The Zimbabwean Opposition Crisis: Personality Politics Remains the Greatest Obstacle

By Tafadzwa Nyamuzihwa
Hannover, Germany

In Zimbabwe, the number of registered political parties continues to grow, now surpassing 123. The irony, however, is unmistakable — nearly all of these parties share a single agenda: the removal of ZANU-PF from power.

But the question remains, why has that goal remained elusive?

The answer lies in a fundamental weakness at the heart of Zimbabwe’s opposition politics: personality over organization.

For decades, Zimbabwe’s opposition movements have failed to build institutions that are democratic, transparent, and accountable to the very citizens they claim to represent.

Instead, what we have seen is the rise — and inevitable fall — of personality-driven parties that live and die with their founders.

Out of the 122 opposition parties, almost none have experienced a peaceful or democratic transition in leadership. More often than not, the founding leader remains in charge indefinitely.

If they step down or pass away, the party usually follows them to the grave.

There is a systemic failure to institutionalize leadership and build sustainable political organizations.

Worse still, the culture of intolerance within these parties is suffocating. The moment an individual challenges the leadership, they are quickly labelled as a “ZANU project” — a traitor working with the ruling party.

This paranoia erodes the foundation of internal democracy and kills any chance of leadership renewal.

In most cases, what is celebrated is loyalty to an individual, not to values, policies, or the people.

For comparison, one need only look beyond Zimbabwe.

When former U.S. President Joe Biden assessed his age and health and chose not to run for re-election, it was seen as a responsible and strategic decision within a functioning democratic system.

In contrast, Morgan Tsvangirai remained president of the MDC-T until his last breath. While he was a symbol of resistance, the party failed to prepare for succession.

Nelson Chamisa has since risen as the face of the opposition but has struggled to cement a long-term organizational structure around his leadership.

His shifts between political movements have created more fragmentation than consolidation. Robert Chapman also entered the political scene with a promising message, but he fizzled out after failing to participate in the 2023 elections. His party, like many before it, exists now only in memory.

If Zimbabwe is ever to see a credible, formidable opposition, the movement must abandon personality cults and instead focus on building real institutions.

It must root itself in democratic practices, promote transparency, and be willing to evolve, not revolve around one person.

As the political analyst and activist Grace Mudzingwa aptly puts it, “A tree with deep roots survives the storm — political organizations must be rooted in principles, not personalities. If we build structures that outlive individuals, we build a future that endures.”

Until that shift happens, ZANU-PF remains unchallenged — not because it is invincible, but because its opposition is too often built on sand.