Tinotenda Hove – A weekend shoe donation by ZANU PF’s Mashonaland West Youth Chairman Tapiwa Masenda has drawn sharp criticism from concerned citizens and observers who say the ruling party is masking decades of systemic failure with token charity gestures.

Masenda donated 100 pairs of school shoes to Chihwiti Primary School in Makonde Constituency on Saturday, an event that was heavily publicised and attended by senior ZANU PF figures, including Makonde MP Hon. Simbarashe Ziyambi. But while party officials celebrated the donation as a symbol of care and empowerment, many Zimbabweans saw it as a hollow gesture that underscores deeper issues plaguing the education sector.

Hon. Ziyambi praised the donation, stating: “This act of kindness not only uplifts the spirits of the learners but also boosts their confidence in their education, ultimately leading to improved performance in line with the Second Republic’s inclusive learning agenda.”

But critics were quick to point out the irony.

“How is it that 44 years after independence, schoolchildren are still learning barefoot, in crumbling classrooms, and with no textbooks?” asked Tatenda Chiwara, an education rights advocate. “This is not charity; it’s a direct result of long-term neglect and economic mismanagement by the same government that now wants praise for handing out shoes.”

The headmaster of Chihwiti Primary was quoted as saying the donation would “positively impact academic performance,” but locals argue that true educational progress would come from proper funding, adequate infrastructure, and teacher support—not sporadic donations that make headlines.

Even some teachers at the school, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed frustration.

“We have pupils who walk over 5km barefoot to school because their parents cannot afford uniforms, let alone shoes,” said one teacher. “What we need is a sustained program of support, not photo ops for political gain.”

Masenda, accompanied by youth league members Cde Tapiwa Chitate and Cde Phiri, was all smiles as the shoes were handed out. But many viewed the event as a classic example of political window dressing.

“This is classic vote-baiting,” said political analyst Eldridge Mubaiwa. “ZANU PF strips the nation of its dignity through corruption and incompetence, then returns with small donations and expects to be hailed as saviours.”

Hashtags like #ZANUPFcares and #LeavingNoOneBehind were used to promote the donation on social media, but they were met with a wave of sarcastic responses.

“Next they’ll be donating pencils and declaring it a revolution,” read one comment on X (formerly Twitter).

As Zimbabwe hurtles toward yet another election cycle, critics warn that such donations should not be mistaken for genuine transformation.

“This is not progress,” said Chiwara. “This is poverty management dressed in party colours.”