Power Play: Sizing up Saviour Kasukuwere's Presidential Potential Against Mnangagwa and Chamisa in Zimbabwe

The political power of a presidential hopeful can be influenced by various factors such as public support, political experience, party backing, policy positions, and the overall political landscape.

Saviour Kasukuwere is a prominent Zimbabwean politician who has served in various positions within the ruling ZANU-PF party. However, his popularity and influence as a presidential hopeful against incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa and opposition leader Nelson Chamisa may vary.

Mnangagwa is the current president of Zimbabwe and the leader of ZANU-PF. He assumed office after the resignation of Robert Mugabe in 2017 and won the subsequent presidential elections. As the incumbent, Mnangagwa has the advantage of incumbency, control over state resources, and the backing of the ruling party. However, his administration has faced criticism over governance issues and economic challenges. He is tipped to win the elections amid disgruntlement in the opposition movement due to a corrupt candidate selection process.

Nelson Chamisa is the leader of the main opposition movement, CCC. He gained significant popularity during the 2018 presidential elections and has remained an influential figure in Zimbabwean politics. Chamisa has a strong support base, particularly among young voters, and has advocated for democratic reforms and socio-economic change. He is currently facing sharp criticism from fellow seasoned opposition leaders over the candidate selection process that was marred by a veil of secrecy. Some critics have suggested that losers were declared as winners and this might cost Chamisa a lot of votes.  

To assess the power of Saviour Kasukuwere as a presidential hopeful against Mnangagwa and Chamisa, one would need to consider factors such as his political base, level of public support, policy agenda, and ability to mobilize resources and political alliances. It's important to note that Zimbabwean politics can be complex and dynamic, and the political landscape can change over time, affecting the power dynamics between different candidates. Kasukuwere is based outside Zimbabwe. His real political base is unknown. His public support is not impressive and his policy agenda is not properly articulated. He has the resources but will face a mammoth task in forming political alliances with other politicians.