Chiefs, army, farmers to plot Zanu victory
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
Written by Jane Makoni
Thursday, 07 October 2010 06:00
HARARE – Traditional Chiefs, new farmers and senior army commanders are
expected to meet tomorrow (Friday), at Army 2 Brigade Headquarters in
Harare, to plan how to secure Mugabe’s grip on power, The Zimbabwean has
learnt. “Thirty traditional chiefs, senior army senior officers and new
farmers are expected to converge at Cranborne Barracks to find ways of
retaining Mugabe as president after the next elections expected in 2011,”
said a highly placed source within the traditional leadership.
Rapid land distribution to blacks and the next elections would dominate the
Cranborne agenda, he said. The military, new farmers and traditional
leadership were expected to provide a life-line for Mugabe and Zanu (PF).
Top party officials would also attend the meeting.
The source said a huge gathering was expected and as Zanu (PF) was broke,
representatives of new farmers and party faithful were going around
communities with a begging bowl to raise cash to bankroll the indaba.
“Zanu (PF) no longer trusts civilians, hence the selection of army barracks
as a meeting point. Security would be tight and no ‘peeping Toms’ will be
accommodated. Participants would be thoroughly vetted. Low-ranking soldiers
were expected to grace the occasion as they were regarded instrumental in
propping up Zanu (PF)’s waning political fortunes through terror campaigns,”
added the source.
As usual, partisan traditional leadership remains central to Zanu (PF)’s
intimidation machinery. Chiefs and headmen around the country continue to
threaten suspected MDC supporters and, in some cases, evict them for
refusing to join Zanu (PF).
People contributing at Copac meetings suggested it should be enshrined in
the constitution that traditional leadership be apolitical and discharge
their traditional rolls in a non-partisan manner. Others said if traditional
leaders wanted to be politicians, then their offices should be occupied by
elected officials.