Mugabe sets up military state
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/
Written by Vusimuzi Bhebhe
Saturday, 28 August 2010 13:54
HARARE – The appointment of serving and retired soldiers to various
committees to oversee implementation of Zimbabwe’s controversial company
ownership law has once again exposed President Robert Mugabe’s determination
to establish a de facto military state amid fears that the indigenisation
scheme is another facade to enrich Zanu (PF) cronies. (Pictured: Mugabe)
Top military officials and other Mugabe allies dominated committees recently
announced by Indigenisation Minister Saviour Kasukuwere to help the
government set percentages of shareholding foreign-owned companies in
different sectors of the economy must transfer to locals. The decision to
set varying empowerment thresholds for each sector was adopted about two
months ago, in a major shift from an earlier requirement that foreign firms
cede 51 percent shareholding to local blacks.
In a move that has become all too familiar in Zimbabwe since 2000, Mugabe
appointed retired army officers Gibson Mashingaidze and Mike Karakadzai to
sit on some of the committees that will determine how much foreign
shareholders will be required to transfer to locals. Other pro-Mugabe
supporters appointed to the committees included the acerbic presidential
spokesman George Charamba, Affirmative Action Group President Supa
Mandiwanzira and controversial Zimbabwe Tourism Authority boss Karikoga
Kaseke.
Increasingly paranoid
But it is the appointment of the retired army officers that raised eyebrows.
Both men – together with another retired army officer Brigadier-General
Douglas Nyikayaramba – appear to feature prominently in Mugabe’s
militarisation scheme.
Mashingaidze is the current head of the Zimbabwe Sports and Recreation
Commission and sits on the board of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.
He allegedly participated in violence-marred June 2008 presidential run-off
campaign together with Major General Rugeje when they headed the Masvingo
provincial team that masterminded attacks on Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai’s supporters. Karakadzai is head of the struggling National
Railways of Zimbabwe. An increasingly paranoid Mugabe has become reliant on
the military for political survival over the past few years.
The veteran Zimbabwean leader has over the past few years appointed serving
as well as retired members of the armed forces to take charge of almost
every sector, including the running of elections. For example, the immediate
past chairman of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission that runs polls, George
Chiweshe, was a former judge advocate general in the army and was appointed
to the High Court in 2001 after Mugabe purged the bench of independent
judges. He took charge of the commission in 2005 until the appointment of a
new body early this year.
Other former military officers appointed to head key state firms and
institutions included former Attorney General Sobuza Gula-Ndebele who is an
ex-military intelligence officer and retired colonel Samuel Muvuti who
headed the state’s Grain Marketing Board (GMB) until 2007.
Veto power
The GMB is often accused by human rights groups of refusing food aid to
opposition supporters as punishment for not backing Mugabe. The army has
been in control of food distribution for several years now via control of
GMB sales depots, the only source of affordable maize in rural areas. Most
of the former military personnel participated in Zimbabwe’s 1970s
war of independence and have vowed unwavering loyalty to Mugabe, who at 86
years is one of Africa’s oldest leaders.
The appointments mean that the army is effectively in charge of food
distribution, transport, industry and trade, sport and finance.
Through the notorious Joint Operations Command (JOC), the army also controls
Zimbabwe’s defence, state security, home affairs and foreign affairs. The
military therefore controls the finances in one way or the other and
dictates the country’s foreign policy. That explains why a number of
military men are on diplomatic missions. Retired Major General Jevan Maseko
is Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Cuba while retired Brigadier-General Elisha
Muzonzini heads the mission in Kenya.
Hardline Zimbabwean army generals have refused to publicly recognise the
inclusive government’s authority, especially former opposition leader – now
Prime Minister – Tsvangirai’s role. The hardline generals – who include
Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander Constantine Chiwenga, police commission
general Augustine Chihuri and Central Intelligence Organisation deputy
director general Maynard Muzariri – are believed to hold a de facto veto
over the transition process by taking advantage of their positions and
symbiotic relationship with Mugabe.
The cabal of powerful generals, with the support of elements in Zanu (PF),
still believes that Tsvangirai should not be permitted to lead the country,
even if he wins an election.