Mnangagwa allies call for Jonathan Moyo's dismissal from Govt, party

Zanu-PF structures, war veterans and Mnangagwa alligned political commentators yesterday rallied behind Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantino Guveya Chiwenga calling for the dismissal of Professor Jonathan Moyo from both Government and Zanu-PF.

Gen Chiwenga warned the Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister and his Youth Development, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment counterpart Patrick Zhuwao against attacking Government's Command Agriculture programme.

The ZDF chief said the security services were fully aware of the forces sponsoring the spirited attacks.

Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans' Association chairman Mr Christopher Mutsvangwa yesterday backed Gen Chiwenga for defending, firstly President Mugabe, and secondly, Zimbabwe's integrity under attack from malcontents within the party and Government.

He said it was high time someone knocked Professor Moyo off his pedestal.

"It is about time," said Mr Mutsvangwa. "ZNLWVA is on one and same page with Gen Chiwenga. Jonathan Moyo has carved a notorious reputation as the James Bond 007 knock off of the celluloid spy.

"He started his treacherous journey as a Zanla wartime deserter from Mgagao camp. He turned traitor as commander of Chimwenje, the ill-fated rag tag army of (Ndabaningi) Sithole that was trained by Idi Amin, the Ugandan dictator.

"Of late, he is a Wiki-Leaks spy morphed into kleptocratic thief of Zimdef funds."

Mr Mutsvangwa said Professor Moyo was taunting President Mugabe and should resign from both Zanu-PF and Government.

"Jonso is an incorrigible deviant who trashes all that has attributes of history and the Chimurenga pedigree," he said. "Even as the success of the Command Agriculture rings loud and clear, Jonso runs amok in sulking opposition."

Mr Mutsvangwa called on the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and police to be given the executive and judiciary latitude to arraign Prof Moyo over fraud allegations at Zimdef.

Zanu-PF provincial chairman for the Midlands, Daniel Mackenzie Ncube, said Gen Chiwenga was right in defending Government's integrity and programmes.

He called on the party to take necessary steps to deal with the errant ministers.

"These malcontents should be censured and brought to book," he said.

Political analyst Mr Goodwine Mureriwa said Gen Chiwenga was guided by the principles of the liberation struggle.

"No-one can doubt the historical narrative between Government and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces," he said. "It is premised on the liberation struggle where cadres were guided by strict disciplinary measures.

"These are the principles that guided the fighters. The principles of honesty to the people. The attacks are coming from Politburo members who are in Cabinet, hence betraying the people."

Mr Mureriwa said Gen Chiwenga noticed the indiscipline that could breed chaos in Zimbabwe.

He said Zanu-PF should take a stance against those trying to destablise the party and Government.

Another political analyst Mr Elton Ziki said people should understand Gen Chiwenga's constitutional mandate and other State security agents.

"It is necessary for these arms of the State to defend and work towards the success of Government spearheaded programmes," he said. "For the CDF to issue that statement is to make sure that these programmes reach fruition.

"He is key and integral to what is happening in the country because when such a programme fails they would be food shortages leading to strife."

Mr Ziki said Zimbabwe fought for land so that people would be productive, hence programmes like Command Agriculture.

"Criticising programmes aiming to ensure food security and stability with a potential for economic development leaves a lot to be desired," he said.

Tanzanian-based Zimbabwean political analyst Mr Tafadzwa Mugwadi said: "It should be treated and handled as a serious security breach for Cabinet members who have sworn to their confidence, all matters discussed therein.

"This is serious breach in a sovereign, the world over and smacks of fatal treason."

Mr Mugwadi said Command Agriculture was a success.

"No amount of factional malice and Twitter rants will erase it," he said. "However, it is ironic that Zanu-PF has allowed a parallel Government to exist with its own parallel agenda that is documentarily, historically and factually nurtured around Professor Moyo whose 'full of I know it all' approach to policy discourse is both academically disproved and realistically errant to say the least."

Mr Mugwadi said Prof Moyo's behaviour illustrated "how gate-crushers, late-comers and sell outs turned revolutionaries in a people's revolution behave."

Prof Moyo has been on rabid campaign against Command Agriculture deriding it as "Ugly-Culture'' and equating reports of its success as ''Command Lies''.

Minister Zhuwao has also rapped Zimpapers, accusing the group's titles of promoting Command Agriculture at the expense of Zim-Asset.

This is despite that Command Agriculture falls under the Food and Nutrition Cluster of Zim-Asset.

President Mugabe is also on record hailing the success of Command Agriculture, amid indications that the programme would exceed the projected yields.