DEAR EDITOR—What is it about former Zanu PF officials with attacking officials who are currently in power? I wonder what motivates them. The cases of Dumiso Dabengwa, Jonathan Moyo and Retired General Vitalis Zvinavashe are cases in point.
Dumiso Dabengwa attacked the Zanu PF government for imposing military rule on the country. He said: “I have been informed that powerful people within Zanu PF convinced Mugabe to stay.”
Jonathan Moyo, the loud mouth former minister of information who was implicated in the Tsholotsho saga which sought to impose a presidential candidate on the Zanu PF government, also took a swipe at the government he once served.
He said Zimbabwe will be on fire if President Mugabe wins elections and that he “can only win by blatant outrageous cheating and rigging the election.” Zimbabwe will be plunged into a civil war if Mugabe wins, said Moyo last month in Johannesburg.
General Vitalis Zvinavashe after losing a Senate election contest for Gutu constituency said, “There is no need to fight over these results. We must accept the reality that we have lost these elections to the MDC. What is important is to live together in peace, both losers and winners. We do not want violence in this area. We are relatives.”
He said: “Most of us lost these elections not because we are not popular in our constituencies. We lost these harmonised elections because of one man. People rejected us because we were campaigning for Mugabe. People in Masvingo have rejected him and we became collateral damage. There is no reason to fight with the MDC over this election. The real problem is that man not us.”
It is interesting that all these individuals have made a lot of money from their positions in government in the past and are now irrelevant in Zimbabwean politics as new players come on board.
I do not know what Ret. General Zvinavashe means when he says Zanu PF should concede defeat. Individuals like him, who lost elections, should concede defeat. Why did Ret. Gen. Zvinavashe decide to speak on these issues, but remain mum on the violence crippling the country?
These people make statements made to cripple the ruling party. Are they realising that time has run out for them as individuals?
Could Dumiso Dabengwa care to tell Zimbabwean people where he got the wealth that he has today. The man was simply a civil servant. He was reported to be battling against Chiyangwa to buy a million dollar (in US terms) steel company in Matabeleland. Where did Dabengwa get all this money? These individuals parade themselves as saints, yet fail to reveal some of the back door deals they are involved in themselves.
Jonathan Moyo, of all people, cannot preach to people about democracy. I do not know what people see in him. This guy, some 6-8 years ago was one of the most dangerous leaders our country has ever seen. Moyo brought disrepute to the Ministry of Information and was responsible for the closure of independent broadcasters in the country ― something that Sikhanyiso Ndlovu is trying to reverse now. Moyo was notorious and taught Zanu PF the tough talk it uses today. It is ironic that Moyo now challenges the very policies that he put in place.
One wonders whether Moyo would have been saying the same things had the Tsholotsho saga gone the other way.
Zimbabweans are smarter than these people want us to believe. They cannot make these irresponsible statements and think Zimbabweans will quickly embrace them without scrutiny.
Tendai Mhere Belvedere, Harare
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READER OPINIONS
n/a • n/a Subject: correction Wed, 14 May 2008 17:05:54 • revise your work before submitting jonathan moyo was not a minister of finance as u suggested in your first few lines..........
[many thanks-corrected]
Sadhaki Observer • n/a Subject: well said Wed, 14 May 2008 10:26:06 • Its all about power and money. They are all corrupt. Jonathan is a proud owner of a farm- courtesy of Mugabe's Land Reform programme, yet Jonny, having been spat by zanu pf, he now want us to fight his own personal battles.
Have you noticed a certain pattern of these ex-zanu pf associates. They have now entered into a marriage or is it marriages of conviniences with al those who are no longer part of the clique?
Despite their sharp differences in the past - Jonathan Moyo was featured on headlines news by Geff Nyarota yesterday simply because he mentioned that Geoff is the best investigative journalist. Geff acknowledged that Jonathan is now MDC - funny isnt it? They ate with zanu pf before, now they are jumping onto the MDC train so they can eat again! Some people have no shame!
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