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Survey
on political dogma: Mashonaland Provinces of Zimbabwe
Post Independence
Survivors Trust (PIST)
May 18, 2005
Location:
Mashonaland provinces of Zimbabwe - (Mash Central, Mash West and Mash
East)
Interviewees: 100 per each province
Dates of this research/survey: 2-16 May 2005
The
problem
Is
it true that most of Mashonaland people are genuine Zanu PF members,
why are they different politically with people from Harare capital
city of GREATER Mashonaland and Zimbabwe as a whole?
Objectives
of the research
This researcher is attempting to answer and find out why Harare
residents/people have failed to influence residents/people of Mashonaland
vis-a-vis political change through elections since 1980 to 2005
(to date).
Assumption
Generally
the majority of political and social scientists assume that Harare
as both the capital city of greater Mashonaland and Zimbabwe have
greater influence in shaping the socio–economic and political thinking
of its outlying provinces, for example Bulawayo is the capital city
of Matebeleland and has so much influence on its outlying provinces
and districts. Consequently since 1980 to date, its citizens have
almost voted for the opposition not withstanding partisan political
superstructure electoral environment and inherent Zimbabwe statute
Methods of
reasearch
- Random questions
to locals on various topics (non-political )
- Questions
on specific topics (non-political)
- Specific
questions on economic and social issues
- Specific
questions on political and governance issues
- Questions
on why people in MASHONALAND are different from Harare the capital
city of greater Mashonaland and Zimbabwe as a whole?
- Proposed
solutions
Findings
in:
A-Mashonaland
Central
B-Mash
West
C-Mash
East
Historical
reasons
liberation struggle pre-1980, these provinces were the most affected
by both the freedom fighters and colonial forces. This has a greater
impact; the way people perceive political and economical issues.
Because political and historical reasons the masses live in fear
hence they will support the ruling party at all cost.
Donor Syndrome/Dependency
Syndrome
Because
the poor old and highly illiterate people habitting areas, there
is a now a culture of handouts i.e. seeds, fertilizers, food and
land (Politics of patronage). Consequently, because of the aforesaid
handouts they fear to lose it if ever they vote otherwise than for
the ruling party this pattern has been there since 1980 to date.
There is a lack
of information such as newspapers, radios, and television. The issue
of information is central to any development. Most of the people
in Mashonaland Central in particular depend on Zanu PF propaganda,
mostly towards and during elections.
Divide And
Rule Strategy
The
Zanu PF and government has divided people into two spheres, rural
and urban .the Zanupf machinery has divided children from their
parents who reside in rural and urban areas. It would appear that
there is now deep-seated suspicion between rural and urban folk,
hence people in Harare are regarded as sellouts, deliberately destroying
family units. People from Harare are now regarded as strangers from
their home areas as their influence, is regarded as foreign –particularly
from west.
Statistical
distribution of responses per province
| Questions
|
Mash
Central
% |
Mash
West
|
Mash
East
|
Ave.
% |
| 1.If
everything was equal without political violence and intimidation.would
you vote for change and democracy in Zimbabwe? |
85
|
90
|
75
|
83
|
| 2.Is
it true that you always vote Zanu PF in any election because
of fear, intimidation from the youth militia and some war
vets? |
90
|
75
|
80
|
82
|
| 3.Do
you support Zanu PF because of historical resons, for example
its participation in the liberation of Zimbabwe? |
50
|
65
|
50
|
55
|
| 4.Is
true that you vote or support Zanu PF because of its land
reform policy, food handouts (political patronage)?
|
70
|
80
|
65
|
72
|
| 5.Do
you support land reform policy, and the manner it was carried
out? |
50 |
40 |
25 |
38 |
| 6.Do
you have links with people in Harare and if no/yes do you
discuss politics and governance issues with them? |
45
|
50
|
40
|
45
|
| 7.What
influence do you get from people in Harare on political and
governance issues? |
30
|
40
|
25
|
32
|
| 8.Has
Zanu PF fulfilled its campaign promises vis-a-vis development,
employment creation and good governance? |
35
|
40
|
25
|
33
|
| 9.Do
you support dialogue between Zanu PF and all political parties
in Zimbabwe? |
90
|
85
|
70
|
82
|
| 10.Do
you support constitutional reforms that are inclusive of all
Zimbabweans? |
95
|
80
|
90
|
88
|
Analysis
of this table:
It
is therefore concluded that people of Mashonaland deserve and desirous
for change but because of political patronage, fear, political violence
and economical benefits from Zanu PF can not freely choose or vote
for any political party other than Zanu PF.
Suggested
solutions
- Massive civic
education to remove rampant fear from residents of these provinces
- Creation
of employment to avert hunger , poverty and beggar syndrome
- Remove violence
and intimidation at all cost.
- Liberalize
the minds of all in these provinces.
- Rewrite liberation
history accurately why it was prosecuted by all Zimbabweans
- Give people
freedom and justice at all costs.
- Deliberate
development of information network.
- Civic society
to work hard in mobilising and educating people of their rights.
- Democratize
Zimbabwe by a new people driven constitution
- Opposition
parties must unite with NGOs and civic society to campaign for
peace, freedom and justice. Police and other constitutional state
organisation should be above board in maintaining law and order.
- Youth militia
be disbanded, corrective and deliberate social education be prosecuted
to reintegrate war veterans and youth militia into a larger society.
- People in
the said province be self reliant and more productive rather than
rely on handouts year after year.
- Deliberate
literacy classes and civic education to enable about 80% of the
residents to read and listen to news and information from local
and international news media network.
- Embark on
civic education in all resettled farms and remote rural areas
empowering people with clear analytic and critical minds.
- All political
parties whether big or small should negotiate for a peaceful resolution
in order to avert an imminent civil war or unrest. Dangerous to
contemplate.
Signed for and
on behalf of PIST
Felix Magalela
Mafa
Bulawayo,
Zimbabwe
Visit the PIST
fact
sheet
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