Mnangagwa might spring coup, claim

via Mnangagwa might spring coup, claim – New Zimbabwe 06/02/2015

A LOCAL political analyst has warned that Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa might, with the backing of the military, spring a coup as political, economic and social temperatures in the country rise and the citizens get agitated.

A loyalist of President Robert Mugabe, Mnangagwa was recently elevated to first vice president, taking over from the disgraced Joice Mujuru who was accused of plotting a coup against the veteran leader.

Mnangagwa, a feared hardliner, is understood to have close ties with the country’s security establishment.

Speaking Thursday during a Sapes Trust policy dialogue in Harare, Vince Muswe said a coup was one of several possibilities facing crisis-hit Zimbabwe. The dialogue forum was held under topic – “Zimbabwe 2015: Wither the Economy”.

Close ties with security establishment … Mnangagwa with ZDA chief General Chiwenga

“There is a possibility that there could be profound change in the country with the military staging a coup through Mnangagwa,” Muswe, an economist, warned.

Besides a military take-over in the country, Muswe also warned that there could be a public uprising across the country especially in urban areas, which would be similar to the popular Tunisia uprisings of 2010.

The ‘Tunisian Revolution’ was an intensive campaign of civil resistance, including a series of street demonstrations. The events began in December 2010 and led to the ousting of long-time President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in just 18 days in January 2011.

“The critical change in Tunisia was a vendor and we are seeing that vendors in Zimbabwe are saying enough is enough,” Muswe said.

This week the Minister of Local Government, Ignatius Chombo, ordered the Harare City Council to remove all informal traders who are operating on unauthorised vending sites. The vendors have vowed that they will resist any attempt to remove them.

Muswe said because of the economic challenges facing most Zimbabweans, it was difficult for them to have a plan for the future and unite in fighting for their democratic space.

“It is difficult for most people to have a plan for tomorrow.  So the other profound change that is there is the death of Robert Mugabe or that Mugabe hands over power to (Phelekezela) Mphoko, Mnangagwa or his wife, Grace (Mugabe),” Muswe said.

A takeover by any of the three would however not bring any meaningful change to the country, Muswe said, urging opposition political leaders to form a united front if they are to end the Zanu PF dictatorship.

“If that does not happen, we are going nowhere,” he said.

“There are 12 million people looking at you (opposition leaders) for change; twelve million families who are looking at us for change.

“Zimbabwe needs a mother like (Nelson) Mandela or (Mahatma) Gandhi; a leader who does not look at personal interests and is prepared to die for the country.

“We do not need an economic solution but a political solution.  We need a mother not a father.”