News / National
'Chiwenga to become Vice President, when Mnangagwa takes over from Mugabe in 2016'
18 Mar 2016 at 06:24hrs | Views
This article was originally published on spotlight-z.com formerly Telescope News. Link to the original article can be found at the bottom of the page.
Cologne - Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Commander, General Constantine Guveya Chiwenga, is set to become Vice President of Zimbabwe, if and when his incumbent top ally, Emmerson Mnangagwa, sails through to succeed President Robert Mugabe during 2016, Spotlight Zimbabwe, reported today.
Chiwenga will thus become the first highest ranking military chief in the country's history, to assume the second most powerful office in the land, after his predecessor, the late General Vitalis Zvinavashe, came within a whisker of taking up the same office in 2004 following the death of VP Simon Muzenda, in a thrilling grand political plan that has been brewing since 2008, reportedly mooted and involving former Ethiopian leader, Mengistu Haile Mariam now exiled in Zimbabwe after receiving asylum in 1991, who is said to be the brainchild of the scheme, as a hired national security consultant of the military.
Former VP, Joice Mujuru, who is now leader of the recently formed Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) party went on to be nominated and appointed to the post, under a clever quota system for women in Zanu PF to have representation within the party presidium, which is thought to have been engineered by her late husband another military general,Solomon Mujuru.
It has also come to light that the fallen Ethiopian autocrat, has been key in advising Zanu PF to militarise elections and civilian structures, as a way of consolidating power, resulting in the opposition MDC-T being denied power, especially eight years ago when Mugabe was beaten hands down by Morgan Tsvangirai, before a violent run-off orchestrated by the army saved the day for Zanu PF in second round voting.
Only a few days ago, former Masvingo resident minister and legislator for Mwenezi East, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, booted out of Zanu PF for being a Mujuru ally, let the cat out of the bag by claiming that Mugabe personally deployed the army to wage a violent campaign against Tsvangirai and the MDC in the run-up to the presidential election re-run in 2008.
According to confidential sources within Zanu PF and army circles, Mnangagwa is likely to elbow out or demote VP Phelekezela Mphoko, to make way for Chiwenga, in a commensurate move with a brotherhood-like pact between the two, allegedly master-minded by Mengistu, when Mnangagwa was promoted to defence minister by Mugabe, as reward for his hardwork in ensuring that Zanu PF remained in power, by enfeebling the opposition into a coalition government trap, which saw Tsvangirai becoming Prime minister.
Mphoko we understand could remain one of the vice presidents in the new regime, if Mnangagwa softens up, but the coast in now clear for Chiwenga to deputise him if he seizes power this year, we are told.
"This is one of those things(Chiwenga's vice presidency), which has been in the pipeline since the controversial 2008 elections, and now gathering steam from behind the scenes," said a top Zanu PF official who has served in cabinet. "Mengistu was roped into play to give military consultancy services, while offering advise to government when needed. However he became a silent member of the Joint Operations Command, although not attending official meetings, and he has been holding important meetings to forward this agenda between 2008 -2013 either at his Gunhill mansion in Harare or his farms in Mazowe and Vumba."
JOC or the Joint Operations Command, is an influential national security organ thought to be the real power broker in the country, and it brings together the top brass from all security services.
The former minister stressed out that it is highly unlikely that Chiwenga will be fired from his post, amid media reports last December that Mugabe could drop him as the military boss, and appoint him into the Zanu PF politburo, as retribution for allegedly meddling in his explosive succession wars. First Lady, Grace, had been reported to be to be pulling the strings from behind to ensure Chiwenga's ZDF ouster, but it now appears that the General is going nowhere pending his ascendancy into the executive.
Grace has also openly accused the army and some senior service chiefs of involvement in the attempted bombing of their diary farm business, Alpha Omega in Mazowe, Mashonaland Central.
In 2014, the first lady dared Chiwenga to shoot her for coming out guns blazing against Joice Mujuru, whom she was accusing of plotting to topple Mugabe by assassination with the aide of her sympathisers in the military.
"I am not scared. I will talk about it. I even said Chiwenga should shoot me. They want to kill me," said Grace a few months before Zanu PF's controversial elective congress to choose new leaders of the party and country.
"Yes we are seeing a lot of so-called Mnangagwa allies being purged from government, and there are rumours of a cabinet reshuffle, but believe me ministers have symbolic power, those holding and controlling it's levers are in the army. That is food for thought for your paper," said the former minister.
Army sources last month said Chiwenga's recent moves to acquire a PhD, with the University of Kwazulu Natal in South Africa last year, indicates that he is aiming for higher office.
The General's degree examines alleged double standards in the United Nations Security Council humanitarian missions.
"People in his shoes do not just study for fun. It could be the case that he is aiming for a higher leadership office, and to hold such nowadays University qualifications play a role," the sources said.
Other Mugabe administration insiders, who spoke to Spotlight Zimbabwe this month, see Chiwenga and VP Mnangagwa as having connived, with Mengistu's reported aid to rope in the army machinery, to leverage its influence in drawing first blood once and for all in Zanu PF's factional wars to take over from Mugabe, now pitting deadly plots between themselves and Grace Mugabe's so called Generation 40 (G40) confederacy.
A recently declassified White House document, brings to light U.S involvement in Mengistu's passage to Zimbabwe exile. The document contains a memo, detailing an Oval Office meeting memorandum dated 24 July 1991. The meeting was held in Washington between Mugabe and President George H. W. Bush (Bush Sr.). Others in attendence were Brent Scowcroft, and Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, Robert C. Frasure.
According to the document, one of the two major discussion points on that meeting was Mugabe's attempt to intercede on behalf of Mengistu, the deposed Ethiopian leader.
Here is what Mugabe is reported to have said in the meeting: "Mengistu is now in Zimbabwe. It is a real shocker for us," Mugabe said. " I talked to him, and he gave me the whole history of Ethiopia, of the Arabs trying to take over. He [Mengistu] asked if it is still the view of the U.S. that Ethiopia is one country"?
In August 1989, a top American official then Assistant Secretary of State Hank Cohen the declassified document says, he assured Mengistu of America's commitment to preserve Ethiopia's "territorial integrity" and keep Ethiopia intact. President Bush after musing on Mengistu's characterization of events, requested Robert C. Frasure, (then Africa Director at the National Security Council), to respond to Mugabe's inquiry.
Frasure reply to Mugabe is as thus: "With respect, President Mugabe, Mengistu is not being straight with you. We did try to arrange a provisional government. We were trying to do that in London after Mengistu fled the country. We were on the verge of an agreement when things fell apart in Addis."
Some Western diplomats in Harare said the U.S could have facilitated Mengistu's escape, with the "good intention" of bringing about "peace and stability" to Ethiopia and quickly ending the civil war.
Foreign Affairs contacts yesterday confirmed that Mengistu and his family now hold full Zimbabwean citizenship issued in 2002.
Mengistu was charged by the Ethiopian government led by Meles Zenawi in absentia for the genocide of nearly 2,000 people. The trial began in 1994 and ended in 2006. Following an appeal on 26 May 2008, Mengistu was sentenced to death in absentia by Ethiopia's High Court, overturning his previous sentence of life imprisonment.
Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi was not reachable last night for comment, as his mobile phone went unanswered.
ZDF spokesman Overson Mugwisi is on study leave, and officials in his office requested us to send our questions in writing.
Chiwenga will thus become the first highest ranking military chief in the country's history, to assume the second most powerful office in the land, after his predecessor, the late General Vitalis Zvinavashe, came within a whisker of taking up the same office in 2004 following the death of VP Simon Muzenda, in a thrilling grand political plan that has been brewing since 2008, reportedly mooted and involving former Ethiopian leader, Mengistu Haile Mariam now exiled in Zimbabwe after receiving asylum in 1991, who is said to be the brainchild of the scheme, as a hired national security consultant of the military.
Former VP, Joice Mujuru, who is now leader of the recently formed Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) party went on to be nominated and appointed to the post, under a clever quota system for women in Zanu PF to have representation within the party presidium, which is thought to have been engineered by her late husband another military general,Solomon Mujuru.
It has also come to light that the fallen Ethiopian autocrat, has been key in advising Zanu PF to militarise elections and civilian structures, as a way of consolidating power, resulting in the opposition MDC-T being denied power, especially eight years ago when Mugabe was beaten hands down by Morgan Tsvangirai, before a violent run-off orchestrated by the army saved the day for Zanu PF in second round voting.
Only a few days ago, former Masvingo resident minister and legislator for Mwenezi East, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, booted out of Zanu PF for being a Mujuru ally, let the cat out of the bag by claiming that Mugabe personally deployed the army to wage a violent campaign against Tsvangirai and the MDC in the run-up to the presidential election re-run in 2008.
According to confidential sources within Zanu PF and army circles, Mnangagwa is likely to elbow out or demote VP Phelekezela Mphoko, to make way for Chiwenga, in a commensurate move with a brotherhood-like pact between the two, allegedly master-minded by Mengistu, when Mnangagwa was promoted to defence minister by Mugabe, as reward for his hardwork in ensuring that Zanu PF remained in power, by enfeebling the opposition into a coalition government trap, which saw Tsvangirai becoming Prime minister.
Mphoko we understand could remain one of the vice presidents in the new regime, if Mnangagwa softens up, but the coast in now clear for Chiwenga to deputise him if he seizes power this year, we are told.
"This is one of those things(Chiwenga's vice presidency), which has been in the pipeline since the controversial 2008 elections, and now gathering steam from behind the scenes," said a top Zanu PF official who has served in cabinet. "Mengistu was roped into play to give military consultancy services, while offering advise to government when needed. However he became a silent member of the Joint Operations Command, although not attending official meetings, and he has been holding important meetings to forward this agenda between 2008 -2013 either at his Gunhill mansion in Harare or his farms in Mazowe and Vumba."
JOC or the Joint Operations Command, is an influential national security organ thought to be the real power broker in the country, and it brings together the top brass from all security services.
The former minister stressed out that it is highly unlikely that Chiwenga will be fired from his post, amid media reports last December that Mugabe could drop him as the military boss, and appoint him into the Zanu PF politburo, as retribution for allegedly meddling in his explosive succession wars. First Lady, Grace, had been reported to be to be pulling the strings from behind to ensure Chiwenga's ZDF ouster, but it now appears that the General is going nowhere pending his ascendancy into the executive.
Grace has also openly accused the army and some senior service chiefs of involvement in the attempted bombing of their diary farm business, Alpha Omega in Mazowe, Mashonaland Central.
In 2014, the first lady dared Chiwenga to shoot her for coming out guns blazing against Joice Mujuru, whom she was accusing of plotting to topple Mugabe by assassination with the aide of her sympathisers in the military.
"I am not scared. I will talk about it. I even said Chiwenga should shoot me. They want to kill me," said Grace a few months before Zanu PF's controversial elective congress to choose new leaders of the party and country.
"Yes we are seeing a lot of so-called Mnangagwa allies being purged from government, and there are rumours of a cabinet reshuffle, but believe me ministers have symbolic power, those holding and controlling it's levers are in the army. That is food for thought for your paper," said the former minister.
Army sources last month said Chiwenga's recent moves to acquire a PhD, with the University of Kwazulu Natal in South Africa last year, indicates that he is aiming for higher office.
The General's degree examines alleged double standards in the United Nations Security Council humanitarian missions.
"People in his shoes do not just study for fun. It could be the case that he is aiming for a higher leadership office, and to hold such nowadays University qualifications play a role," the sources said.
Other Mugabe administration insiders, who spoke to Spotlight Zimbabwe this month, see Chiwenga and VP Mnangagwa as having connived, with Mengistu's reported aid to rope in the army machinery, to leverage its influence in drawing first blood once and for all in Zanu PF's factional wars to take over from Mugabe, now pitting deadly plots between themselves and Grace Mugabe's so called Generation 40 (G40) confederacy.
A recently declassified White House document, brings to light U.S involvement in Mengistu's passage to Zimbabwe exile. The document contains a memo, detailing an Oval Office meeting memorandum dated 24 July 1991. The meeting was held in Washington between Mugabe and President George H. W. Bush (Bush Sr.). Others in attendence were Brent Scowcroft, and Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, Robert C. Frasure.
According to the document, one of the two major discussion points on that meeting was Mugabe's attempt to intercede on behalf of Mengistu, the deposed Ethiopian leader.
Here is what Mugabe is reported to have said in the meeting: "Mengistu is now in Zimbabwe. It is a real shocker for us," Mugabe said. " I talked to him, and he gave me the whole history of Ethiopia, of the Arabs trying to take over. He [Mengistu] asked if it is still the view of the U.S. that Ethiopia is one country"?
In August 1989, a top American official then Assistant Secretary of State Hank Cohen the declassified document says, he assured Mengistu of America's commitment to preserve Ethiopia's "territorial integrity" and keep Ethiopia intact. President Bush after musing on Mengistu's characterization of events, requested Robert C. Frasure, (then Africa Director at the National Security Council), to respond to Mugabe's inquiry.
Frasure reply to Mugabe is as thus: "With respect, President Mugabe, Mengistu is not being straight with you. We did try to arrange a provisional government. We were trying to do that in London after Mengistu fled the country. We were on the verge of an agreement when things fell apart in Addis."
Some Western diplomats in Harare said the U.S could have facilitated Mengistu's escape, with the "good intention" of bringing about "peace and stability" to Ethiopia and quickly ending the civil war.
Foreign Affairs contacts yesterday confirmed that Mengistu and his family now hold full Zimbabwean citizenship issued in 2002.
Mengistu was charged by the Ethiopian government led by Meles Zenawi in absentia for the genocide of nearly 2,000 people. The trial began in 1994 and ended in 2006. Following an appeal on 26 May 2008, Mengistu was sentenced to death in absentia by Ethiopia's High Court, overturning his previous sentence of life imprisonment.
Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi was not reachable last night for comment, as his mobile phone went unanswered.
ZDF spokesman Overson Mugwisi is on study leave, and officials in his office requested us to send our questions in writing.
Source - spotlight
