Tinotenda Hove – A member of the pro-ZANU PF online activist group Varakashi4ED, identified only as Dereck, has sparked controversy after publicly calling for Zimbabwe to become a one-party state under the ruling party.

In a bold statement made on Tuesday via social media, Dereck dismissed the need for holding elections, arguing they are a waste of national resources given ZANU PF’s continued dominance at the polls.

“Given how frequently electoral results like these occur, I believe Zimbabwe should consider becoming a one-party state,” he wrote. “The nation is unnecessarily wasting much needed resources running elections that already have a known outcome.”

He added, “Zimbabwe is ZANU PF country. Simple. We need a one-party state under ZANU PF.”

The remarks have drawn sharp criticism from democracy advocates, opposition supporters, and political analysts who view such sentiments as dangerous and undemocratic. They argue that calls for a one-party state directly undermine Zimbabwe’s constitutional commitment to multi-party democracy and political plurality.

Although ZANU PF has not officially endorsed Dereck’s statement, the association of his views with the ruling party-aligned Varakashi4ED movement has raised concerns about the broader political culture within segments of the party’s support base.

Calls for a one-party state echo the darkest chapters in African political history, critics say, where opposition voices were silenced and authoritarianism took root under the guise of “unity.”

As Zimbabwe prepares for upcoming by-elections and potential constitutional reforms, the resurfacing of one-party state rhetoric has reignited debate over the country’s democratic trajectory — and the need to protect hard-won political freedoms.