Zimbabwe: Citizens’ Manifesto – “A Better Zimbabwe is Possible” (01.12.2017)

Opinion: Mnangagwa’s message with the newly announced cabinet is that it’s a dream wrapped as a nightmare!

They’ve promised that dreams can come true – but forgot to mention that nightmares are dreams, too.”Oscar Wilde

President Emmerson Mnangagwa have today announced his new cabinet of 39 ministers of the old and of the cronies with Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF). There isn’t a magic wand or big change from the people that Mugabe picked in recent years. What is new is that there is two military leaders within the Cabinet, this being Major General Sibusiso Moyo, who are appointed as the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The other are Air Marshal Perrance Shiri as Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement.

President Mnangagwa has not offered anyone the Vice-President position, the position and place he had until recently. Before the military coup and the eviction of Mugabe. Most of the ones picked in usual faces with ZANU-PF. There are no coalition or no place for Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and Morgan Tsvangirai, neither has the political assassin Acie Lumumba gotten any appointment, even after announcing him leaving his own party, Viva Zimbabwe. We can wonder if any other of the opposition feels like the Mugabe change was “much ado about nothing”.

The 18th November seems for all opposition like a betrayal as the Cabinet was announced. Only the ones eating in the Lacoste and the military will be happy. People are even spreading rumors that Zimbabwe Defense Force General Commander Constantino Chiwenga will get the honorable post of VP. That the coup has gotten all power and hired stooges of Lacoste fraction of ZANU-PF to make sure they got settled. The beauty of it all, was that Civil Society, Opposition Politicians and Activists bought into the narrative in the midst of change in mid-November.

Those dreams has been shattered. They have been broken and was brutally destroyed when the state sealed their deal with this cabinet. This is more of the same, just with another head, then the one who was there for 37 years and was preparing to install his wife. The family dynasty would eat the ZANU-PF and was close to do so. It was all prepared for the December conference for Grace Mugabe. As now President was put into Exile.

Now Chiwenga and Mnangagwa is continuing from where Mugabe left of. As explained by Jealousy Mawarire: “Mnangagwa Cabinet, retains 23 Mugabe Ministers, brings in 2 soldiers, including coup announcer & resurrects 3 fired by Mugabe” (Mawarire, 30.11.2017).

So there isn’t a real change, but more of the same, but another head. We just miss to see who he trust in his place. However, we wouldn’t be shocked if htat is Chiwenga. To just show the power of the Army, who has already gotten their space in the Cabinet.

We just know now, that the changes done are artificial and the next 8 months will not be much different. They want to secure their wealth and their positions. Not genuine change of any kind. Only some more military presence in the central government. Chiwenga will have something to say and that is without a doubt. Mnangagwa do not want to play with fire, as he used fire to get rid of Mugabe.

The people, #ThisFlag and all others has still a mile to walk. Maybe even further, maybe as far as to the moon. They have to show flex and show muscles. This is a continuation after the military took control and stopped the cult surrounding Mugabe, for a hot minute the same has been done around Mnangagwa. However, now the reality there. Even arrested Ministers like Chinamasa, the Financial Minister gotten his Ministry back. Clearly, the loyalty to the party pays off. Especially in the eyes of Mnangagwa. The Cvs and asking for references before hiring, was a PR Stunt and not a reality!

If you feel betrayed after the 18th November 2017, that is fine, but the ZDF and ZANU-PF are trying to keep control of all their assets and their riches. They are still showing the values that is eating them and the state. Soon, the goblin’s ways and the crocodile’s ways cannot be separated, as they act and talk the same game. Mnangagwa, has clearly tuned into the same tune, but not re-configuring to the promises and hopes within the people.

Some glasses has been shattered today, some hopes has been destroyed, but the people shall not give in and give way. After what they know and what they need to do. Last time, the Military did their duty and got rid of the despot. However, it didn’t get rid of the system or it’s cronies. All of them are there and are not planning to rest. Certainly, the movements and civil society has to react to this. They have to show their disappointment and see more of the disgraced leadership still ruling the country.

Mnangagwa has not given new brooms or new people a chance to make a difference. He has hired more of the same. Its not a good morning and smell the coffee. It is more of yesterdays burned brew and bitter aftertaste. “Much Ado About Nothing”. Peace.

Zimbabwe: President Mnangagwa’s Cabinet announced today (30.11.2017)

Gen. Mugisha Muntu Press Statement (29.11.2017)

Zimbabwe: Update from President ED Mnangagwa – Lacoste 13 Point Programme (29.11.2017)

Opinion: I expect Gen. Mugisha Muntu to start his own Political Party tomorrow!

Well, it has come to this, not this is wished upon as Retired General Mugisha Muntu has supporters all over for his moderate and strong belief in peaceful transformation of the Republic. Still, it is has not grasped enough and gotten traded in well within the Forum for Democratic Change own delegates before the recent internal elections.

Its been interesting in the aftermath of the recent internal elections, that the National Resistance Movement and their supporters has spread messages of fear and of dismay of the result. Like it where their own elections. Maybe, because there is only sole-candidacy and handpicked candidates that are getting chosen inside the NRM. Therefore, the FDC delegation and conference this recent week proven their democratic display. Not the result that Muntu or his allies wanted, but it showed that he still carries a big delegation and a loyal base. Even if Patrick Oboi Amuriat won over him.

Therefore, the change of Party President shouldn’t bring him down, but it is humiliating to lose. Still, Nathan Nandala-Mafabi did the same in the last time around and he is still a viable figure inside the Party. It is not like it is a death sentence to lose the Presidency. The first Party President was Dr. Kizza Besigye and he is still significant. Some says it his own making that Muntu has lost his place. That Besigye is all behind POA. That POA is no-one without Besigye. Besigye and POA are might both part of the same fraction of the party. Since they want the party to be more spirited with the Defiance and less of the Muntu spirited compliance.

That is also maybe reason why Muntu lost, Muntu is brave, but also shielded from a lot in the recent year. While other of the Defiance fraction has been detained and legal trouble. Muntu and friends has skated off into the sunset. This and his decisions to actually accept that the FDC are the leading opposition party in the Parliament. Which means they also formed a Shadow Government, as if they weeks and days before was saying was illegitimate. Therefore, Muntu have mad the bed himself and now has to sleep in it.

Muntu knew and knows what is brewing inside a party, who should be tired by the little movement and the stalemate. The Stalemate that is lasting now for two decades against the NRM. That Besigye, Muntu and all other in the leadership hasn’t been able at this point to have peaceful transition from the NRM. Since Museveni and his party of sole candidacy is staying either by the rigged ballots or by the guns.

Fellow Ugandans, I would like to thank all of you for the great show of support for the pursuit of democracy as well as our concerted and continuing struggle for a better Uganda. I will be holding a press conference tomorrow at 10am at Hotel Africana. God bless you all” (Mugisha Muntu, 28.11.2017).

That is why this significant message from Muntu is telling. Since he as the former Party President should know the stakes ahead inside the FDC. It isn’t that Besigye kicked him out and got in a puppet as the Party President. But, that the moderate and careful working Muntu wasn’t proactive enough or even professing to the needed changes within the FDC.

That is why I expect him to start a new Political Party, as he will not be leader under POA or try to contest Besigye again for the Presidential Race. He rather run on his own and try to create his own party. He might bring with him many of the Shadow Government MPs and others. Muntu might bring a big group from the FDC. While FDC becoming more revolutionary and more in the spirit of defiance against the resistance.

What that will say about his, it might be a fluke or hot air like Go-Forward of Amama Mbabazi. It might be a party of the size of Conservative Party, Democratic Party or Uganda People’s Congress. But it might not have the role that FDC has and the FDC will find new leaders for the ones who left. There are lots inside the structure and the years on the sideline of the NRM.

It will not be easy for Muntu to be another one who works for himself. He has to challenge both FDC, but NRM. As well as all the rest of the Opposition parties. If that will be easy in this political climate, as the police are shutting down and silencing their consultations/meetings. That will happen with Muntu if he tries to be someone and somebody. He will not be in peace, unless he does like Beti Kamya and Uganda Federal Alliance, which is now a loyal stooge of the NRM.

We can just await and see what happens tomorrow. If he will roll out a new party, if he has plans inside the FDC or if he goes independent. There are rumors and speculations of several opposition MPs to be part of the press conference at Hotel Africana. That might happen tomorrow. We don’t know at this point, what we do know is that he has these options.

We can assume certain movement from him because he stated this after losing on the 25th November:

I want to operate in an environment where I feel I am trusted by those that I am working with. So colleagues, I don’t want to be unfair to you nor do I want to say that you are being unfair to me. Therefore, at a personal level, there are decisions I will have to make in the coming days and weeks. I ask for your patience and prayers. We need to bear with each other even as we ponder on the decision that we will have to make. We do our part as human beings and the rest we leave it to God” (Mugisha Muntu, 25.11.2017).

So, we know he feels disgruntled, because people are unhappy with some of his actions and of some of his decisions after the General Election in 2016. It is because of that, people has lost it and he also lost vital supports inside the party. Still, Muntu will get backers from the FDC if he shifts. That will be over the Defiance, but also because of his compliance.

We will see what happens. But will Muntu do like Mbabazi and try it all on his own? Nevertheless, his party would have longer time before the next election, than what Go-Forward had before the 2016 election. Peace.

Zimbabwe: Talking Notes for His Excellency President E.D. Mnangagwa’s Inaugural Meeting with Permanent Secretaries (28.11.2017)

Zimbabwe: President Mnangagwa order – “Granting of a Three-Month Amnesty for the Return of Illegally Externalised Funds and Assets” (28.11.2017)

Red Pepper Publication Limited: Charge Sheet from Buganda Road Court (27.11.2017)

Zimbabwe: Joint Statement by the Zimbabwe Defence Force and Security Services of Zimbabwe (27.11.2017)