TAD seeks political change in Zimbabwe

by SAVIOUS KWINIKA 
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – A Zimbabwean politician with deep roots in the country’s liberation history is seeking to reshape the nation’s political landscape through a new opposition movement he believes can restore economic prosperity, democratic accountability and social justice.

Marco Machona, founder and leader of The African Democrats (TAD), has emerged as one of the latest political figures challenging the dominance of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and the country’s traditional opposition formations.

Founded while Machona was pursuing doctoral studies at the University of the Witwatersrand in neigbouring South Africa, TAD positions itself as a reformist political party advocating economic inclusion, diaspora participation, industrialisation, youth empowerment and constitutional reforms.

“Politics is in my blood,” Machona exclusively told CAJ News Africa.

Born into a family heavily involved in Zimbabwe’s liberation politics, Machona traces his political consciousness to childhood.

His mother established one of Zimbabwe’s first private rural adult literacy schools in Gokwe, Midlands province, while his father served as a prison warden during the Rhodesian era and post-independence Zimbabwe.

Growing up, Machona was exposed to political discussions and some of the country’s most influential political figures.

“At our prison home, many of the big names in ZANU-PF would come to read newspapers, watch television and listen to the radio. Our home became an information centre for political prisoners,” he recalled.

His activism intensified during his student years at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), where he participated in demonstrations against former President Robert Mugabe’s proposed one-party state system.

Machona was arrested during student protests, experiences he says strengthened his commitment to democratic governance and social justice.

After spending nearly three decades living abroad in Germany, the former Czechoslovakia, the United States and South Africa, he developed a strong interest in the rights of Zimbabweans living in the diaspora.

Today, diaspora voting rights form a central pillar of TAD’s political programme.

“Five to six million Zimbabweans in the diaspora remain excluded from elections. A government that excludes such a significant section of its population cannot claim full legitimacy,” Machona argued.

TAD’s manifesto centres on broad political and economic reforms aimed at reversing Zimbabwe’s prolonged decline.

The party advocates policies to stimulate industrialisation, create employment opportunities for young people, encourage entrepreneurship and promote value addition to the country’s abundant mineral resources.

Machona believes Zimbabwe’s economic challenges stem largely from wealth concentration, corruption and policies that favour a small elite.

“The same families dominate tenders, mining, farming, business ownership and access to finance. This concentration of wealth is one of the major causes of inequality and economic stagnation,” he said.

He also criticised what he described as the institutionalisation of corruption.

“Corruption has become normalised to the extent that people openly factor bribes into transactions. That is a dangerous situation for any nation,” Machona argued.

If elected to power, TAD proposes shortening presidential terms to four years, expanding economic opportunities for young people, strengthening local manufacturing and introducing direct voting rights for Zimbabweans living abroad.

The party also advocates increased participation of traditional leaders in national affairs without political intimidation or coercion.

Machona further argues that Zimbabwe must maximise returns from its mineral wealth through domestic processing and manufacturing rather than exporting raw materials.

“We are educated, hardworking and decent people, but restrictive policies continue to undermine our potential. Our focus must be on production, industrial growth and job creation,” Machona said.

Despite its ambitions, TAD faces significant challenges in a political environment Machona describes as hostile to emerging parties.

He alleges that smaller opposition parties face difficulties accessing mainstream media and often encounter resistance from both the ruling party and established opposition groups.

“We face pressure from all sides. Zimbabwe remains one of the toughest environments for opposition politics in Africa,” he said.

Nevertheless, Machona remains optimistic.

Having first contested elections in 2018, TAD continues to expand its structures across Zimbabwe and among diaspora communities.

For Machona, the mission is clear: to build a democratic, prosperous and inclusive Zimbabwe where economic opportunity is widely shared and citizens, regardless of where they live, have a meaningful voice in shaping the country’s future.

– CAJ News