#zimbabweanlivesmatter

 ZIMBABWE NEWS NETWORK BLOGSPOT HEADLINES

07/08/2020

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is reported to have shouted at Vice President Chiwenga over plots to topple him during the 31 July protests in a move that shows growing tensions within government.

 https://zimnewsnet.blogspot.com/2020/08/emmerson-mnangagwa-is-reported-to-have.html

LATEST: Ramaphosa finally acts on Zimbabwe

 https://zimnewsnet.blogspot.com/2020/08/ramaphosa-finally-acts-on-zimbabwe.html

“Mnangagwa is not safe”

https://zimnewsnet.blogspot.com/2020/08/is-not-safe-zimnewsnet-blogspot-talent.html

US won't hesitate to take action: Trump tells Mnangagwa after slapping Kuda Tagwirei with sanctions

https://zimnewsnet.blogspot.com/2020/08/wont-hesitate-to-take-action-trump.html

RUSERE BLAMES MNANGAGWA'S GOVERNMENT FOR CORRUPTION AND CLEARS THE WEST.

https://zimnewsnet.blogspot.com/2020/08/how-zimbabwe-turned-into-state-talent.html

EXCLUSIVE BREAKING NEWS: ZDF Commander Gives Mnangagwa Marching Orders

https://zimnewsnet.blogspot.com/2020/08/breaking-news-zdf-commander-gives.html

 President Emmerson Mnangagwa is reported to have shouted at Vice President Chiwenga over plots to topple him during the 31 July protests in a move that shows growing tensions within government.

Zimnewsnet Blogspot

-Talent Rusere

-07/08/2020

At the recent politburo meeting of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front’s last week, Mnangagwa shouted at Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, according to two people familiar with the situation. They asked not to be identified because the quarrel hasn’t been publicly disclosed.

 

Zimnewsnet reports that;

The president accused his deputy of instigating a plan to use an opposition protest on July 31 over the deteriorating economic situation to embarrass the national leader, the people said. Some party members would have been encouraged to demonstrate alongside the opposition, but focus their criticism on Mnangagwa to weaken his standing within the ruling party, the people said.

Chiwenga denied any plot against the president, saying he’d endorsed Mnangagwa as president for Zimbabwe’s 2023 elections, the people said. He said he had protected Mnangagwa against enemies within the party who have now fled the country.

The clash shows the tension between Mnangagwa, 77, and Chiwenga, the 63-year-old former head of the armed forces who installed Mnangagwa when he led a November 2017 coup that ousted President Robert Mugabe. Some military leaders and their allies have grown increasingly impatient as inflation has exceeded 700% and shortages of fuel and food have become rife.

Calls to government spokesman Nick Mangwana and Chiwenga’s office weren’t answered when Bloomberg sought comment.

Mnangagwa’s relationship with the military is complex. It elevated the former spy chief to power, but at the same time Chiwenga is seen by analysts as ambitious and impatient to take over from Mnangagwa. The ex-military general wields influence within the ruling party and was this week handed oversight of the Health Ministry.

In June, military leaders held a press conference to say they weren’t planning a coup, stoking speculation of disquiet within the ruling elite. Still, later that month they ordered the closing of the stock exchange and banned large mobile-money transfers in a bid to stabilize its collapsing national currency, people familiar with the situation said at the time.

At last week’s meeting, Mnangagwa brandished fliers denigrating him that were seized by the Central Intelligence Organisation from the home of Cleveria Chizema, the party’s health secretary, the people said. Chizema has been suspended. She didn’t answer calls to her mobile phone.

The fliers called for Zanu-PF supporters to join the opposition protest, which was stillborn after security forces deployed on the streets of the capital, Harare. That deployment stoked the latest round of speculation of increasing military influence on the government.

 LATEST: Ramaphosa finally acts on Zimbabwe

Zimnewsnet Blogspot

-Talent Rusere

12h

LATEST: Ramaphosa finally acts on Zimbabwe

President Cyril Ramaphosa

SOUTH African president Cyril Ramaphosa has finally taken steps to try and remedy the fast deteriorating human rights situation in Zimbabwe through appointment of special envoys to engage the Harare administration.

This follows massive pressure from both prominent and ordinary South Africans to take a position on Zimbabwe.

Social media protesters have been pushing Ramaphosa as the AU chairperson to act on the situation.

Ramaphosa was attacked by the online protesters after he posted condolences message on explosions in Lebanon that brought massive human loss and property while remaining tight-lipped on the situation next door.

Reads a statement from Ramaphosa’s office, “The President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa, has appointed Dr. Sydney Mufamadi and Ms Baleka Mbete as his Special Envoys to Zimbabwe, following recent reports of difficulties that the Republic of Zimbabwe is experiencing.

“The Special Envoys are expected to engage the Government of Zimbabwe and relevant stakeholders to identify possible ways in which South Africa can assist Zimbabwe.

Mufamadi is the former Minister of Provincial and Local Government (1999 to 2008).

In 1994, after South Africa’s first democratic elections, he was appointed Minister of Safety and Security in the Government of National Unity – a position he held until 1999.

Mbete is former South African Deputy President, former Speaker of the National Assembly and former Chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC).

Said the statement, “The President’s Special Envoys will leave for Zimbabwe as soon as all the arrangements are made.”

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been accused of visiting brutalities on opponents and government critics through arrests, abductions and torture by state security agents.

However, the Harare administration has adamantly rejected claims of rights abuses in the country with with Information Ministry permanent secretary Nick Mangwana describing the reports as the “works of detractors bent on tarnishing the country’s image”.

“To set the record straight, there is no crisis implosion in Zimbabwe. Neither has there been any abduction or war on citizens,” he said Thursday.

On Tuesday, Mnangagwa took an adamant stance, telling the nation in a special address his administration was under relentless attack from enemy forces both within and outside.

He vowed his government will stop at nothing to enforce law and order within a restive population.

 Mnangagwa is not safe”

“Mnangagwa is not safe”

Zimnewsnet Blogspot

-Talent Rusere

-07/08/2020

The military, who led the coup that ousted Mugabe in November 2017, seems likely to play an ever more prominent role in government – as indicated by Tuesday’s appointment of former army chief to the post of health minister.

“Mnangagwa cannot be safe. It would be insane for him to think he’s safe. There’s no doubt he has lost the confidence and support of the military,” said Jonathan Moyo, an exiled former minister in Mugabe’s government.

“This is now a clueless, corrupt, incompetent government. The economic meltdown is deepening. There’s no coherent approach. People are on their own,” he said.

“Mugabe had his own problems, but people never felt there was no government. With Mugabe gone, we now see in action the real forces behind his [Mr Mnangagwa’s] reign – the machinery of violence, the military,” said Mr Moyo, arguing Mugabe was a “restraining” force, and that the current government had quickly squandered all international goodwill.

Mnangagwa Confronts Chiwenga Over Coup Plot

President Mnangagwa on Wednesday invited the Central Intelligence boss Isaac Moyo to a ZANU PF politburo meeting to expose members of the ruling party who were allegedly plotting to dislodge him from power while elevating his deputy Constantino Chiwenga.

Zanu PF fires top member 'Musariri' Moyo reported that the plot was being spearheaded by Politburo member Claveria Chizema and.

 US won't hesitate to take action: Trump tells Mnangagwa after slapping Kuda Tagwirei with sanctions

Zimnewsnet Blogspot

-Talent Rusere

-07/08/2020

The United States government has imposed targeted sanctions on Zimbabwean businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei and his company Sakunda Holdings allegedly linked to some corrupt activities said to be tied to the first family.

In a statement, U.S Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the imposition of sanctions against Tagwirei and Sakunda Holdings demonstrates to the government and people of Zimbabwe that the U.S. will not tolerate public corruption or hesitate to take action to promote accountability for perpetrators of public corruption.

 

“Two years ago, Zimbabwean authorities launched a violent crackdown against citizens who were protesting flawed elections. That same government has yet to hold anyone accountable for the six protestors who were killed that day. To mark the anniversary of their deaths, today the United States is taking action to fight corruption in Zimbabwe.

“Pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13469, the United States is imposing sanctions against Kudakwashe Regimond Tagwirei, a notoriously corrupt Zimbabwean businessman, for materially assisting senior Zimbabwean government officials involved in public corruption. Sakunda Holdings was also sanctioned for being owned or controlled by Tagwirei.”

According to Pompeo, Tagwirei “has longstanding ties to the ruling party in Zimbabwe and high-level governmental officials, including President Emmerson Mnangagwa and First Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who were listed in the Annex to E.O. 13288 in March 2003. He has used his relationships to gain state contracts and receive favored access to hard currency, including U.S. dollars, especially in the Mnangagwa era.”

A successful businessman, Tagwirei has long been connected with Zimbabwe’s ruling ZANU-PF party and top officials, such as President Mnangagwa and First Vice President Constantino Chiwenga. Both individuals have been subject to previous sanctions and retain spots on the U.S. Treasury’s List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons, a compilation of individuals who have been targeted by various sanctions programs.

According to his profile on Sakunda Holdings’ website, Tagwirei sits on the National Procurement Board for Zimbabwe’s oil supply industry, in addition to serving as the company’s chief executive officer.

A report commissioned by the Zimbabwean government in 2019 found that Tagwirei and his associates could not account for at least $3 billion dispensed to the Command Agriculture program, a state farm subsidy financed by Sakunda Holdings and supported by Mnangagwa, the Treasury Department says.

Zimbabwe has been thrust into turmoil in recent weeks, as citizens emboldened by the #blacklivesmatter movement take to the streets to protest human rights abuses and a lack of government assistance as the economy falters during the coronavirus pandemic.

Several activists, authors and civilians have been arrested. The government contends the protests are being orchestrated by foreign governments and opposition leaders in an attempt to destabilize the nation.

Under the new sanctions, all property and interests of Tagwirei and Sakunda Holdings that are in the U.S. or under the control of U.S. nationals must be blocked and reported to the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Tagwirei was unavailable for comment as he was not responding to calls on his mobile phone.

The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control on Wednesday also removed from the sanctions list a deceased person, John Bredenkamp, and associated entities who were previously designated under E.O. 13469.

“This action ensures the sanctions list remains up to date and targets actors who actively undermine democracy in Zimbabwe. The United States supports a stable and democratic Zimbabwe …”

 EXCLUSIVE BREAKING NEWS: ZDF Commander Gives Mnangagwa Marching Orders

Zimnewsnet Blogspot

Mary-Kate Kahari

CAPE TOWN– Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Commander, General Philip Valerio Sibanda, has reportedly given President Emmerson Mnangagwa, a six-month deadline to leave office, amid reports that the president is resisting to step down following the expiry of his departure date, whose announcement timeline had been set for end of July 2020, Spotlight Zimbabwe, has been told.

 

Zimbabwe Army Boss Is Said to Demand: Who Ordered Crackdown ...

Mnangagwa was due to announce his resignation date on national television a few days ago, but instead his propaganda unit in the president’s office and information permanent secretary, Nick Mangwana, turned the television appearance into a “state of the nation address”, as the ruling Zanu PF leader continued to dig in refusing to vacate office.

 

According to classified information and notes of a top security meeting held early last month by a coterie of military generals in the outskirts of the capital, thought to be loyal to General Sibanda and Vice President, Rtd General Constantino Chiwenga, provided by a Zimbabwe military attaché in China and defence adviser here in South Africa, the ZDF chief is said to have informally told Mnangagwa to leave office in no more than six months times, which is around January 2021, as there is mounting pressure inside the army to launch another putsch, to get rid of him contrary to his administration’s fire-fighting media campaign to deny that securocrats want him packed and gone.

 

General Sibanda they said also made it clear that he prefers VP Chiwenga to takeover, and that this position is firmly supported by the army and air force.

Chiwenga, Gen Sibanda in secret pact to hand Zimbabwe power to ...

The shock disclosures comes at a time when the United Nations (UN), South Africa, Namibia and former Botswana leader, Ian Khama all yesterday roundly condemned Mnangagwa’s administration’s appalling humans rights record, and continued use of political brutality to cow the opposition and civil society into sibmission of it’s inhuman repressive government style.

 

South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, also yesterday appointed former Speaker of Parliament Baleka Mbete and former Safety and Security Minister Sydney Mufamadi as special envoys to Zimbabwe, in a bid to resolve the crisis in the country, as regional and international leaders speak out against Mnangagwa. Ramaphosa has even stated that, he is “worried about interacting with Mnangagwa”, as revealed by the ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule while in an interview on eNCA television satation yesterday afternoon.

 

Magashule said Ramaphosa is also worried that the human right abuse reports coming from Zimbabwe: “Might destabilise the region and South Africa is ready to assist Zimbabwe to stabilise the country”.

WATCH: ANC Condemns State-Sponsored Violence In Zimbabwe, Warns It ...

Our political sources in the South African presidency in Pretoria, this week privately admitted that Ramaphosa was now allegedly fed up with Mnangagwa, and could no longer continue to defend his actions with Western leaders.

 

“It is true that GPVS (General Philip Valerio Sibanda) informally asked Mnangagwa to now leave the stage,” said the defence adviser. “The ZDF Commander gave me a six month deadline early last month, citing growing pressure from the military leadership to launch another coup to oust him. Sibanda reportedly endorsed VP Chiwenga and that the army and air force were also in favour of this position.”

 

“The state media and Mnangagwa’s information strategists are unwittingly digging a grave for him,” the military attaché said.

“He was told that when he goes for his annual Christmas holiday in December, he’s supposed to officially announce his resignation from office of The President of The Republic of Zimbabwe, to pave way for VP Chiwenga to finish his term, as the military could actually deal with the economy and allow for stability.”

Minister Kazembe Kazembe accident reports false – Ministry – ZBC NEWS

“However Mnangagwa’s digital brownshirts (hired journalists and information strategists), decided to water down the pressure for his exit by designing an abrupt press conference by home affairs minister, Kazembe Kazembe, towards the end of July banning the planned 31 July protests. It has only managed to defer his inevitable fall. Soon after that the same media team headed by information secretary, Nick Mangwana, prepared another abrupt state of the nation address, for damage control purposes, but as you can see it has all backfired. VP Chiwenga might end up as president as early as January 2020.”

 

“As a distraction Mnangagwa was advised to appoint the VP as health minister, to try and appease him, but that man cannot be fooled. Prepare for the endgame because Mnangagwa is going soon. Some Zanu PF politburo members want him gone also this November, and that he suffers the same fate and humiliation as former leader, President Robert Mugabe,” he added.

 

ZDF public relations last night referred all questions to information minister, Monica Mutsvangwa, who was unreachable following reports that she’s gone into self-isolation, after her husband tested positive for Covid-19.

Zimbabwe Has Made Progress In Gender Equality- Monica Mutsvangwa ...

The minister is not believed to have the virus herself, but is in self-isolation as a precaution, according to a report by Zimnewsnet Blogspot

RUSERE BLAMES MNANGAGWA'S GOVERNMENT FOR CORRUPTION AND CLEARS THE WEST.

''WE CANT BLAME SUNCTIONS FOR OUR OWN SELFISHNESS'',SAID TALENT RUSERE

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Talent Rusere

-07/08/2020






HOW ZIMBABWE TURNED INTO A PREDATORY STATE

One reason why we are suffering is that Zimbabwe had turned into a predatory state. Zimbabwe Freedom Fighters President Talent Rusere (07/08/20) defines predatory states as those that have elites who take large amounts of otherwise invest-able surplus for their own gain in a way that impedes upon economic transformation . Those who are in control of predatory states plunder without regards to the welfare of the citizenry. Our country is a case of political predation. The reason why Zimbabwe turned into a predatory state is that wealth comes from political power, which contrasts with the Marxist assumption that political power comes from wealth. To explain this in more detail, we need to consider a crucial historical event. There was a pact reached between elites at Lancaster House in London in 1979, which involved an implicit bargain that “blacks would ascend to positions of political leadership while whites would continue to enjoy ownership of the means of economic production.” The result of this agreement was that for the majority of the population (as in black Zimbabweans), the state turned into the best way to acquire wealth due to the effective exclusion from the private sector. Additionally, the existing political elite was also dependant on the state for wealth generation and clinging on to state power turned into the regime’s main objective . Mnangagwa's government systematically uses and abuses state resources and power for private gain and the achievement of political goals for their clientele . Zimbabwe has became one of the most corrupt countries in the world, which allowed state officials to secure enormous personal profits without repercussions . This is the reason why in our Zimbabwe, wealth stems from political power.

Zimbabwe had turned into a predatory state, where the best means for wealth generation was the state itself. In many ways, the ZANU-PF sought to smash any alternative resource of political and economic power in order to increase the bargaining power of its rule . The Mnangagwa regime is so obsessed with staying in power that economic elites, growth and prosperity only represented obstacles that would decrease their relative power.

The policies implemented by the ZANU-PF in order to cement their rule internally, lead to the downfall of the country. The example of “fast track land reform” is one of many misguided policies aimed at restoring political hegemony out of fear of opposition or economic elites . Other misguided political initiatives include, the Second Congo War and the resulting hyperinflation and operation Murambatsvina ,these policies strongly contributed to the country’s falling apart.

In conclusion, the reason for Zimbabwe’s state failure cannot simply be its inherited political culture, because the situation in the country has worsened significantly since the current political regime rose to power in 1980. The main reason for Zimbabwe’s failure was the exclusion of black Zimbabweans, which form the vast majority of the population, from the private sector. This turned the state into the best vehicle for people to generate wealth and led to the emergence of a predatory state in Zimbabwe. As a result of this, clinging on to state power became the main objective of the political elite and turned not only opposition movements but also the wealth generating economic elites into enemies of the state. The fact that the state was battling economic progress by implementing policies such as the “fast track land reform” lead to the downfall of the country. In Botswana, political and economic elites were never separated along these clear lines. If this would have been the case in Zimbabwe it would be prosperous today and much tragedy could have been avoided.

https://zimnewsnet.blogspot.com/2020/08/how-zimbabwe-turned-into-state-talent.html