After First Lady Grace Mugabe’s shock mauling of Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday, identifying the victorious Zanu PF faction in the battle to succeed her husband was an easy task.
Prior to the Mnangagwa headache that began at a stage-managed rally at the Zanu PF headquarters and Grace’s Mazowe South shocker, rumoured G40 faction’s strategist Jonathan Moyo had been fighting a lone cyber battle against “Team Lacoste”.
Days before the politburo meeting, the State-controlled media had already written him off and the former Information minister was forced to seek refuge on Twitter.
He gave as much as he received from the papers he accused of getting instructions from President Robert Mugabe’s spokesperson George Charamba. Moyo accused Charamba of fighting in Mnangagwa’s corner.
Even after the performance by Grace and Sarah Mahoka — who dared Mnangagwa to disassociate himself from those plotting against Mugabe — the papers insisted Moyo had his back against the wall.
Moyo had allegedly been banned from using social media — especially Twitter — to discuss party issues by the Zanu PF politburo on Wednesday. Grace came to his defence at the rally and admonished his critics, including the once-feared war veterans. The Tsholotsho North MP, who has survived previous attempts to push him out of Zanu PF, was back on Twitter yesterday and he had a field day.
“Good morning good Zimbabweans,” he tweeted in Ndebele and Shona.
“The day after Mazowe Crush 2 is refreshingly good. Handei Tione.”
Mazowe Crush 1 was probably the rally held at Grace’s orphanage in Mazowe where former vice-president Joice Mujuru’s fate was sealed in 2014.
The Higher and Tertiary Education minister followed up the jab with more celebratory tweets. The tweets read: “Here is the question of the day folks: What is real, indigenous and truly Zimbabwean: Lacoste Perfume or Mazowe Crush?
“The Lacoste transformation: From infesting rivers as crocos to stocking duty-free shops as perfume.”
Grace said she would soon name and shame Zanu PF officials behind youths that don T-shirts inscribed “Team Lacoste”.
Team Lacoste is said to be a faction backing Mnangagwa and Moyo has in the past claimed it is the only grouping remaining in Zanu PF opposed to Mugabe’s continued rule.
Alex Magaisa, a legal expert and political commentator based in the United Kingdom, said it was clear that Moyo had turned the tables against his rivals that include War Veterans minister Christopher Mutsvangwa.
“Charamba, Mutsvangwa and the State media were part of the offensive, which targeted Moyo and for a time it seemed that Moyo was in trouble,” he wrote on his blog after Grace’s rally.
“Now, however, they are the ones in deep mire,” he added.
However, Magaisa said it was difficult to say what would happen to Mnangagwa after Grace’s outburst considering his close relationship with Mugabe.
“He is of different and stronger political stock [than Mujuru],” he wrote. “He has been with Mugabe for more than 40 years with close roles in security-related matters.
“He has played an integral role in Zanu PF electoral successes, by means both fair and foul. He is a man who knows a lot, perhaps too much.”
Moyo was brought into Zanu PF by Mugabe after he impressed as the spokesperson of the failed initiative to draft Zimbabwe’s new constitution at the turn of the millennium.
He was fired in 2004 for allegedly being the brains behind the so-called Tsholotsho Declaration — where party structures were said to have connived to replace Mugabe with Mnangagwa.
He was readmitted into Zanu PF in 2008 after reportedly engineering Mugabe’s controversial run-off election victory after he was pummelled by MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai in the first round of the vote.
Moyo has said he learnt his lesson in 2004 well — not to associate with any Zanu PF faction plotting against Mugabe. -Standard
8 Replies to “Jonathan Moyo Knifes Mnangagwa”
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the only opportunity Zimbabweans are missing is the election time. why vote ZPF back? For ages Matabeleland had remained the only man standing until recently when they capitulated. people should not tribalize the struggle against the nexus of evil, this has been our biggest Archillles’ heel as Zimbabweans. the wrong in Mugabe is not in the tribal it is inherent in him as Mugabe, so lets deal with him as Zimbabweans from all spheres because no sphere has been spared by his unruly misrule.
the only opportunity Zimbabweans are missing is the election time. why vote ZPF back? For ages Matabeleland had remained the only man standing until recently when they capitulated. people should not tribalize the struggle against the nexus of evil, this has been our biggest Archillles’ heel as Zimbabweans. the wrong in Mugabe is not in the tribal it is inherent in him as Mugabe, so lets deal with him as Zimbabweans from all spheres because no sphere has been spared by his unruly misrule.
Then you are right. Must the people be reduced to a game of tweeters then? Must the people be subjected to such nonsense which will never change their lives?. Personally I believe the people deserve far much better than what we are seeing. Remember these are the well to do people, who must put their energy towards alleviating poverty. What do we do then ?.We the poor clap hands while they throw mud at each other’s faces. The moment we finish clapping hands, we are more hungrier and thirsty. And there is no food and water. Wake up comrades. This is not fun at all. We now need leaders who are selfless, leaders who can retire when they fail, leaders who lose sleep because there are villages starving, leaders who see the collapse of municipalities with pain. Not leaders who show off their French designed suits. They do not even mourn the death of Bulawayo textile. Truly Zimbabwe needs a messiah, anointed by God .
Then you are right. Must the people be reduced to a game of tweeters then? Must the people be subjected to such nonsense which will never change their lives?. Personally I believe the people deserve far much better than what we are seeing. Remember these are the well to do people, who must put their energy towards alleviating poverty. What do we do then ?.We the poor clap hands while they throw mud at each other’s faces. The moment we finish clapping hands, we are more hungrier and thirsty. And there is no food and water. Wake up comrades. This is not fun at all. We now need leaders who are selfless, leaders who can retire when they fail, leaders who lose sleep because there are villages starving, leaders who see the collapse of municipalities with pain. Not leaders who show off their French designed suits. They do not even mourn the death of Bulawayo textile. Truly Zimbabwe needs a messiah, anointed by God .
there is nothing petty here. t is the replay of the Chimoio of the 70s. the compromise candidatenot cmpomising at ll. he is firm at the grip.
there is nothing petty here. t is the replay of the Chimoio of the 70s. the compromise candidatenot cmpomising at ll. he is firm at the grip.
This is typical Zimbabweans, we tend to celebrate winners of petty child games fights while ordinary citizens are dying.How does that help the nation that a grandfather spends nights thinking what to tweet? The Moyos and Lacostes are not a problem, the problem is their funs who discard simple reasoning and become enslaved in this silly battle and race, which they know has only one man to decide.Zimbabweans needs need a new generation of forward looking leaders who think for the good of the people, not grannies who behave like teens, spending time tweeting while no tangible benefits are accrued to the citizens.Let them tweet but its folly to follow their craziness as they hull insults at each other.Better if they were stampeding to be best MPs serving the people.I have said it , and will always remind the people.Education can only be realised when the people benefit, not when it is used to show each other who can speak the best English.The people deserve better than this
This is typical Zimbabweans, we tend to celebrate winners of petty child games fights while ordinary citizens are dying.How does that help the nation that a grandfather spends nights thinking what to tweet? The Moyos and Lacostes are not a problem, the problem is their funs who discard simple reasoning and become enslaved in this silly battle and race, which they know has only one man to decide.Zimbabweans needs need a new generation of forward looking leaders who think for the good of the people, not grannies who behave like teens, spending time tweeting while no tangible benefits are accrued to the citizens.Let them tweet but its folly to follow their craziness as they hull insults at each other.Better if they were stampeding to be best MPs serving the people.I have said it , and will always remind the people.Education can only be realised when the people benefit, not when it is used to show each other who can speak the best English.The people deserve better than this