Zimbabwe's new breed of MP

MP Philip Chiyangwa presides over victory celebrations in Chinhoyi

In a special report from Chinhoyi, the BBC's Grant Ferrett follows a new Zanu-PF MP whose party won a narrow victory in last month's Zimbabwe elections.

President Robert Mugabe and his government face huge challenges, not least a collapsing economy, increasing international isolation and a powerful domestic opposition.

The ruling party denies that after 20 years in power, it has run out of ideas and enthusiasm.

Philip Chiyangwa represents a new breed of Zanu-PF Member of Parliament.

The newly-elected MP for Chinhoyi scraped home by a winning margin of under 700 votes in what was previously a safe seat for the ruling party.

However, any kind of victory for Zanu-PF in an area with a large urban population is cause for celebration among the party faithful.

Party support

Philip Chiyangwa is one of Zimbabwe's richest and most flamboyant businessmen.

At the age of 41, he is also one of Zanu-PF's youngest MPs.

After the drastic economic decline of recent years, Mr Chiyangwa's promise is one of development, but only for those who support the ruling party.

"Only Zanu-PF people will benefit from the immediate projects in the constituency," he says.

We will then, thereafter, consider other parties to come onshore. But only after we are satisfied that they have repented

Philip Chiyangwa, new Zanu-PF MP

"We will then, thereafter, consider other parties to come onshore."

"But only after we are satisfied that they have repented. They are our prodigal sons, our prodigal children, coming back to their father - Chiyangwa."

Land handover

Top of the list for those who must repent are the region's white commercial landowners.

Many had their farms illegally occupied by government supporters during the election campaign.

Now, according to Philip Chiyangwa, it is time for them to start handing over the land.

"We've got 13 million people settled on just 20% of the land," says Mr Chiyangwa.

White farmers: Expected to hand over land

"People are suffering. They need help. Give us some piece of land in exchange for peace and quiet."

"That's the name of the game."

For many people here in Chinhoyi, though, the most pressing need is not for land but for jobs.

Unemployment in the region stands at more than 70%.

No difference

Iden Weatherall, deputy editor of the Zimbabwe Independent newspaper, says that most people are worse off now than when the ruling party, Zanu-PF came to power 20 years ago.

They are very much part and parcel of Zanu-PF's ossified structures

Iden Weatherall

"I don't think there's any prospect at all of the new contingent of MPs making much of a difference," he says.

"They are very much part and parcel of Zanu-PF's ossified structures."

Mr Weatherall is a staunch critic of the ruling party.

For him, there is no such thing as a new Zanu-PF.

"I'm rather worried that old villains will simply be replaced by new villains," he says again.

"I don't think it's capable of offering anything quite honestly."

"I think it's an absolutely sclerotic party that's unable to find a way forward."

"It's locked in the mindset of an earlier era. It's totalitarian structures remain in place."

Vote-buying allegations

At a victory rally, Philip Chiyangwa hands out a truck load of food and blankets to his supporters.

They are grateful for the gifts and hope for more to come from their wealthy new MP once the excitement of the elections has died down.

They freely admit that they accepted similar offerings in the run up to voting.

I ask a few supporters if they voted for Mr Chiyangwa.

Philip Chiyangwa hands out food and blankets to his supporters

"Yes I did, because of the help he did for us. He provided us with money during the time before the elections. It helped us a lot," says one supporter.

"Chiyangwa is always doing good things to us. He's provided us with some food as you can see," says another.

"So he's got money?" I suggest.

"Yes!"

The opposition says Mr Chiyangwa's generosity during the election campaign amounted to vote-buying, and is challenging the result in his constituency, as well as about 20 others.

Philip Chiyangwa and the colleagues in the ruling party have a tough battle ahead to hold on to their seats, let alone bring desperately needed political stability and economic development to Zimbabwe.