News / National
Militarism in Zimbabwe: Which way forward Zimbabwe?
16 Nov 2017 at 05:14hrs | Views
It will be amiss if we do not applaud the Zimbabwe military high command for cutting down on the length of suffering that people of Zimbabwe went through unnecessarily and the wasted opportunity the country would have been part of. No doubt when soldiers come out of their barracks to restore order without invitation of civil authority it amounts to coup dètat. The study of militarism however does caution that sometimes soldiers enter into a locked situation not by choice but through circumstances. In the case of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabès ageing including the naiveté to hope that his political novice wife, Grace Mugabe, would challenge citizens to a bout of insults back fired erroneously.
The country is under military control. The possibility of Emerson Mnangagwa emerging as a stand in president is quiet possible and it will be the only loophole through which the military can remain in remote control as they were for the many years past when Mugabe was running the country. The danger, though, is that these generals may begin seeing themselves as saviours and in turn refuse to retire to cover for the wrongs community may charge too against them. Hopefully, who ever has been arrested will be handed over to police for prosecution in a court of law.
It is unique, though, that Zimbabwe military has asked for all structures of government to remain intact and handle business as usual. It is no doubt helpful that they stepped into the gap just to restore orderly thinking that seems to have been growing worst even among opposition political parties as well. How to come out of this self-imposed hero's status by the military commanders remains an art of both craft and shrewd negotiations by both None Government Organizations (NGO), Diaspora and opposition politics. The need for oneness is primary, and a sense of direction and purpose urgently required as a matter of national interest.
The only option once more is in getting a transitional arrangement where the redefining of authority needs reorientation in view of the poor past set by Robert Mugabe and the very soldiers that today stand as redeemers. The complex nature of a system without system apart from promoting the very aspects they hope to eradicate namely, corruption, can seed corruption very cunningly to the advantage of soldiers and Zanu political party again. Militarism phenomenon and history on the continent often gives too many promises with none fulfilled when soldiers leave the barracks without civil authority invitation. It's a pity that political opposition only speak of the need to return to civilian rule without spelling out the mode to easy out tension in the country.
One cannot for certainty say the soldiers in Zimbabwe took control of the power and that they did it out of love to keeping peace in the country alone given the rotten garbage the Zanu system had exposed them all into as well. That these commanders are owners of numerous properties through means hard to explain and that some have many companies that they operate under pseudo names, points to them too being part to the vicious circle that has allowed Mr. Mugabe an extension of time in ruling Zimbabwe to this date.
Zimbabwe has been like a case of a broken music record that one has to listen too carefully in order to notice that it is broken. When the record is played over and over the majority of newly born people begin to fail, due to familiarity, to understand when to pick out the broken part in the music record. Often many familiar to a situation regard it normal (being in denial) even when those new to it will always wonder if it is only them alone seeing the difference.
As it is now, there are some young men and women who grew up privileged and favoured from the brokenness of Zimbabwe political condition, who violently question why soldiers have intervened to stop their prosperity. Africa knows well that all is not well in Zimbabwe, but other than worry over their own volatile political condition, they care less to concern themselves on Zimbabwe people, their growing division and circumstances. Irrespective of the statement from the African Union, it needs be observed here that like all toothless institutions, the AU appointed Mugabe to an honorary post of chairman of the organization; leaves any reasonable person to hold the AU with suspicion in any advice they may hope to offer to Zimbabwe today.
On independence in April 18, 1980, I flew from Nigeria with my family to join other Zimbabweans at the Harare Rufaro stadium as independence reins of power were handed over by Prince Charles who represented the Queen Elizabeth the second. Ironically, Zimbabwe had informally adopted a military style of running the government as a result of the too much role assigned liberation soldiers against what all other contributed to the overall success of the national liberation struggle . Based on the premise we had won independence through the barrel of the gun, although not quite so, Mugabe had believed on declaring Zimbabwe a Marxist-Leninist regime founded on the Maoism ideology, even though then the Maoism ideology was in the process of failing in China.
The current military commander, then very much down in rank, Comrade Constantino Chiwenga, had appreciated seeing his predecessors retired on early in years of their lives while Mr. Mugabe remained in power without anyone questioning his tenure of office. As a close friend to Emerson Mnangagwa like most of the high and middle ranking army officers would be, Chiwenga has fond and memorable days with Emerson Mnangagwa. Naturally too, Mr. Mugabe should not have mistaken Mnangagwa for an ordinary person given his very close alliance with both the army and secret service personnel from the liberation struggle days to post independence days. It has to be acknowledging that too much power ruin absolutely and that is what happened to Mr. Mugabe this time round when his wife flexed too much political muscles she did not possess out of context. This Grace (Marufu) Mugabe liked blowing her trumpet. She unfortunately did not understand protocol.
Without putting on emotional or tribal blinkers on, Mnangagwa is considered a military man by the many military personnel as rightly observed in Comrade Chiwenga in his press statement on 14 November 2017. The sad reality that the country has been suffering from for too long and why Mr. Mugabe would be blind to that remains a quiz he alone can answer. The systematic disassociation of Mr. Mugabe from his Chimurenga comrades beginning with the mysterious death of Maurice Nyangumbo, removal or Enos Nkala as a result of the Willowvale gate scandal commission of inquiry, etc, gave an ugly signal to the military personnel of what was coming their way. Indeed numerous officials in the army have been retired.
SCENARIO TO THE BACKGROUND TO THE 14 NOVEMBER 2017, MILITARY INTERIM INTERVENTION
Comrade Chiwenga is right to the pen by observing that there are people surrounding the president who are causing rifts in the party of Zanu. The biggest culprit unfortunately is Grace Mugabe whose intelligent was artificially inflated by the fake Ph.D. she was handed as a pacifying gesture from those who wanted promotion at the University of Zimbabwe since Mugabe was patron of the University. Indeed Jonathan Moyo a true Central Intelligent Agent (CIA) trained intelligentsia has a track record working to recruit Zimbabweans to join Zanu from abroad.
The young crew, titled G40, who Mugabe thought he would use to promote himself while distancing himself from his contemporaries who were in the liberation struggle appears to have gone into disarray after generals sought for their arrest. It became an obvious road map for many years where politicians begun using one another to strike influence and command within the Zanu hierarchy. A confession need be made that while the aims of the struggle were soberly patriotic, those who took over from time to time got absorbed in short cuts and the aims of the struggle died almost at the time when Josia Mangama Tongogara died.
Comrade Josia Mangama Tongongara is only one person who could challenge Mugabe on a straight and fair line and still live on, yet he too died mysteriously. The mystery is that there are many versions of how he died. Then in the struggle the rest, including Emerson Mnangagwa, were young to challenge Mugabe. Those of Mugabe contemporary, Nationalists such as Enos Nkala, Maurice Nyangumbo, Morton Malianga etc could work to neutralize Mugabe in terms of mature reasoning with him. Elderly men like VaMuzenda had a lot of bearing on Robert Mugabe more than what met the ordinary eye, even though ordinarily VaMuzenda was considered politically insignificant.
The intelligentsia like Edson Zvobgo had influence that balanced power in the central committee meetings. Since the hushed disappearances of Mugabe ‘s contemporaries did not happen overnight but over a twenty five yea period, Mugabe begun gathering momentum to attract young people around himself at the exclusion of those he had worked with. He used the Sandura Commission to get rid of people like Enos Chikovore, a not so strong personality anyway but all the same a reliable ally. The departure both f his first wife and let alone his sisters robbed him of reliable alliances. Mugabe's evasive reliance on any one person finally cost him his legacy. He drove himself to where he deserved unfortunately his present state. In summary it can be easily be visibly that Mugabe had no stead loyalty to subordinates.
In some ways Mugabe lived a political life when he could, through use of others, scheme around a project and have it executed successfully. He learnt to build loyalty around himself and not on others. Emerson Mnangagwa can be believed to have understood Mugabe better than most people can attest.
Apart from being a liability Mugabe or his wife are no longer losses to the country now. The country now needs a strong strategic leadership to inject hope that the country may take off on a progressive economic leap given all lessons learnt from Mugabe's stringent control of those who are his subordinates. The army generals in Zimbabwe need a quiet approach by Churches, none profit organizations, opposition politics and Diaspora to work on an all embracive transition to a free and fair election. Other than that there is no doubt that Zanu is regrouping itself for another round of running the country. The army generals need to be held to their word, namely that they will protect all people and that the values of the struggle included all fighters and the supportive masses not one at the exclusion of the other.
A Reconciliation/Truth council would be necessary for healing the rifts opened by many divisions caused and allowed to nurture Mugabe leadership as though a democratic person allowing freedom for opposition to exist. It is not just about removing those who misguided Mugabe or else the disease which is corruption easily plants itself back to the detriment of Zimbabwe nation. Zimbabweans must stop thinking that they can all be leaders and begin look at areas of specialization in order to kick start the economy and expand the employment base subsequently the industry and commerce. Strong accountability with strict adherence to the constitution is requisite to good governance.
The country is under military control. The possibility of Emerson Mnangagwa emerging as a stand in president is quiet possible and it will be the only loophole through which the military can remain in remote control as they were for the many years past when Mugabe was running the country. The danger, though, is that these generals may begin seeing themselves as saviours and in turn refuse to retire to cover for the wrongs community may charge too against them. Hopefully, who ever has been arrested will be handed over to police for prosecution in a court of law.
It is unique, though, that Zimbabwe military has asked for all structures of government to remain intact and handle business as usual. It is no doubt helpful that they stepped into the gap just to restore orderly thinking that seems to have been growing worst even among opposition political parties as well. How to come out of this self-imposed hero's status by the military commanders remains an art of both craft and shrewd negotiations by both None Government Organizations (NGO), Diaspora and opposition politics. The need for oneness is primary, and a sense of direction and purpose urgently required as a matter of national interest.
The only option once more is in getting a transitional arrangement where the redefining of authority needs reorientation in view of the poor past set by Robert Mugabe and the very soldiers that today stand as redeemers. The complex nature of a system without system apart from promoting the very aspects they hope to eradicate namely, corruption, can seed corruption very cunningly to the advantage of soldiers and Zanu political party again. Militarism phenomenon and history on the continent often gives too many promises with none fulfilled when soldiers leave the barracks without civil authority invitation. It's a pity that political opposition only speak of the need to return to civilian rule without spelling out the mode to easy out tension in the country.
One cannot for certainty say the soldiers in Zimbabwe took control of the power and that they did it out of love to keeping peace in the country alone given the rotten garbage the Zanu system had exposed them all into as well. That these commanders are owners of numerous properties through means hard to explain and that some have many companies that they operate under pseudo names, points to them too being part to the vicious circle that has allowed Mr. Mugabe an extension of time in ruling Zimbabwe to this date.
Zimbabwe has been like a case of a broken music record that one has to listen too carefully in order to notice that it is broken. When the record is played over and over the majority of newly born people begin to fail, due to familiarity, to understand when to pick out the broken part in the music record. Often many familiar to a situation regard it normal (being in denial) even when those new to it will always wonder if it is only them alone seeing the difference.
As it is now, there are some young men and women who grew up privileged and favoured from the brokenness of Zimbabwe political condition, who violently question why soldiers have intervened to stop their prosperity. Africa knows well that all is not well in Zimbabwe, but other than worry over their own volatile political condition, they care less to concern themselves on Zimbabwe people, their growing division and circumstances. Irrespective of the statement from the African Union, it needs be observed here that like all toothless institutions, the AU appointed Mugabe to an honorary post of chairman of the organization; leaves any reasonable person to hold the AU with suspicion in any advice they may hope to offer to Zimbabwe today.
On independence in April 18, 1980, I flew from Nigeria with my family to join other Zimbabweans at the Harare Rufaro stadium as independence reins of power were handed over by Prince Charles who represented the Queen Elizabeth the second. Ironically, Zimbabwe had informally adopted a military style of running the government as a result of the too much role assigned liberation soldiers against what all other contributed to the overall success of the national liberation struggle . Based on the premise we had won independence through the barrel of the gun, although not quite so, Mugabe had believed on declaring Zimbabwe a Marxist-Leninist regime founded on the Maoism ideology, even though then the Maoism ideology was in the process of failing in China.
The current military commander, then very much down in rank, Comrade Constantino Chiwenga, had appreciated seeing his predecessors retired on early in years of their lives while Mr. Mugabe remained in power without anyone questioning his tenure of office. As a close friend to Emerson Mnangagwa like most of the high and middle ranking army officers would be, Chiwenga has fond and memorable days with Emerson Mnangagwa. Naturally too, Mr. Mugabe should not have mistaken Mnangagwa for an ordinary person given his very close alliance with both the army and secret service personnel from the liberation struggle days to post independence days. It has to be acknowledging that too much power ruin absolutely and that is what happened to Mr. Mugabe this time round when his wife flexed too much political muscles she did not possess out of context. This Grace (Marufu) Mugabe liked blowing her trumpet. She unfortunately did not understand protocol.
Without putting on emotional or tribal blinkers on, Mnangagwa is considered a military man by the many military personnel as rightly observed in Comrade Chiwenga in his press statement on 14 November 2017. The sad reality that the country has been suffering from for too long and why Mr. Mugabe would be blind to that remains a quiz he alone can answer. The systematic disassociation of Mr. Mugabe from his Chimurenga comrades beginning with the mysterious death of Maurice Nyangumbo, removal or Enos Nkala as a result of the Willowvale gate scandal commission of inquiry, etc, gave an ugly signal to the military personnel of what was coming their way. Indeed numerous officials in the army have been retired.
SCENARIO TO THE BACKGROUND TO THE 14 NOVEMBER 2017, MILITARY INTERIM INTERVENTION
Comrade Chiwenga is right to the pen by observing that there are people surrounding the president who are causing rifts in the party of Zanu. The biggest culprit unfortunately is Grace Mugabe whose intelligent was artificially inflated by the fake Ph.D. she was handed as a pacifying gesture from those who wanted promotion at the University of Zimbabwe since Mugabe was patron of the University. Indeed Jonathan Moyo a true Central Intelligent Agent (CIA) trained intelligentsia has a track record working to recruit Zimbabweans to join Zanu from abroad.
The young crew, titled G40, who Mugabe thought he would use to promote himself while distancing himself from his contemporaries who were in the liberation struggle appears to have gone into disarray after generals sought for their arrest. It became an obvious road map for many years where politicians begun using one another to strike influence and command within the Zanu hierarchy. A confession need be made that while the aims of the struggle were soberly patriotic, those who took over from time to time got absorbed in short cuts and the aims of the struggle died almost at the time when Josia Mangama Tongogara died.
Comrade Josia Mangama Tongongara is only one person who could challenge Mugabe on a straight and fair line and still live on, yet he too died mysteriously. The mystery is that there are many versions of how he died. Then in the struggle the rest, including Emerson Mnangagwa, were young to challenge Mugabe. Those of Mugabe contemporary, Nationalists such as Enos Nkala, Maurice Nyangumbo, Morton Malianga etc could work to neutralize Mugabe in terms of mature reasoning with him. Elderly men like VaMuzenda had a lot of bearing on Robert Mugabe more than what met the ordinary eye, even though ordinarily VaMuzenda was considered politically insignificant.
The intelligentsia like Edson Zvobgo had influence that balanced power in the central committee meetings. Since the hushed disappearances of Mugabe ‘s contemporaries did not happen overnight but over a twenty five yea period, Mugabe begun gathering momentum to attract young people around himself at the exclusion of those he had worked with. He used the Sandura Commission to get rid of people like Enos Chikovore, a not so strong personality anyway but all the same a reliable ally. The departure both f his first wife and let alone his sisters robbed him of reliable alliances. Mugabe's evasive reliance on any one person finally cost him his legacy. He drove himself to where he deserved unfortunately his present state. In summary it can be easily be visibly that Mugabe had no stead loyalty to subordinates.
In some ways Mugabe lived a political life when he could, through use of others, scheme around a project and have it executed successfully. He learnt to build loyalty around himself and not on others. Emerson Mnangagwa can be believed to have understood Mugabe better than most people can attest.
Apart from being a liability Mugabe or his wife are no longer losses to the country now. The country now needs a strong strategic leadership to inject hope that the country may take off on a progressive economic leap given all lessons learnt from Mugabe's stringent control of those who are his subordinates. The army generals in Zimbabwe need a quiet approach by Churches, none profit organizations, opposition politics and Diaspora to work on an all embracive transition to a free and fair election. Other than that there is no doubt that Zanu is regrouping itself for another round of running the country. The army generals need to be held to their word, namely that they will protect all people and that the values of the struggle included all fighters and the supportive masses not one at the exclusion of the other.
A Reconciliation/Truth council would be necessary for healing the rifts opened by many divisions caused and allowed to nurture Mugabe leadership as though a democratic person allowing freedom for opposition to exist. It is not just about removing those who misguided Mugabe or else the disease which is corruption easily plants itself back to the detriment of Zimbabwe nation. Zimbabweans must stop thinking that they can all be leaders and begin look at areas of specialization in order to kick start the economy and expand the employment base subsequently the industry and commerce. Strong accountability with strict adherence to the constitution is requisite to good governance.
Source - Andrew M Manyevere
