News / National
Army detonates Gono's presidential ambition
27 Jun 2014 at 02:21hrs | Views
COLOGNE - Zimbabwe's no nonsense hardline military generals, have allegedly paralysed former central bank governor, Gideon Gono's ambition to become president as a compromise Zanu PF candidate, after reportedly falling out with the security chefs three years ago, The Telescope News reported.
The militray supremos have since thrown their weight behind, Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, for the highest office in the land.
The frosty relations between Gono, who is still President Robert Mugabe's trusted personal banker, and business adviser of the first family, and the country's military brass has resulted in the banker recently being dropped out of the powerful Joint Operations Cammand (JOC), where he is said to have had an advisory role on financial and economic affairs, confidential sources close to the President's Office have revealed.
JOC brings together the army, intelligence, prison and police chiefs. It is thought the secretive security arm, is the real power behind the curtains insofar as the political running of the country is concerned, with Mugabe now reduced to a figurehead of the organisation. Critics have also accused JOC of rigging elections, and administering a parallel government, which reports to itself and is not accountable to the State, parliament or cabinet.
Suspicion
Our information indicates that Gono could have infuriated the military chiefs, for his alleged links with the U.S government, with suspicion that the former central banker could be roped in by Washington, as their preferred candidate to replace Mugabe.
Disclosures by various media about Gono being blocked into bouncing back in government, and a delayed entry ticket in Senate, give credence to fresh details, that a Zanu PF faction led by Mnangagwa, which is supported by some elements in the military has all but managed to stop Gono in his tracks, from coming anywhere near Munhumutapa building.
"The President had wanted Gono to be in the presidium, but he was told that he did not have any liberation war credentials by the generals, as a diplomatic way of saying no," our government contact said. "He had no qualms with him (Gono) to deputise the current frontrunner (Mnangagwa). It is known in government circles that Gono was being groomed, and could have made the grade had he not been implicated with meeting and negotiating with American officials, to discuss his political fortunes and aftermath in office at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe."
Sympathy of the West
The Telescope News, has it on good account that the security chiefs have made it known to Mugabe that, they are willing to work only with Zanu PF cadres who have played a significant role in the liberation of the country from Britain, and that they will not entertain a new leader, who has the sympathy of the West.
As things stand, Mnangagwa, Vice president Joice Mujuru, defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi, Women's League boss Oppah Muchinguri and information minister Jonathan Moyo, have surfaced as possible candidates to constitute a new leadership regime after Mugabe steps down, which could be a matter of months.
Mnangagwa, as we have been reporting has the support of China, while Sekeramayi and Mujuru, are believed to be close to Sweden and Britain respectively. Sweden has over the years, through it former ambassador Sten Rylander, engaged Zanu PF on reforms, especially calling for the liberation movement to deal with Mugabe's succession issue decisively, to allow for economic turnaround. Britain on the other hand wants to see a reform minded Zanu PF, which respects human and political rights.
Gono has the blessing of Mugabe and his wife, but lacks a political base and enough Zanu PF backing, party insiders said. The former central bank chief, has previously denied harbouring any presidential ambitions, but his exit from the national bank last year, saw him appearing ready to launch a political career by eyeing for a senatorial seat.
Washington DC
"Gono was very close to the military generals, and even became part of their inner circle, but revelations contained in WikiLeaks cables and his own book 'Zimbabwe's Casino Economy: Extraordinary Measures for Extraordinary Challenges', have brewed disdain and mistrust for him because of suspicion that Washington, might support him to takeover power. Furthermore there is anxiety that Gono, is not tough enough to defend their business interests and might be weak in preventing them from being prosecuted for various crimes, which the White House and the EU could pursue in a post-Mugabe era."
According to WikiLeaks cable claims released in 2011, Gono is said to have been habouring political ambitions and wanted Mugabe to leave office. One of the cables says Gono met the then US Ambassador to Zimbabwe James McGee in 2008 and confided in him, that he had spoken to the late VP Joseph Msika and other officials who wanted to see Mugabe's back by September that year.
Gono met with McGee, when Zanu PF was negotiating a power-sharing agreement with the two MDC formations. "Gono said Mugabe was physically weak," says the cable. "Despite a strong public face, he had difficulty getting out of his chair." Gono also requested for a "soft landing" from the Americans in the event that Zanu PF dumped him and party in-fighting left him outside of government.
According to the cable, Gono continued his attempt to cultivate a relationship with McGee hoping that the US would support him if he got into power in a new government. "He has occasionally provided us with useful information and has been of assistance, e.g, when embassy officials were held up at a roadblock during a pre-election trip and when an American was held incommunicado following the March 29 election," says the cable.
Gono reveals in his book that he was offered a top job as senior vice president of the Bretton Woods institution, with the greenlight from former President, George Bush, but turned down the offer for family and country.
Food riots and trickery
Mugabe's banker became close to the military generals during the days of feared food shortages by the army, which saw the lauching of Operation Maguta in November 2005, which Gono was instrumental in helping to secure its funding. Maguta, an initiative by JOC to resuscitate agriculture that has been ruined by the chaotic land reform programme, was driven by fear of food riots stemming from widespread hunger.
Senior Zanu PF officials believed to be aligned to Joice Mujuru, our sources say made Gono, to believe that he had a big chance of landing into senate and cabinet if he vacated the reserve bank. The Zanu PF politicians would facilitate and help Gono to get a cabinet post, as finance minister, a platform he could use to further his shot at the presidency.
"It was going to be easy for him to campaign for the top job, from inside cabinet. He would have the confidence to showcase his qualities in front of Mugabe, but the whole thing could have turned out to be trickery, because politics is a dirty game for the cunning," said a Zanu PF legislator this week.
Gono's swearing in as a Senator, it has been repoted is hinging on the passage of the Electoral Amendment Bill that is before Parliament, but some believe Mnangagwa's faction is standing in the way of his progress. Zanu-PF selected Gono last year to replace former Manicaland Senator Kumbirai Kangai who died in August 2013. Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairperson, Rita Makarau, has maintained that they would be guided by the new electoral law which is before the House once it sails through.
Makarau recently told local media, that the law governing replacement of legislators expired in December (last year) after President Mugabe invoked Presidential powers (Temporary Measures) Act under which the harmonised elections were held on July 31, 2013.
The securocrats, it would appear have a new ally, in Munyaradzi Kereke, a former advisor to Gono, who has been spilling beans on alleged corruption activities by his former boss. Kereke, is holding sensative information and economic secrets about Gono's 10 year tenure at the reserve bank, which he has provided and shown to the military elites, sources said. However Gono denies any wrongdoing, or graft while at the apex of the central bank.
The militray supremos have since thrown their weight behind, Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, for the highest office in the land.
The frosty relations between Gono, who is still President Robert Mugabe's trusted personal banker, and business adviser of the first family, and the country's military brass has resulted in the banker recently being dropped out of the powerful Joint Operations Cammand (JOC), where he is said to have had an advisory role on financial and economic affairs, confidential sources close to the President's Office have revealed.
JOC brings together the army, intelligence, prison and police chiefs. It is thought the secretive security arm, is the real power behind the curtains insofar as the political running of the country is concerned, with Mugabe now reduced to a figurehead of the organisation. Critics have also accused JOC of rigging elections, and administering a parallel government, which reports to itself and is not accountable to the State, parliament or cabinet.
Suspicion
Our information indicates that Gono could have infuriated the military chiefs, for his alleged links with the U.S government, with suspicion that the former central banker could be roped in by Washington, as their preferred candidate to replace Mugabe.
Disclosures by various media about Gono being blocked into bouncing back in government, and a delayed entry ticket in Senate, give credence to fresh details, that a Zanu PF faction led by Mnangagwa, which is supported by some elements in the military has all but managed to stop Gono in his tracks, from coming anywhere near Munhumutapa building.
"The President had wanted Gono to be in the presidium, but he was told that he did not have any liberation war credentials by the generals, as a diplomatic way of saying no," our government contact said. "He had no qualms with him (Gono) to deputise the current frontrunner (Mnangagwa). It is known in government circles that Gono was being groomed, and could have made the grade had he not been implicated with meeting and negotiating with American officials, to discuss his political fortunes and aftermath in office at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe."
Sympathy of the West
The Telescope News, has it on good account that the security chiefs have made it known to Mugabe that, they are willing to work only with Zanu PF cadres who have played a significant role in the liberation of the country from Britain, and that they will not entertain a new leader, who has the sympathy of the West.
As things stand, Mnangagwa, Vice president Joice Mujuru, defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi, Women's League boss Oppah Muchinguri and information minister Jonathan Moyo, have surfaced as possible candidates to constitute a new leadership regime after Mugabe steps down, which could be a matter of months.
Mnangagwa, as we have been reporting has the support of China, while Sekeramayi and Mujuru, are believed to be close to Sweden and Britain respectively. Sweden has over the years, through it former ambassador Sten Rylander, engaged Zanu PF on reforms, especially calling for the liberation movement to deal with Mugabe's succession issue decisively, to allow for economic turnaround. Britain on the other hand wants to see a reform minded Zanu PF, which respects human and political rights.
Gono has the blessing of Mugabe and his wife, but lacks a political base and enough Zanu PF backing, party insiders said. The former central bank chief, has previously denied harbouring any presidential ambitions, but his exit from the national bank last year, saw him appearing ready to launch a political career by eyeing for a senatorial seat.
"Gono was very close to the military generals, and even became part of their inner circle, but revelations contained in WikiLeaks cables and his own book 'Zimbabwe's Casino Economy: Extraordinary Measures for Extraordinary Challenges', have brewed disdain and mistrust for him because of suspicion that Washington, might support him to takeover power. Furthermore there is anxiety that Gono, is not tough enough to defend their business interests and might be weak in preventing them from being prosecuted for various crimes, which the White House and the EU could pursue in a post-Mugabe era."
According to WikiLeaks cable claims released in 2011, Gono is said to have been habouring political ambitions and wanted Mugabe to leave office. One of the cables says Gono met the then US Ambassador to Zimbabwe James McGee in 2008 and confided in him, that he had spoken to the late VP Joseph Msika and other officials who wanted to see Mugabe's back by September that year.
Gono met with McGee, when Zanu PF was negotiating a power-sharing agreement with the two MDC formations. "Gono said Mugabe was physically weak," says the cable. "Despite a strong public face, he had difficulty getting out of his chair." Gono also requested for a "soft landing" from the Americans in the event that Zanu PF dumped him and party in-fighting left him outside of government.
According to the cable, Gono continued his attempt to cultivate a relationship with McGee hoping that the US would support him if he got into power in a new government. "He has occasionally provided us with useful information and has been of assistance, e.g, when embassy officials were held up at a roadblock during a pre-election trip and when an American was held incommunicado following the March 29 election," says the cable.
Gono reveals in his book that he was offered a top job as senior vice president of the Bretton Woods institution, with the greenlight from former President, George Bush, but turned down the offer for family and country.
Food riots and trickery
Mugabe's banker became close to the military generals during the days of feared food shortages by the army, which saw the lauching of Operation Maguta in November 2005, which Gono was instrumental in helping to secure its funding. Maguta, an initiative by JOC to resuscitate agriculture that has been ruined by the chaotic land reform programme, was driven by fear of food riots stemming from widespread hunger.
Senior Zanu PF officials believed to be aligned to Joice Mujuru, our sources say made Gono, to believe that he had a big chance of landing into senate and cabinet if he vacated the reserve bank. The Zanu PF politicians would facilitate and help Gono to get a cabinet post, as finance minister, a platform he could use to further his shot at the presidency.
"It was going to be easy for him to campaign for the top job, from inside cabinet. He would have the confidence to showcase his qualities in front of Mugabe, but the whole thing could have turned out to be trickery, because politics is a dirty game for the cunning," said a Zanu PF legislator this week.
Gono's swearing in as a Senator, it has been repoted is hinging on the passage of the Electoral Amendment Bill that is before Parliament, but some believe Mnangagwa's faction is standing in the way of his progress. Zanu-PF selected Gono last year to replace former Manicaland Senator Kumbirai Kangai who died in August 2013. Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairperson, Rita Makarau, has maintained that they would be guided by the new electoral law which is before the House once it sails through.
Makarau recently told local media, that the law governing replacement of legislators expired in December (last year) after President Mugabe invoked Presidential powers (Temporary Measures) Act under which the harmonised elections were held on July 31, 2013.
The securocrats, it would appear have a new ally, in Munyaradzi Kereke, a former advisor to Gono, who has been spilling beans on alleged corruption activities by his former boss. Kereke, is holding sensative information and economic secrets about Gono's 10 year tenure at the reserve bank, which he has provided and shown to the military elites, sources said. However Gono denies any wrongdoing, or graft while at the apex of the central bank.
Source - www.thetelescopenews.com
