labour Economists and Afrikan Democrats (LEAD) president, Linda Tsungirirai Masarira has also confirmed her candidature and seeks to be the first woman president of Zimbabwe.
Masarira, who broke away from MDC- T (Khupe), to form her own party, says she will uphold the Constitution if voted into power.
“I Linda Tsungirirai Masarira promises to uphold the Zimbabwe Constitution and all the laws around it in the event that the Zimbabwe electorate votes in my favour to be the first woman President of Zimbabwe,” she said in statement.
Another female candidate expected to contest the election is United Zimbabwe Alliance (UZA) president, Elisabeth Valerio, a businesswoman with interests in the tourism industry. UZA was formed on 29 May 2021 and says it will field candidates in the presidential, legislative and local authority elections. The party participated in the 2022 by-elections but did not gain any seat, however, Valerio said their participation gave them an insight into the election process.
Robert Chapman, president of the newly formed Democratic Union of Zimbabwe is expected to be on the ballot, seeking to gain entry into the state house.
National Constitutional Assembly president, Professor Lovemore Madhuku is also expected to contest the 2023 election as a presidental candidate.
In a statement on January 1, Madhuku hinted that he would contest the 2023 election.
“2023. Know it All that in the year 2023, I will exercise to the full two of my constitutional rights without fear, without favour and without equivocation:1) the right to vote in secret and 2) the right to stand for election for public office, and if elected,to hold such office.
Following the announcement of the election dates by the president last week, candidates and political parties are putting their campaign wheels in order so that they win the hearts of the electorate on August 23.
