![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.com\/zimbabwe\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2019\/01\/SABC-News-cyril-ramaphosa-2-300x169.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSometime in December 2016, I was among the journalists attending the Zanu-PF Annual National People\u2019s Conference in Masvingo, which many billed as the ultimate harbinger of then-President Robert Mugabe\u2019s eventual departure.<\/p>\n
What seemed to have been the drawcard for most journalists was news that then-South Africa\u2019s Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa was to deliver a solidarity message to the conference on behalf of the ruling African National Congress (ANC).<\/p>\n
Never before, at least as long as I remember, had such a high profile individual from a fraternal political party been sent to a Zanu-PF indaba to address delegates.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Already, at the time, Ramaphosa was being touted as a possible successor to then-President Jacob Zuma, who, at the time, was mired in controversies which had undermined his standing.<\/p>\n
My anticipation of Ramaphosa\u2019s address was soon dampened by reports of a possible \u201cno-show\u201d.<\/p>\n
It was reported that the ANC representative had \u201cchickened out\u201d for fear of heightening factional fights that were latently playing out in the revolutionary Zanu-PF party.<\/p>\n
It later turned out the \u201cno-show\u201d buzz was untrue as the South African Deputy President had already arrived in Masvingo and was on his way to the conference venue.<\/p>\n
Inside the venue, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa, then co-Vice President, was chairing a session.<\/p>\n
But, just a few minutes before noon, delegates\u2019 attention was jerked to the main entrance where there was a sudden flurry of security details.<\/p>\n
Lo and behold, a smiling giant clad in a black suit sauntered into the auditorium amid deafening ululations from delegates.<\/p>\n
In a measured, statesmanlike gait, Ramaphosa stepped towards the high-table, hugged and shook hands with Mugabe, and warmly greeted the then-First Lady Grace.<\/p>\n
He, however, seemed to have reserved the longest embrace and broadest smile for Cde Mnangagwa.<\/p>\n
It was Cde Mnangagwa who, as chair of the session, was to introduce the ANC deputy chief to the delegates and invite him to the podium to deliver his solidarity message.<\/p>\n
Ramaphosa stood up, bowed his head in respect in the direction of President Mugabe and greeted the delegates in Shona and Ndebele before delivering a message.<\/p>\n
His speech, and his mere presence there, put one \u201cdangerous\u201d idea into the minds of the audience: it was possible, and not a sin, to have leadership renewal.<\/p>\n
The former firebrand trade unionist, famed for being an astute negotiator in the run-up to South Africa\u2019s freedom, did not disappoint.<\/p>\n
In fact, he had the easiest of tasks as he simply reiterated and reinforced Mugabe\u2019s earlier opening remarks to the conference about the scourge of corruption and factionalism.<\/p>\n
Ramaphosa told the delegates: \u201cAs your visitors, we listened closely when the President was speaking about unity and it was like he was addressing an ANC congress.<\/p>\n
When you (President Mugabe) spoke of corruption, it was like you were speaking to us.<\/p>\n
When you spoke of factionalism, it was also like you were addressing the ANC. As we leave this conference, we are a better people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Such frankness left a section of the audience and some at the high-table stone-faced.<\/p>\n
But, to most, this was just the tonic Zanu-PF needed.<\/p>\n
The now-late Mai Shuvai Mahofa,stood and with her inimitable voice led the Masvingo delegates into a song: \u201cKumagumo Kune Nyaya.\u201d<\/p>\n
In no time, she was joined on the dance floor by the lanky former Masvingo Governor Cde Josiah Hungwe.<\/p>\n
Soon, many more in the auditorium joined in song. At the top table, then co-vice President Phelekezela Mphoko remained emotionless.<\/p>\n
Reading the mood in that auditorium, it did not need a genius to sense the impact Ramaphosa made on delegates.<\/p>\n
The speech had given them the courage to rethink their old tradition of speaking into their armpits and sweeping things under the table.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Sometime in December 2016, I was among the journalists attending the Zanu-PF Annual National People\u2019s Conference in Masvingo, which many billed as the ultimate harbinger of then-President Robert Mugabe\u2019s eventual departure. What seemed to have been the drawcard for most journalists was news that then-South Africa\u2019s Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa was to deliver a solidarity […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":1434,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,35,12],"tags":[38,31,120,332],"class_list":{"0":"post-4472","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-all-news","8":"category-homepage-english","9":"category-policy","10":"tag-zanu-pf","11":"tag-mnangagwa","12":"tag-parties","13":"tag-south-africa"},"yoast_head":"\n