via Knives out in Zanu PF – DailyNews Live 29 September 2014 by Tendai Kamhungira and Mugove Tafirenyika
HARARE – President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF has hit one of its most turbulent times as it is now torn by a “spy” scandal and the controversy surrounding ex-Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor, Gideon Gono’s senatorial status.
Even though the 90-year-old leader and several others have warned against the growing factionalism in Zanu PF, Wednesday’s politburo meeting is expected to be pre-occupied by these two contentious issues and as usual these days fireworks are expected.
Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo, yesterday refused to specify issues to be discussed, but he had earlier told the media that Gono’s issue will be at the front burner of the party’s politburo agenda.
“We will most likely discuss various issues but like I have said before, I do not deal with the politburo’s agenda as that is under the purview of the secretary for administration, Cde Didymus Mutasa,” said Gumbo.
Mutasa was not picking up his phone when contacted for comment yesterday.
Several senior Zanu PF officials have been accused of “going to bed” with Americans with the State media christening the alleged snitches the “Dirty Dozen”.
The beleaguered party members, all of them legislators, are accused of soliciting for donations from Washington, with US local embassy staffer Eric Little allegedly at the heart of the spying saga.
The spying saga and Gono, who was recently disqualified from filling a senatorial vacancy in Manicaland by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) are likely to drift Zanu PF further apart as factions engage in a fierce battle to succeed Mugabe.
Gono has blamed individuals in Zanu PF whom he said are pursuing factional interests for seeking to block him from taking over from the late Kumbirai Kangai as the province’s senator.
The former central bank’s governor’s issue became contentious when Zec disqualified him after he had been voted by the Manicaland Province to replace Kangai, who was declared a national hero and buried at the National Heroes Acre in August last year. The Zanu PF politburo had also ratified the decision, with only a handful of ruling party hawks opposing. The electoral agency said the retired governor did not qualify because he was not a registered voter for any ward in Manicaland as demanded by the law.
But Gono maintains that he was duly transferred from Harare to Buhera West on December 5, last year. Four of the MPs in the spying controversy — including Tapiwa Matangaidze (Shurugwi South), Kindness Paradza (Makonde), Enock Porusingazi (Chipinge South) and the Movement for Democratic Change’s Willias Madzimure (Kambuzuma) — have also claimed that they were caught up in the Zanu PF infighting.
The other seven perceived “spies” include Hurungwe West legislator Temba Mliswa, Paul Mavhima (Gokwe Sengwa), Walter Kanhanga (Guruve North) Adam Chimwamurombe (Chipinge West), Chriswell Mutematsaka (Guruve South), Batsirayi Pemhanayi (Mutare North), David Butau (Mbire) and Simbaneuta Mudarikwa (Uzumba).
With Zanu PF’s elective congress only two months away, party members have entered a mudslinging and smear campaign mode. Zanu PF is currently embroiled in nasty factional fights, involving Vice President Joice Mujuru and Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Though, the two have in the past denied leading the alleged factions, sources claim they are pushing to enhance their chances of succeeding Mugabe, who has been in power for the past 34 years. At 90, Mugabe still leads Zanu PF, and has not named a successor. Yesterday, the State media claimed it had exposed the role of Zanu PF Mashonaland West provincial chairman, Mliswa in the “espionage” saga.
The State media reported that Mliswa had invited Little to Hurungwe, claiming this was a sign that he was working with the CIA.
In a seemingly veiled attack on the Mnangagwa faction, Mliswa believed to be sympathetic to the Mujuru camp, claims the allegations were being propelled by people who were plotting a coup against him.
He sensationally accused Information minister Jonathan Moyo of being a CIA agent.
Political analyst Dewa Mavhinga, however, said the current Zanu PF situation is a red herring, seeking to divert people’s attention from the “stinking” economy, adding that Mugabe’s decision will always carry the day in the end.
He gave an example of Grace Mugabe’s “grand” entrance into the mainstream of Zanu PF politics.
“Zimbabweans should not wait with bated breath for the outcome of the Zanu PF politburo meeting. Zanu PF will clear all obstacles and get Gono to be senator but that does not put food on our tables. These so-called Zanu PF factional fights are grossly exaggerated.
“There will be nothing explosive about the Zanu PF politburo meeting just as there will be nothing explosive about the coming December Zanu PF congress,” said Mavhinga.
“Deliberately leaked stories might later give the impression of explosions and fireworks to characterise an otherwise dull and boring meeting in which the old men will be dozing half the time,” Mavhinga said.
COMMENTS
@Mavhinga: It can never be put any better than you have managed to countryman. It’s true Zanu pf remains a one man-show, there is only one cock in zanu pf, which is Robert; and all others just hens & chicks. One straight talker once said, zanu pf is comprised of Mugabe & his wives. Of course, the wives are good at nothing except jostling to outdo each other in praise-singing the dear husband, so that the husband may notice them more than the other wives.
So, indeed, nothing explosive or near explosive can ever come from a pack of wives who are forever dying to carry the husband’s favour. A robust and explosive discussion can only emerge were some or all participants have the freedom or at least the ‘balls’ to say their minds. The zanu pf lot has neither freedom nor balls to say anything that might be unfavourable to dear husband. So, those who talk of fireworks, explosions, etc., in zanu pf are either daydreamers or they are paid to say it, so that the gullible masses are made to believe that their is ever any debate in zanu pf, yet nothing of that sort exists. Mugabe says jump and everyone in Zanu pf jumps.
Ki..ki..ki taura hako. We have always been told there will be fireworks at every congress and nothing materialises. They are actually going to endorse for 2018 election.
In the last elections he deceived them to support the “bhora mugedhi” and he assured them(the wives) that he will immediately step down after victory to make way for Mai Mujuru…and of course the rest is history.
Everytime they wait for him at the Airport, do you think they really love him? I was told they would come from their farms and travel long distance to make sure they are seen at the airport.
As I mentioned elsewhere Mugabe is a CIA agent, he won’t be the first president to be an agent of the CIA
Very inspired Tapiwa. Is there evidence to this phrophetic claim? Or we are just folklore peddling again!
if by hypothesis Moyo is a CIA agent and ‘weevil’ etc and Mugabe knows about this and all he does is make a public rebuke and keeps the same guy in an information based portfolio then it follows that Moyo knows something and it would be not end up well if he was forced out of his post. If you take it back to the Chiyangwa CIA story there was swift response and along comes Moyo who if you remember had always been a thorn in Mugabe’s flesh. What is it that Moyo knows? Remember as a Phd research its all about proving or otherwise a hypothesis thinking out of the box.