Mnangagwa’s Calculated Plan to Destroy Opposition-Controlled Councils Unfolds in Harare
By Farai D Hove | Analysis | Harare, Zimbabwe – In what many are calling the clearest display yet of Emmerson Mnangagwa’s systematic strategy to undermine opposition-controlled councils, chaos has erupted in Mabvuku, where long-standing residents are being evicted from their properties under dubious circumstances. The unfolding events are not isolated but rather part of a broader agenda to dismantle any functional opposition-linked governance structures, ensuring that nothing outside ZANU PF’s control operates effectively.
Mabvuku Residents Evicted Amid Corruption Allegations
The latest victims, four residents of Stand 46 Marembo Street, including Mr. Mofolo Makasa and Mrs. Maggie Mazonde, have been forcibly removed from properties they have leased and paid for since 1992. Their eviction clears the way for new beneficiaries tied to a corrupt allocation scheme allegedly overseen by officials connected to ZANU PF’s broader agenda.
Despite holding valid lease agreements and maintaining up-to-date council accounts, these residents find themselves battling illegal land grabs. Evidence of unlawful construction activities and the destruction of council boundary pegs has surfaced, highlighting a well-orchestrated attempt to erode trust in Harare’s opposition-linked municipal governance.
Mnangagwa’s Strategy to Cripple MDC-CCC Governance
Analysts argue this is the most prolific example of Mnangagwa’s masterstroke to render any opposition-controlled council dysfunctional. The confusion and mismanagement seen in Harare City Council, driven by scandals and interference, align with a calculated directive from ZANU PF: “Nothing outside ZANU PF control must work, and all MDC/CCC programs must die at Harvest House.”
This systematic sabotage ensures that even opposition factions aligned with Mnangagwa’s government-assisted proxies, like the Sengezo Tshabangu faction, will ultimately be discarded after serving their purpose of dismantling Nelson Chamisa’s influence.
Mnangagwa’s program has already delivered its poetic justice: those former MDC/CCC councillors who betrayed Chamisa, thinking the Tshabangu faction would last until 2028, are now finding themselves politically irrelevant. Their trust in ZANU PF’s temporary alliances has left them stranded as the ruling party consolidates total control.
The Role of Corruption in Mnangagwa’s Plan
The chaos in Mabvuku exemplifies the corrupt mechanisms employed to discredit and destroy opposition governance. The emergence of land barons like Jacob Jackson, boasting of strong council links, reflects the deliberate cultivation of scandals designed to tarnish the reputation of MDC/CCC-run councils.
Mr. Makasa and Mrs. Mazonde’s plight underscores the extent of this engineered dysfunction. Mr. Makasa’s valid payments were mysteriously rejected at Mabvuku council offices, only to be accepted at central offices, highlighting deliberate obfuscation. Meanwhile, illegal construction activities on their property continue unabated, supported by complicit municipal officials.
Residents Call for Justice as Betrayed Councillors Face Irrelevance
As Harare residents endure the fallout of Mnangagwa’s broader strategy, betrayed councillors who aligned with Tshabangu’s government-backed faction are discovering their political careers are effectively over. The program that dismantled Chamisa’s influence has now turned on them, leaving them to face the consequences of their short-sighted allegiance.
One affected resident, Mrs. Mazonde, expressed her frustration: “I have lived here for decades, raised my children here, and paid my bills religiously. Now, I am being evicted without justification. This is part of a wider scheme to destroy everything the opposition ever built.”
The Death of Opposition Programs
With ZANU PF ensuring that no MDC or CCC program succeeds at any level of governance, Harare’s residents are bearing the brunt of a well-coordinated agenda. The directive to render opposition governance ineffective, regardless of the faction, is not just a political strategy but a deliberate attack on the very idea of opposition in Zimbabwe.
This latest scandal in Mabvuku is not merely a land dispute but a microcosm of Mnangagwa’s genius construct: destroy the opposition from within, discredit their programs, and leave the electorate in disarray. As Mnangagwa chews up his temporary allies and consolidates power, the question remains—how long can Harare’s residents endure this systematic destruction of their city’s governance?– ZimEye