Source: War vets call for Grace Mugabe’s arrest – DailyNews Live
Fungi Kwaramba 30 March 2018
HARARE – Liberation war fighters are piling pressure on President Emmerson
Mnangagwa to arrest former first lady Grace Mugabe over her attainment of
a doctorate degree under controversial circumstances but analysts have
cautioned that any punitive action against the first family might backfire
for Zanu PF at the polls.
In a statement issued yesterday, the Zimbabwe National Liberation War
Veterans Association (Znlwva) said failure to arrest Grace, alleged to
have been corruptly awarded the PhD by officials at the University of
Zimbabwe (UZ) would make a mockery of Mnangagwa’s anti-corruption crusade.
“The president has made a clarion call to permanently destroy the vice of
corruption, leaving no sacred cows. This means the conduct of all those
who hold office, impacting on other people’s lives, should be open to
rigorous public scrutiny and they must be held accountable without fear or
favour,” Znlwva said in the statement.
“It is mind-boggling that an institution, (such) as the University of
Zimbabwe, mandated to nurture and educate our young members of society is
led by people who protect and cover-up corruption and abuse of office. Why
should corruption at UZ be considered a sacred cow?”
Grace was awarded the PhD in 2014 after about three months of study.
Doctorates typically require several years of full-time research and
writing.
Levi Nyagura, the vice chancellor of the UZ was arrested last month after
the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission initiated investigations into the
matter.
He is currently out on bail.
Znlwva yesterday said it believed that the saga provides a litmus test for
Mnangagwa’s government, which has pitched the fight against corruption on
top of its agenda.
The association said unfettered investigations should commence forthwith
into the conduct of the country’s oldest university to rid the institution
of any practices that taint the current dispensation as this potentially
poisons learners.
The war veterans said if government fails to handle the case properly, it
will tarnish the integrity of Zimbabwe’s education system.
“We, veterans of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle and the vanguard and
custodians of the revolution and architects of this new dispensation
demand explanation from all involved institutions and organs of the State
mandated to uphold our educational system. These organs must perform the
honourable task of explaining to the Zimbabwean public the exact
circumstances, the procedures and all the processes followed in awarding
Grace … a doctoral degree by the UZ.
“We cannot afford to have our education system marred by individuals who
use their positions of office to circumvent rules, customs and practices
that all others are subjected to. We shall leave no stone unturned in our
demands,” said Znlwva.
They further said, “We know that Generation 40 (G40) elements thrive in
our midst and are fighting to sustain and cover up the vice. Prominent G40
activists jump the fence and start to advance their agenda in the new
dispensation. These individuals do not repent and consider themselves as
irreplaceable which is totally fallacious.”
Grace is also facing charges of illegal dealings in ivory while she was
still the first lady.
Police have confirmed that they are investigating her.
Analysts canvassed by the Daily News this week said Mnangagwa cannot move
against the former first family now as that would hurt Zanu PF in the
forthcoming elections.
They said the threats coming from government targeted at the Mugabes were
more of sabre-rattling and designed to remind the former president and his
wife that things have changed with the aim of silencing them.
Political scientist Eldred Masunungure said for now Mnangagwa just wants
to send warning shots to his former master, who has been throwing barbs at
his administration, accusing him of ruling “illegally”.
“I am not sure the aim is to arrest. This is meant to embarrass her and
show her that there is a new sheriff in town and that they should watch
their steps; it’s really to tell the former first family where the power
now lies. She is just being reminded that the power has left and now lies
elsewhere,” he said.
Political analyst, Maxwell Saungweme, said while Mnangagwa can move
against Mugabe, such a move would be “suicidal”.
“It is possible to move in against them. But it is politically heedless.
It will backfire since the regime has so many skeletons in the cupboard
Mugabe and G40 are aware of,” he said.
“A move on Grace and Mugabe will be good for the transparency and ridding
the country of corruption, but will also rope in Mnangagwa and the
military. It will be a self-defeatist manoeuvre. It will end the junta
admin- good for democracy,” added Saungweme.
Professor of World Politics at the School of Oriental and African Studies
at the University of London in the United Kingdom, Stephen Chan, said
Mnangagwa was better advised to leave Mugabe in peace.
“It should wait till after the elections have accorded it full
constitutional legitimacy, and then take action through the courts. Even
in the case of the Mugabes, there needs to be a new page with rule of law
and transparent procedure,” said Chan.
After the military arm-twisted Mugabe into resigning in November last
year, Mnangagwa was elected Zanu PF leader and subsequently sworn-in on
the 24th of the same month as the country’s second executive president.
Although he promised to protect Mugabe’s legacy, Mnangagwa is now
seemingly growing impatient with his former master with his loyalists
pushing for his expulsion or even arrest.
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