Mnangagwa government dogged by mistrust

A cloud of mistrust has reportedly engulfed President Emmerson Mnangagwa's government as emerging  details allege that some ZANU PF members participated in the protests that turned violent to sabotage the President, triggering mistrust that can likely generate grave consequences for the Second Republic administration.

This comes after the three day crippling protests that rocked the country last month.

The strike was followed by a crackdown targeting mainly opposition supporters and other anti-government activists, effectively sweeping under the carpet ZANU PF's involvement as a result of growing discontent in Mnangagwa's leadership.

As the situation was seemingly getting out of hand, sources said it was Mnangagwa's lieutenants among them RBZ governor John Mangudya and Owen Ncube who managed to rescue the situation.

Thousands of people demonstrated against the fuel price hike and the general increase in the cost of living which is beyond the majority.

This triggered nationwide protests that turned violent, with people looting shops and committing acts of arson.

Some ZANU PF officials, police and military were implicated in the violence and looting; despite ZANU PF and government maintaining that it was exclusively the MDC with the support of some civic organisations.

Many people, including a section of ZANU PF stalwarts were appalled by the fact that it was Mnangagwa himself who announced the fuel prices before leaving the country on official business in the Eastern Europe, something which could have been done by the minister responsible.

Reliable sources said that while a junior official had been ideal for the announcement, the President was forced to make the announcement himself after his lieutenants reportedly refused to make the unpopular announcements fearing the repercussions on their political careers.

Information deputy minister Energy Mutodi last week took to his Twitter handle to thank Mangudya, Ncube and the Defence Forces commander Valerio Sibanda for their efforts in ensuring that the situation was contained and that peace was restored in the country.

"For a nation that had been threatened by fuel shortages, social media abuse and lawlessness, many thanks go to Dr John Mangudya, State Security Minister Owen Ncube and the Defence Forces Command for their maintenance of peace and tranquillity", he tweeted.

In an interview with the media following his tweet, Mutodi said it was pleasing that the situation in the country had normalised and that those whom he mentioned had put extra effort to restore normalcy.

"The fuel price hike was actually proposed by Reserve Bank Governor John Mangudya and was approved by the President as a way to stamp out arbitrage in the fuel sectors", Mutodi said then.

"It was at the height of the protests that impromptu decisions needed to be taken by the President's inner circle yet these decisions left the party and government heavily divided. The shutting down of the internet was one such thing that left ZANU PF dissected.

"State Security Minister Owen Ncube made the decision to stop further looting and destruction of properties realizing that criminals were organizing themselves under the guise of protest to systematically loot shops and destroy private property.

"However the minister consulted widely before invoking the Interception of Communications Act which allows for Communications to be blocked where it is suspected that a crime is being committed or is about to be committed."

Mutodi said the recent events have shown that there is growing mistrust in the team and a lot needs to be done to ensure cohesion and cooperation among government departments.

Some within ZANU PF claimed their lives were in danger after they refused to participate on a plot that was reportedly targeting President Mnangagwa.