ZANU determined to continue looting

The recent demotion of ICT Minister Hon. Nelson Chamisa by the ZANU PF leader Mr Robert Mugabe only serves to confirm how insincere ZANU-PF remains about genuine partnership with the opposition. ZANU PF has a defined plan to weaken and decimate the opposition ahead of elections .


It is clear that ZANU believes MDC should be a junior partner in the power-sharing arrangement despite the fact that MDC won the election and should be the ruling party whilst ZANU PF should be recovering as a opposition party. The whole GNU concept was ill-conceived from the start. This has been worsened by the general view that those who do not support the GNU are not patriotic.


It is clear ZANU PF does not support the proposed Media reforms and access to information which Hon Chamisa was spear heading. These are the key reforms that Zimbabwe needs for the “sanctions” to be lifted. By demoting Hon Chamisa Mr Mugabe is making it clear he doesn’t care about sanctions or the welfare of Zimbabweans who desperately need International support and assistance .


What is clear is ZANU is determined to hold on to National Assets such as Net-one which are being looted left ,right and centre. The introduction of Hon Chamisa presented a road block for the looting gravy train. Just like its exclusive access to the Diamond mines in Chiadzwa ,ZANU PF remains focused on denying MDC any access to resources or power. This explains why the state Media continue to take a dim view on all activities of the MDC.


According to ZANU PF when they lose election power has to be shared but when ZANU “won” past elections there was never a suggestion that power should be shared. This trend is totally disturbing as it goes against the whole concept of having elections in the first place. The parties should simply sit and dived power without wasting time ,resources and killing opposition activists just to proceed to divide power between election losers and winners .


The MDC clearly was duped ,intimidated and forced into a Government meant to legitimize an illegal government that has committed serious crimes against humanity. After losing an election and then proceed to commit mass murder ,rape, torture against Zimbabweans ZANU PF does not deserve to be rewarded or legitimized by being accommodated in some fancy Government structure as a senior partner in that Government.


It is clear ZANU is determined to use all tricks and tactics to frustrate and impede Zimbabwe’s recovery. The recent press reports of the Reserve Bank dishing out Quasi Fiscal Activities left over vehicles to Mps is just but one clear sign that Zimbabwe remains in the woods. The MPS are being silenced through such perks which are still dripping with blood from crimes against humanity. The very same vehicles are the “unmarked vehicles” that were used through out the country to abduct, torture and murder opposition and human rights activists. And now Members of Parliament are being rewarded with such tainted vehicles used to commit such horrible crimes against innocent Zimbabweans? How can then the MPs be expected to question the source of the vehicles or what the vehicles were used for in the past?


MDC is categorically being dismantled and weakened much to the disadvantage of Zimbabweans who have all their faith in MDC as an agent of change. The two MDC Ministers from who much was expected are slowly being entangled in a massive web resembling a circus. Finance Minister Biti was widely expected to be a new broom at the Ministry of Finance , but he is unlikely to deliver much as long as the International Community withholds support. Given that the removal of the Reserve Bank Governor has been made a condition precedent for any resumption of Aid means Minister Biti will find it hard to achieve the 100 day plan goals. The Reserve Bank Governor has made it clear that he is borrowing his Principal’s favorite song - handiende. Now if you have individuals who are willing to hold the nation at ransom just to remain in office it doesn’t take much to figure that such people cant be taken as serious partners with a genuine will to see the country recover.


The recent documentary on Prisons conditions show how ZANU PF has committed crimes against humanity. The evidence is undeniable .According to Wikipedia
Crimes against humanity, as defined by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court Explanatory Memorandum, "are particularly odious offences in that they constitute a serious attack on human dignity or grave humiliation or a degradation of one or more human beings.



They are not isolated or sporadic events, but are part either of a government policy (although the perpetrators need not identify themselves with this policy) or of a wide practice of atrocities tolerated or condoned by a government or a de facto authority. Murder, extermination, torture, rape, political, racial, or religious persecution and other inhumane acts reach the threshold of crimes against humanity only if they are part of a widespread or systematic practice .


The conditions in Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe’s Prisons clearly show how fellow human beings are degraded, abused and humiliated in a scale that’s clearly a crime against humanity .


When you have partners who are prepared to do things such as keeping fellow human beings under such conditions and come out to deny or support it its clear such a Government can not be progressive. As such MDC may need to re-think its partnership with ZANU-PF since Governments operate on the doctrine of share responsibility and accountability. Some of these crimes against humanity need to isolated and be clearly linked to those who committed them .


It is clear that the MDC needs to remain alert to the various schemes and tactics that are being employed to weaken it. Ministers Biti and Chamisa were particularly expected to deliver a lot on behalf of the MDC and as elections draw closer it may be harder for them to show any real progress due to the traps and snares prepared for them in ZANU-PF bid to tarnish MDC reputation and image .Zimbabwe needs a ruling party and an opposition ,not de-facto one party state.


Gilbert Muponda is Founder and CEO of GMRI Capital. He can be reached at gilbert@gilbertmuponda.com