Zimbabwe: The Goblin have been toppled by a military coup d’état!

This has been long awaited, as people has sought refuge and has fled to safety abroad. The final nail in coffin of the 37 years was when the G-40 decided to ditch Edison Mnangagwa as the Vice President, the one aligned with the Lacost and the War Veterans. Clearly the President Robert Mugabe, who loyal to his wife Grace and her political affiliates though they could get away with everything. With standing that, they have been able to do so since 1980. It is not so strange that the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) G-40 fraction thought

Yesterday and today, we are seeing the consequences of being affiliated with ruling regime. We could see that with the uncertainty yesterday, while the ZANU-PF and their loyalist was trying to deflect it all as a military exercise. Since now, we know that Mugabe put under house arrest, several of key allies are detained, and the army seals off the Parliament, Zimbabwe Broadcasting Company and other places.

While the was reports that Grace would become VP at the next ZANU Conference in December, clearly as reports are posting. She has fled the republic and is somewhere located in Namibia. Therefore, while the G-40 loyalist are speaking of their love for the military and distancing themselves from Mugabe or are already detained shows how quickly their power was taken away. This is clearly fake news as: “Namibian international relations sources have denied that #gracemugabe, wife of under-fire Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, has left the country for Namibia” (Namibian Sun, 15.11.2017). So her whereabouts is unsure, but she must be feeling estranged, as her importance has dwindled dramatically in the last 48 hours.

It is apparent as just days ago when Harare International Airport was renamed after Mugabe, just like the main-road in Harare, the University and all the other things. His name is put on everywhere and on everything. After this coup, expect it to go down and be put in the garbage.

We don’t know how long the army will keep power or if they are installing Mnangagwa as the successor of Mugabe. What we do know is that Mugabe and his G-40 are stripped of power, because of the greedy wife. That must be a downturn that one destroying for his life presidency was his better half and not a common enemy. Certainly, not even the wives can be loyal or be in line with program enough to keep the checks- and balance in order.

We can just wonder how the rest will follow as the guards, the military and the guns are surround the vital hot-spot and the old leadership of Mugabe. He must clearly see his demise, if he remembers that he is under house arrest and not waiting for a cup of coffee with Tony Blair. We can imagine what people feel after hearing their 37 years under him is over, even the future is uncertain, but many has waited for the Goblin, Mr. Mugabe to lose power.

There was signs, but there been changes of VP’s in past, but certainly not at a time where the army has send signals and stopped ordinary state media broadcasting like yesterday. We knows that means change. Lacoste part of ZANU disfranchised by Grace plus the endangered economy and impunity against activists. Should be reasons for this turmoil and this coup.

Still, what roam at large, is the uncertainty of what this means and how long this transition and when there will be hold credible elections. As well, as get ordinary order with also checks of the previous old crimes of the previous regimes. So that the people who suffered under the previous ones, can get their grievances cleared and start a fresh. In 37 years of reign, Mugabe has hurt and destroyed enough peoples lives, that they want to patch their hurt. Even if the wounds will never totally heal. Still, the investigations and repercussions for the old sins should come to the courts and be settled.

We know the loyalists doubted this day would happen at all, as the Mugabe presidency continued, as the biblical and afterlife, he would still rule. Something that is today a mere laugh, as himself is put under house arrest awaiting further instructions from the military. The rest of the matter is with unease. There are many arrests and some are trying to run. Some are silently waiting at their homes, but the loyalists will be caught by the army, it is just a matter of time.

We just have to wait for more report and certainty of all the actions, as the rumors are scattered at the moment, since the army and the others are trying to find out. As well, as journalists are also stopped on the border or on the airport not able to come in. Therefore, the army is closing the reports on the ground and trying to keep silent about all of their activity.

Mugabe and Grace, was clearly unprepared and thought they were Teflon. Apparently, they was not, the counting ballots at the pearly gates should also be shattered now. Peace.

EFF Statement on Political Developments in Zimbabwe (15.11.2017)

Republic of South Africa statement: “Update on the Zimbabwean Situation” (15.11.2017)

Audio: Zimbabwe Military Coup (14.11.2017)

ISSA reacts to latest developments in Zimbabwe (Youtube-Clip)

“Tanks were seen moving near Zimbabwe’s capital Harare this afternoon. The reason for their presence is not clear.
Earlier today Zimbabwe Zanu-PF youths said they are prepared to die in defence of President Robert Mugabe’s government. This comes a day after the military threatened to intervene if Mugabe does not rein in his warring Zanu-PF lieutenants” (SABC Digital News, 2017)

Zimbabwe: Press Statement by the ZANU PF National Secretary for Information and Publicity CDE. S.K. Moyo (14.11.2017)

Zimbabwe: Press Statement by Former Hon. V.P. E.D. Mnangagwa (08.11.2017)

Zimbabwe: Press Conference by the Zimbabwe Liberation War Veterans Association on the State of the Nation and Party as of 8th of November, 2017 (08.11.2017)

Opinion: VP Mnangagwa fall from grace; Now a open battle between Team Lacoste Vs G-40 within Zanu-PF!

Another Vice President has lost their job as a result of a fall from GRACE”Seretse Khama Ian Khama (President of Botswana, 7th November 2017).

We should know now that everything is prepared for succession of Grace Mugabe to become President, she is preparing through her allies within Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), though her alliance within the G-40 group, while trying to send the Team Lacoste out. This has now been done with the axing of VP Emmerson Mnangawa, but what they forget is the already tiredness of the Mugabe presidency and the eminent problems coming with elections and hyper-inflation. It is not like the rise of Grace Mugabe from Robert Mugabe will be smooth in anyways. This has even been reported in September 2017:

First lady Grace Mugabe was on Friday told to her face that she is the leader of the G40 faction in Zanu PF as members of Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Team Lacoste launched a spirited fight back during a tense central committee meeting, it has been revealed” (…) “Betty Mutero, a key Mnangagwa backer, is said to have thrown the cat among the pigeons when she claimed that G40 wanted to kill Mnangagwa and that Grace was the faction’s leader. “She said G40 wanted to kill Mnangagwa so that Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko would take over as acting VP and pass on power to Grace in the event that Mugabe is incapacitated,” a well-placed source said. “She said G40 kingpins will then wrest power from Grace. She said the president was being lied to that VP Mnangagwa wanted to take over power from him.” (The Standard, 2017).

So when this sort of stories are coming in the months before the sacking, the Lacoste Team and the G-40 was clearly barricaded against each other. As Grace wanted to get the throne from her husband and be excelled to VP. This is as the allies of Lacoste could be costly, as the meager support for G-40 have been proven, as the Zanu-PF rallies has been booed and not been a festivity of joy of late. Grace Mugabe has been more vocal and trying to prove her role within the administration. Therefore, the latest move of expelling the Lacoste members might be costly in the long-run, while the throne will be moved to the G-40.

As this was reported today:

HARARE – Several allies of former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa have been fired by their respective provinces, with the decision now awaiting ratification by the Zanu PF politburo.

There was a complete whitewash of Mnangagwa’s acolytes in Manicaland, where a provincial coordinating committee (PCC) meeting held in the mountainous city of Mutare purged 38 of the former vice president’s allies. Zanu PF heavyweights, among them Cyber Security minister Patrick Chinamasa; Water and Climate minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri; Scholarships minister Chris Mushowe; deputy minister of Health and Child Care Win Mlambo; former Cabinet minister Hubert Nyanhongo; deputy minister of Local Government Christopher Chingosho and Buhera West legislator Oliver Mandipaka, were expelled from the party. “There was a resolution that vice president Mnangagwa should be recalled and that we should find his foot-soldiers and make resolutions for their expulsions,” said Zanu PF Manicaland provincial secretary for administration Kenneth Saruchera in announcing the expulsions. This comes as the provinces also stampeded to recommend the elevation of First lady Grace Mugabe, as Mnangagwa’s successor” (Zimbabwe Situation, 07.11.2017).

So clearly the will to consolidate all power around Grace Mugabe is happening as Robert Mugabe is altered by his wife. Grace is de-facto leader and playing the cards of the party, since she is behind the sackings and expelling of fellow Lacoste MPs and Cabinet Members, also the VP Mnangagwa. This will not go down soft. That is why the State Media has a story today like this for the former loyal ally and VP:

Dismissed Zimbabwean Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been accused by state media of plotting to seize power. No sources were quoted for this information” (…) “In its editorial on Tuesday, the state-owned Chronicle newspaper accused Mnangagwa of attempts to stampede Mr Mugabe, who has led the country for thirty-seven years. “The President had warned his deputy time and again to desist from having grand designs to seize power unconstitutionally,” the Bulawayo-based paper said. The paper accused the removed deputy president of fanning divisions in the Zanu-PF, despite the public knowledge of Generation 40, a pro Zanu PF group, advancing the course of first lady Grace Mugabe (News Africa, 2017).

So the state is already assuming the role of making Mnangagwa the fallen and the treasonous character, even if he has been loyal all along to the paradigm of Zanu-PF. This is done to make excuses and certainty that he cannot establish himself in his role and neither tak away the G-40 takeover of the Zanu-PF. So that Grace can take his role, because the former VP was wrong and trying to overpower Robert Mugabe.

So the G-40 and Grace are using all tricks, but the part of Zanu-PF who are loyal to Mnangagwa will clearly make noise at the Delegates Conference in December, when Grace will most likely become the new VP by the delegates. Even if the disgruntled War-Veterans who has walked away and also the Team Lacoste. All of this is proving the ruthless formation all in and around her. That will not create a better environment, but it would secure her in the short-con, but not for the long-con.

That this can be costly and create friction is clear, as the Zanu-PF cronyism and the sackings to consolidate power, gives Grace and President less people to pay-off, but also new enemies. Since they have thrown them out and expelled them. They will not follow commands and be there for the Presidency, as they are disgruntled former loyalists. In the short term, President Mugabe and wife as VP might be successful in a family takeover of Zanu-PF and Zimbabwe. Even get her to succeed the aging husband, who has advanced age already.

Still, the axing of VP Mnangagwa should be seen as a sign of how the Mugabe family and G-40 wants to take total control of the party, to another level even leaving all of Team Lacoste behind. Like they have done with others in the past. They are just the latest part of Zanu-PF who gotten disenfranchised by Robert Mugabe and his closest allies. Peace.

Reference:

News Africa – ‘ZIMBABWE: STATE MEDIA ACCUSES SACKED VICE PRESIDENT OF PLOTTING A COUP’ (07.11.2017) link: https://newsafricaonline.com/2017/11/07/zimbabwe-state-media-accuses-sacked-vice-president-of-plotting-a-coup/

The Standard – ‘Team Lacoste vs G40: ED ‘poisoning’ triggers vicious fight’ (10.09.2017) link: https://www.thestandard.co.zw/2017/09/10/team-lacoste-vs-g40-ed-poisoning-triggers-vicious-fight/

Zimbabwe: “Mr Mnangagwa is now the most POWERFUL man in Zimbabwe according to A.Lumumba” (Youtube-Clip)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHT69Evm_UQ