Zimbabwe Defence Forces in plot to delay elections

In rather disturbing political developments in Zimbabwe, word on the street now has it that senior Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) officers want to delay elections as much as possible in order for them to boost their share in businesses that have already been taken over or are at threat of being taken over under the new indigenisation rules. I hear that the military has even set up a special office specifically to accumulate wealth for themselves and senior Zanu PF officials. Unsurprisingly the unpopular Joint Operations Command (a group of the Army, Police, Prisons and the Central Intelligence heads which meets regularly to coordinate military and security affairs) is involved, plus serving and retired military and other security officials who have come to direct all key national and governance issues rather than cabinet.

Raiders of the last companies!

I recently wrote an essay on the system the Army officials' used to loot DRC's resources during the conflict in that country – it seems to me there are many similarity between that and the way that Zimbabwean Army Officers have teamed up with politicians and businessmen to form political and economic interest groups investing in lucrative business ventures such as platinum, diamonds, gold mining, safari and tourism (ok well one day tourism will lucrative again I'm sure!). They have set up systems which are clearly manipulating the indigenisation process. Originally put in place to help ordinary Zimbabweans, these senior Zanu PF and ZDF officials are using the new rules for their own gain and it seems they have no intention of sharing their huge wealth with the lower ranks of ZDF, and certainly not the masses. Everyone knows now that the army boys want total control of the indigenisation market and my business friends tell me no negotiations with foreign companies over platinum and other key resources can be carried out by anyone other than the senior ZDF officials. This even includes the Ministry of Mines, who are not allowed in on any deals to do with key resources – not that I sympathise with them of course…

Deals, slush funds and percentages – The making of the domestic bourgeoisie

It is now an open secret in Zimbabwe that a lot of deals involving foreign investors have only gone through because of senior ZDF involvement. Usually, a deal would see senior ZDF officers getting 10 – 20% cut of each company's Zimbabwe operation (The Big Boys with Guns running the show). Although this might seem high, this would be much better when compared with the 51% indigenisation rule. A journalist friend of mine recently told me how a South African was allowed to stay in Zimbabwe after paying undisclosed sums of money delivered in cash to known ZDF officials in Harare. Asked if he would have preferred to pull out of the deal seeing Zimbabweans are not benefiting, the South African just said that's how things are in Zimbabwe and once you deal with the guys, there seem to be no easy way out. Some companies are securing much lower indigenous ownership through the patronage of well-rewarded senior Zanu PF or ZDF officers and I hear that companies associated with senior and retired military figures have been able to negotiate down to 20 – 30% Zimbabwean ownership only. Apparently some of the cut usually goes into a slush-fund for other senior Zanu PF figures.

…and now the Army talks, everybody must shut-up

Remember, this is the first time in Zimbabwe where ZDF has spoken about politics openly and the way things are now it looks like the army may be able to have the final say on when elections will be held. The Nyikayarambas of this world are out there on the loose and we seem to have no power to stop them. We don't need the army to tell us when elections should happen. They should just do their job of protecting the country and let politicians do politics!