According to the analysts the loss of the post to Lovemore Moyo was a slap in the face for Jonathan Moyo who together with some MDC MPs had contested the 2008 election of the MDC-T chairman in the Supreme Court.
Moyo’s victory saw him become the first Speaker of Parliament who was not elected on a Zanu PF ticket since independence in 1980.
Political analyst Charles Mangongera said though the position was largely of symbolic value, whichever party commands it had an advantage over the other parties in Parliament.
In the long run one of the three main factions within Zanu PF which would have won the Speaker of Parliament position would have been in a strategic position to deal with President (Robert) Mugabe’s succession issue, he said.
“They all know Mugabe’s age is advanced they are aware anything can happen at any time so they have to deal with a possibility of a succession battle arising,” said Mangongera.
“ It was really a slap in the face for Jonathan Moyo because it obviously derails his political ambitions he had. He wants to be seen as the kingmaker in Zanu PF.”
Moyo launched a court challenge that resulted in another election being called for Speaker.
National Constitution Assembly (NCA) chairman Lovemore Madhuku feels that Zanu PF wanted the position because the party wanted “a feel good” scenario that would lift up the spirits of its members ahead of the next elections.
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“The Speaker post is symbolic and Zanu PF wanted to show its supporters that they had recovered from the 2008 loss.”
Madhuku however said the loss was a temporary setback for the Zanu PF spin doctor and former Information and Publicity minister.
“It is a temporary setback for Jonathan.
“Zanu PF has nowhere to go while Jonathan has no competitors in Zanu PF.
Human rights activist, Pedzisayi Ruhanya, said Zanu PF’s grand idea was to win the Speaker of Parliament position and send a strong message that the MDC formations were divided.
“Which dictator doesn’t want to control everything? It is in that spirit through hook and crook that they wanted to control the Speaker of Parliament position.
“This victory for Zanu PF was supposed to be a precursor to the proposed election in which Zanu PF wanted to use the divisions in the MDC to rig elections and tell the masses that the MDC has no direction, values and ideologies that’s why they beat them.”
MDC deputy spokesperson Kurauone Chihwayi said the Speaker of Parliament is one of the most powerful positions and there was no way Zanu PF would have let it go without a fight.
Chihwayi said because of Zanu PF’s desperation the party had to use unorthodox means to try and win the elections which led his party to vote with the MDC-T.
“There was no deal between us and the MDC-T, we did it all for justice, we changed our position after seeing how Zanu PF was trying to rig the elections.
“We are not expecting anything from the MDC-T. We know Zanu PF desperately wanted the position.”
Initially the MDC had said they would not participate in the elections.
MDC-T spokesperson Nelson Chamisa said the good thing about the poll was that Zanu PF could not rig or use violence to influence the outcome.
“We know Zanu PF are now are our young brothers because you can’t have the tail wagging the dog but the dog wagging the tail,” he said.
“In this case the dog wagged the tail. Yes Zanu PF was born before us but we have the mandate of the people.”
He said the free and fair voting process of the election was what should be happening in national elections.
However, Zanu PF Chief Whip Joram Gumbo dismissed the loss of the Speaker of Parliament as a non event.
“That post means nothing, it’s not like one will be Speaker of a party.
“It was just a position that had to be filled. It’s a neutral position of someone who is the head of administration of Parliament.
“There is nothing special about it.”
