SINCE the disputed 2018 elections, Zimbabwe has been undergoing difficult circumstances characterised widespread poverty, unemployment, hyperinflation, fuel and drug shortages and the COVID-19 crisis has laid bare the government’s limitations. The euphoria that characterised President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ascendancy to power has vanished. However, Alliance for People’s Agenda (APA) believes “the elected must govern and if they can’t, they must be voted out in the next election”. NewsDay (ND) reporter Cliff Chiduku sat down with APA secretary-general Albert Gumbo (AG) to discuss the state of affairs in Zimbabwe and many other issues. Below are excerpts: CLIFF CHIDUKU ND: You have maintained a low profile since the 2018 harmonised elections? AG: We allowed breathing space for Zimbabweans to reflect on their choices and also set about rebuilding our structures. Zimbabweans must get to a point where they understand we need a complete break from the past. APA’s view is we are in a marathon, not a sprint. ND: At one time APA leader Nkosana Moyo was quoted urging Zimbabweans and the rest of the world to give Mnangagwa a chance, do you still hold that belief? AG: No, he didn’t say that. He clearly said, President Mnangagwa would govern differently, nothing more, nothing less. It is quite fascinating how, even when corrected, people choose to believe the lie that most suits their narrative. ND: Prior to the 2018 elections, Mnangagwa professed a zero tolerance to corruption and it seems he has not lived by his word, what should we do to root out corruption? AG: Elect an administration that respects the Constitution and one which believes in sound economic management! Those two points are part of APA’s pillars. Nkosana Moyo demonstrated his ability to walk away from privilege and power by walking away from government on principle. He was not afraid to lose the creature comforts that come with government positions. You need to elect a people whose driving ambition is their sense of duty not those who believe that proximity to power gives them access to the country’s purse strings. ND: Soon after his ascendancy, Mnangagwa had goodwill from the international community, but it seems this has all vanished, what went wrong? AG: You cannot build a country on an unconstitutional act. We were the only party that warned about a slippery slope to anarchy after the coup and declined to attend his (Mnanagwa) inauguration. If you are willing to break the rules to ascend to power, it is pretty clear that you will break them again to retain power. So what went wrong is pretty much Zanu PF continued to show its true colours. The very public shooting of citizens, threats to lawyers and doctors who attended to them, the arrests of journalists and activists all point to a regime that remains true to its core values. ND: Mnangagwa invited all presidential candidates who participated in the July 2018 elections to dialogue, which culminated in the formation of Political Actors Dialogue (Polad). At one time you were part of the process, but you decide