adminThe Zhuwao Brief mourns the passing on of national hero Justice Mutema, whose nom de guerre was Comrade Killer Mabhunu.
Justice Mutema’s contribution to the nation state of Zimbabwe serves to illustrate that we can all serve our country at various levels.
This point has been further illustrated in Honourable VP Mnangagwa’s interview which was in the Herald of 29th August 2015.
We must thank VP Mnangagwa for assisting in putting to rest the divisive succession narratives referred to in last week’s instalment.
It was so apt that as we interred the mortal remains of Justice Mutema at the Heroes Acre yesterday, Cde Mnangagwa also buried the divisive succession narrative in the dustbin of oblivion only to be searched for by ideological vagrants and vagabonds.
The divisive succession narratives detract us from engaging in several other conversations on national and international issues.
The week started with the fall of major stock markets triggered by the fall of the Chinese exchange in what has been referred to a Black Monday.
What are the implications of Black Monday on the nation state of Zimbabwe?
We also had His Excellency President Mugabe delivering his State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Tuesday.
VP Mnangagwa lamented our underutilised irrigation capacity as he opened the Agribusiness Conference in Harare on Wednesday.
On Thursday, the First Lady continued to impress as she presented one of her most structured and highly relevant speeches in Murombedzi.
The Zhuwao Brief submits that these issue provide sufficient material for us to engage in conversations.
The 105th Harare Agricultural Show was officially opened by President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique on Friday.
I was elated to have a conversation with President Nyusi on how to assist Diasporans who wish to engage in livestock production. It was such an honour to be called back by President Nyusi to elaborate on how Zhuwao Livestock provides management services over and above cattle breeding.
I could not help but feel that I was one of those Zimbabweans that President Nyusi referred to as he lauded the “experience and expertise of Zimbabweans in agricultural management”.
It was such a humbling experience.
I am happy that the week ended well with The Herald publishing the full text of the interview between VP Mnangagwa and Baffour Ankomah of New African magazine.
For purposes of clarity, the Zhuwao Brief presents VP Mnangagwa’s exact words as he responded to Ankomah’s question on how correct are those that see him as the leading candidate to succeed President Mugabe.
“They are not informed. I think they are outside Zanu-PF. Those that are inside Zanu-PF know that being Vice-President or being a member of the Politburo or Central Committee is not a stepping-stone to becoming President. Not at all.
“A President is elected at the party congress. There are no conditions that you must be at this level or at that level to become President.
“The condition is that you must be a member of Zanu- PF and anybody can become a member of Zanu-PF. So you can’t say that because I am Vice-President or a member of the Politburo or a member of the Central Committee, I am nearer to becoming President.
“You see, you can be on the road between State House and Zim House, the President’s official residence across the road. You can throw a stone into the yard of the State House when you are on that road, but someone walking from here to China will arrive first before you arrive in State House if you are on that road. So that is what it is. That is how far it is.”
The Zhuwao Brief thanks Honourable VP Mnangagwa for re-emphasising the point we made on December 21, 2014 on these pages when we re-iterated that the appointments of the VPs were not about succession.
In that same The Sunday Mail, Professor Jonathan Moyo echoed the same point when he indicated that the President had not appointed a successor.
Prof Moyo also restated that position in his interview on BBC’s “Hardtalk”.
Successionist and purveyors of divisive succession narratives tore into him for stating the obvious. Shame.
VP Mnangagwa has provided the useful insight that successionists and purveyors of divisive succession narratives are uninformed.
Successionists and purveyors of divisive succession narratives do not understand the manner in which Zanu-PF operates because they are not members of Zanu-PF.
Some of us, who are committed members and cadres of Zanu-PF find that these succession narratives divisive are counter-revolutionary and retrogressive.
The succession narratives seek to pit our commanders against each other.
I find this disconcerting as a product of the Zanu-PF leadership development and mentorship programmes.
I was mentored by VP Mnagangwa, with the assistance of Cde Frederick Shava, as I was introduced to the party’s national operations when I became the National Director for Youth.
For me, VP Mnangagwa is more than my mentor. He is my commander, and his commander is our mutual Commander-in-Chief, President Mugabe.
I therefore, find it difficult that those who are not Zanu-PF members seek to create narratives around succession that seek to tarnish his image.
These ideological vagabonds seek to abuse my commander, Cde Mnangagwa, in their delusional and imaginary narrative under the Ngwena paNyanga label.
They are hellbent on continuing with their divisive programme of stoking divisive succession narratives by citing their freedom of expression.
The Zhuwao Brief acknowledges that is it is the democratic right of every person to express himself or herself. It is also a democratic right to be foolish, stupid and idiotic.
However, I wish to remind those that seek to impose themselves onto Zanu-PF issues that Zanu-PF members also have constitutional rights and freedoms of association.
If, as Zanu-PF members, we resolve that succession is not an issue for discussion, we must be allowed our freedoms as well. The leadership of Zanu- PF continues to pronounce itself on this issue.
Thank you, Cde Ngwena, for clarifying yourself on this issue as well.
I conclude by recapping Zanu-PF slogans aimed at assisting the ignorant.
Zanu-PF says that those that do not know need to be educated. Vasingazive ngavadzidziswe.
Of late, there has been a new slogan added to the repertoire, extolling ignoramuses to desist from arguing. Vasingazive ngavasaite nharo.
Icho!
Patrick Zhuwao is chair of the Zhuwao Institute, an economics, development and research think tank focused on integrating socio-political dimensions into business and economic decision-making, particularly strategic planning. He can be reached at [email protected]
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