We just wanted to wish you our ZimEye readers a Happy and Prosperous 2015. We know it has been quite a journey as we went about giving you the latest news and stories through our “No guts, No Story” mantra. At times we reported under stringent conditions but we tried our best to keep you fed and informed.
As many of you will recall, 2015 was an interesting year. It started with the nabbing of suspects in the Baba Jukwa saga. We saw the Kudzai brothers being dragged before the Rotten Row courts and we heard about certain police officers who were investigating the case having been reportedly allowed to travel to Simi Valley in California USA to meet Google representatives as the case unfolded. We then heard that Kudzai challenged Inspector Makendenge to put his passport on the table as he doubted if the cops had ever even, been on a plane in their lives, let alone set feet in the USA.
Then we heard about the Grace Mugabe Doctorate award from the University of Zimbabwe. That raised a lot of eyebrows as many deemed it fake, stolen and undeserving since she was alleged to have “ordered” it by phone like pizza using her status as First Lady. Many students and academics the world over registered their concern as she became the fastest person to earn a Doctorate in a space of two months and without a proven researched thesis that was ever defended. Many politicians who were apologetic came to her defence and naively stated that there was no way she could not have earned the PhD since she lived with the President of Zimbabwe who was known to have so many academic degrees. Some college students sued on the matter to have the PhD invalidated but politics played its part and the case died a natural death. From that incident many other cases of fake degree awards started emerging especially from the UZ as politicians and their close friends and family members went in a “gold rush” to order or demand fake degrees and diplomas from the institution. That marked the collapse of a once trusted academic institution. Even Walter Kamba turned in his grave in 2014 as countless Grade 7 dropouts “earned” degrees that they hardly knew what they stood for or meant.
We also heard a top ZANU PF journalist analysing that Grace Mugabe’s buttocks Mugabe had become hot national talk, all due to epic failures at public speaking where in one occasion Grace had as it were, accidentally blurted the word ‘buttocks’ during her “Scare The People” campaigns.
In the same 2014 Grace Mugabe emerged as a contender for the head of the Women’s League. Oppah Muchinguri was allegedly taken by surprise and ordered to give way to Grace Mugabe. She kept her public face and drummed her support that was later rewarded with a position as Minister of Higher Education. Many students registered concern and even went on to make fun of her in that they saw no value in having a higher education minister who did not carry higher education credentials.
The rise of Grace Mugabe came with some fashionable words like Mazowe Crush as she launched her attacks from her Mazowe Farm. Other accompanying common words became “Gamatox” and “Weevils”. These words led to an expose of the in-house wranglings in ZANU PF. They then escalated to dizzying heights and no sooner than later some prominent cadres off the Central Committee or Politburo wagon. Notably VP Joice Mujuru, Didymus Mutasa, Nicholas Goche, Webster Shamu and many others were abandoned in the peak of the Congress. Some developed high blood pressure complications as others simply suffered quietly as they tried to save face. The public responded by either cheers or groans as some saw the purging being vital for Zimbabwe. Others however viewed the purging as merely retrogressive.
It was a good year for the First family. Their daughter Bona got married to Simba Chikore and Grace earned a PhD. Later rumours would swirl about Bona not having a baby and Chikore seeing other women but the speculation quickly died a natural death.
Then the Renewal Party became an off shoot of the MDC as there were some internal power struggles. Biti became the leader but the public questioned the lack of creativity in any opposition force in Zimbabwe for it seemed as though without an MDC prefic there could not be any sign of survival. People had become tired of the MDC syndrome after MDC-T, MDC-N, MDC-99, MDC-M and the MDC Renewal. Many questioned such lack of intellectual inventiveness but as one concluded, “an apple would never fall far away from its tree”
Then Mwonzora batted it out with Chamisa and won the Secretary General position. By coincidence Mwonzora would suffer continued persecution on his case just after the Chamisa defeat making some try to suspect some foul play as there could be no smoke without fire. In the MDC, President Tsvangirai would be allegedly running low on funds for livelihood but that was dismissed as cheap propaganda since he was collecting a government pension as ex-PM.
Sikhala emerged from his MDC T and rejoined the MDC T with a thud. He continued making some bold statements on anything of personal interest and at some point he was allegedly picked by the Law and Order for questioning. He later reported some torture but the public demanded better proof.
Then Minister Kembo Mohadi became notorious for disobeying High Court orders in Beitbridge as he wrestled for control of some immovable assets in the area. He later just went quiet in the face of the looming purging where some notorious stalwarts were being thrown off the deck. Philip Chiyangwa bounced back allegedly via the back door and he reclaimed some prominence.
Themba Mliswa started making noise over the “Gay Gangster” allegations. That was after his name was drawn into some corruption and scandal issues. Later he was slapped by a lady in Chinhoyi. The ultimate end saw Mliswa losing his chairmanship.
Simon Khaya Moyo did not have a good 2014. As he hoped to strike the VP post, he actually was shocked to almost lose his ZANU PF seat in the politburo. Then from ZANU PF indoors, Obert Mpofu was attacked by Jona Moyo as he was labelled an “elephant body with a mouse brain” after allegedly trying to get a prominent Matabeleland ZANU PF stalwart thrown off the Politburo.
It was not a good year for Gideon Gono as well. He was denied entry into main stream politics and became a nonentity.
Four significant people in ZANU PF became Patrick Zhuwawo, Jona Moyo, Saviour Kasukuwere and Oppah Muchinguri.
Overally the economy continued to face the downhill. No new jobs were created despite the colorful ZIMASSET promise. The year was dominated more by ZANU PF insider politics than anything else.
In showbiz Tocky Vibes stole the nation and replaced Jah Prayzah on fame.
Happy New Year Zimbabwe!!!!