News / National
China makes final touches to Mnangagwa presidency
15 May 2014 at 04:07hrs | Views
COLOGNE- China has become the first influential foreign power to openly back and reportedly sponsor, Justice minister, Emmerson Mnangagwa's candidacy to replace, President Robert Mugabe, as the next leader of Zimbabwe, amid reports that Beijing has already put in place a well orchestrated plan, to ensure a safe passage to the top for Mnangagwa, The Telescope News reported.
Diplomatic sources in Harare this week said, they are aware of Beijing's machinations to "collude with hardline elements" within the country's military and intelligence establishment, in catapulting their "manchurian candidate from the Midlands" to power, possibly before the end of the year, as Mugabe's health woes continue to mount.
Mugabe left Harare on Wednesday afternoon for Singapore, where his spokesman, George Charamba said, he is visiting for a week-long eye cataract "check-up" and undisclosed private business. The Telescope News, actually understands from close sources to the first family, that it is Grace Mugabe herself who is receiving "special medical attention" for a mysterious ailment, while Mugabe is being used to "cover-up" for his flamboyant wife. This publication is pursuing the story, and will make available our investigations.
"His Excellency the President Cde R.G. Mugabe, left Harare this afternoon (yestreday) for Singapore on a week-long private visit to that country. During his visit President Mugabe will undergo a routine eye check-up following a recent procedure on the same," Charamba said in a press statement.
The diplomats maintain China, has moved fast in directly meddling in Mugabe's succession, as a political contigency measure to protect her growing economic interests in Harare, while effectively attempting to elbow out Western powers, which the Asian giant considers a competitor in her quest to secure key natural resources in the country, which are critically needed by Beijing's burgeoning industries.
"We believe, China has just finished, putting some final touches to their plan of invisibly installing Emmerson Mnangagwa, as the next ruler of this country," said one of the diplomats, who not long ago met Mugabe to present their credentials. "The whole issue, is very complex. Now we know, one of the factions in this leadership race, is actually receiving financial and political assistance from the Chinese. We have been supporting civic and opposition groups to bring about, a new democratic dispensation in Zimbabwe, yet the Chinese are directly funding their choice of a leader to take over. Furthermore, they have roped in security services players, so they seem to have gotten what they want, before actually getting it."
High level government officials, have also betrayed the reasons behind China's reluctance to offer, the country new financial loans, as a "wait and see" strategy designed to prop-up Mnangagwa, whom they are waiting to fully bankroll, if he gains political power.
"That is the strategy. Bailing out the economy now, will in their eyes prolong Mugabe's stay in power, thus you hear about China making demands, for mineral guarantees before fresh loans can be granted," said a cabinet minister sympathetic to Mugabe. "Mnangagwa has no backers in Europe or America, therefore his rise to power is not good for Zimbabwe, however China as it seems, might be having a few billions to pour into the economy in credit facilities and lines, because all they want is for my colleague to rule, as their pointman at whatever cost."
China wants the country, to use mineral export earnings as guarantee for a possible financial package, which is desperately needed to revive Harare's wobbling economy. Zimbabwe requires a staggering $27 billion, a figure more than twice the size of the economy itself, to fund an ambitious five-year plan to improve basic services and rebuild the country, known as the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim Asset).
According to online media news agencies, Han Bing, an economic and commercial counselor at the Chinese embassy in Harare, said that Export and Import (Exim) Bank of China and officials from the ministry of finance are working on a possible financial deal.
"We are discussing whether we can take proceeds of sales for some minerals as collateral for the loans," Han was quoted. "The (Exim) bank and the team from the ministry of finance are now working at a technical level on how they can set up such a mechanism, how much the collateral would be and how much loans they (Zimbabwe government) can get."
Mugabe is tauting Zim Asset, as a panacea to the country's worsening economic woes, but his sweet talk, is having no buyers, as civil servants have gone for the second month in a row, experiencing salary payment delays, prompting fears of possible uprising by the masses.
"In pursuit of a new trajectory of accelerated economic growth and wealth creation, my government has formulated a new plan known as the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim Asset): October 2013-December 2018. Zim Asset was crafted to achieve sustainable development and social equity anchored on indigenisation, empowerment and employment creation which will be largely propelled by the judicious exploitation of the country's abundant human and natural resources," says Mugabe in part of the foreword in the Zim Asset document.
MDC MP for Bulawayo South Eddie Cross, last week writing on his website, confirmed what many in government and Zanu PF already fear, that Mnangagwa and his camp are the faction with real power at the moment, compared to Vice President Joice Mujuru and the others.
"The third centre of power is grouped about Emmerson Mnangagwa, currently Minister of Justice, formerly Minister of Defence and before that, Security; known commonly as the Crocodile. As the head of the Joint Operations Command (the JOC), he virtually runs a parallel State in Zimbabwe and while the Marange bonanza was available, had at his disposal resources that challenged those of the Ministry of Finance," writes Cross.
"More than any other, he was responsible for the ruthless and efficient exercise that the military and security elements carried out to support the re-election of Zanu PF in the July 2013 elections. He was not rewarded for his efforts and is very angry and bitter about that, a sense that his colleagues on the JOC share. This was one occasion when the "divide and rule" tactics of Mugabe may have boomeranged on him. There is no doubt in my mind that the real power in Zimbabwe (as opposed to democratic power either in the country or the Party) rests with this group. They have the capacity to make things happen and act with speed when required. They control much of the State administration as well as the military in all its different forms."
Mujuru is acting president for the coming week, until Mugabe is back from Singapore, but she always fails to stamp her authority, late alone call for cabinet or security meeting briefings with the military generals, her critics point. On the other hand, Mnangagwa is left with the feeling of being in charge in Mugabe's absence, as he continues to conduct, weekly JOC meetings without the input of Mujuru.
Diplomatic sources in Harare this week said, they are aware of Beijing's machinations to "collude with hardline elements" within the country's military and intelligence establishment, in catapulting their "manchurian candidate from the Midlands" to power, possibly before the end of the year, as Mugabe's health woes continue to mount.
Mugabe left Harare on Wednesday afternoon for Singapore, where his spokesman, George Charamba said, he is visiting for a week-long eye cataract "check-up" and undisclosed private business. The Telescope News, actually understands from close sources to the first family, that it is Grace Mugabe herself who is receiving "special medical attention" for a mysterious ailment, while Mugabe is being used to "cover-up" for his flamboyant wife. This publication is pursuing the story, and will make available our investigations.
"His Excellency the President Cde R.G. Mugabe, left Harare this afternoon (yestreday) for Singapore on a week-long private visit to that country. During his visit President Mugabe will undergo a routine eye check-up following a recent procedure on the same," Charamba said in a press statement.
The diplomats maintain China, has moved fast in directly meddling in Mugabe's succession, as a political contigency measure to protect her growing economic interests in Harare, while effectively attempting to elbow out Western powers, which the Asian giant considers a competitor in her quest to secure key natural resources in the country, which are critically needed by Beijing's burgeoning industries.
"We believe, China has just finished, putting some final touches to their plan of invisibly installing Emmerson Mnangagwa, as the next ruler of this country," said one of the diplomats, who not long ago met Mugabe to present their credentials. "The whole issue, is very complex. Now we know, one of the factions in this leadership race, is actually receiving financial and political assistance from the Chinese. We have been supporting civic and opposition groups to bring about, a new democratic dispensation in Zimbabwe, yet the Chinese are directly funding their choice of a leader to take over. Furthermore, they have roped in security services players, so they seem to have gotten what they want, before actually getting it."
High level government officials, have also betrayed the reasons behind China's reluctance to offer, the country new financial loans, as a "wait and see" strategy designed to prop-up Mnangagwa, whom they are waiting to fully bankroll, if he gains political power.
"That is the strategy. Bailing out the economy now, will in their eyes prolong Mugabe's stay in power, thus you hear about China making demands, for mineral guarantees before fresh loans can be granted," said a cabinet minister sympathetic to Mugabe. "Mnangagwa has no backers in Europe or America, therefore his rise to power is not good for Zimbabwe, however China as it seems, might be having a few billions to pour into the economy in credit facilities and lines, because all they want is for my colleague to rule, as their pointman at whatever cost."
According to online media news agencies, Han Bing, an economic and commercial counselor at the Chinese embassy in Harare, said that Export and Import (Exim) Bank of China and officials from the ministry of finance are working on a possible financial deal.
"We are discussing whether we can take proceeds of sales for some minerals as collateral for the loans," Han was quoted. "The (Exim) bank and the team from the ministry of finance are now working at a technical level on how they can set up such a mechanism, how much the collateral would be and how much loans they (Zimbabwe government) can get."
Mugabe is tauting Zim Asset, as a panacea to the country's worsening economic woes, but his sweet talk, is having no buyers, as civil servants have gone for the second month in a row, experiencing salary payment delays, prompting fears of possible uprising by the masses.
"In pursuit of a new trajectory of accelerated economic growth and wealth creation, my government has formulated a new plan known as the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim Asset): October 2013-December 2018. Zim Asset was crafted to achieve sustainable development and social equity anchored on indigenisation, empowerment and employment creation which will be largely propelled by the judicious exploitation of the country's abundant human and natural resources," says Mugabe in part of the foreword in the Zim Asset document.
MDC MP for Bulawayo South Eddie Cross, last week writing on his website, confirmed what many in government and Zanu PF already fear, that Mnangagwa and his camp are the faction with real power at the moment, compared to Vice President Joice Mujuru and the others.
"The third centre of power is grouped about Emmerson Mnangagwa, currently Minister of Justice, formerly Minister of Defence and before that, Security; known commonly as the Crocodile. As the head of the Joint Operations Command (the JOC), he virtually runs a parallel State in Zimbabwe and while the Marange bonanza was available, had at his disposal resources that challenged those of the Ministry of Finance," writes Cross.
"More than any other, he was responsible for the ruthless and efficient exercise that the military and security elements carried out to support the re-election of Zanu PF in the July 2013 elections. He was not rewarded for his efforts and is very angry and bitter about that, a sense that his colleagues on the JOC share. This was one occasion when the "divide and rule" tactics of Mugabe may have boomeranged on him. There is no doubt in my mind that the real power in Zimbabwe (as opposed to democratic power either in the country or the Party) rests with this group. They have the capacity to make things happen and act with speed when required. They control much of the State administration as well as the military in all its different forms."
Mujuru is acting president for the coming week, until Mugabe is back from Singapore, but she always fails to stamp her authority, late alone call for cabinet or security meeting briefings with the military generals, her critics point. On the other hand, Mnangagwa is left with the feeling of being in charge in Mugabe's absence, as he continues to conduct, weekly JOC meetings without the input of Mujuru.
Source - The Telescope News
