Through the Wire: Why Zanu PF is panicking over Ezra and Eric

By Lance Guma

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Political prostitute and self-appointed Zanu PF strategist Professor Jonathan Moyo is spitting fire over the decision by legendary radio presenters Ezra ‘Tshisa’ Sibanda and Eric Knight to run for parliament as MDC-T candidates.

In addition to Sibanda and Knight, Moyo is miffed at another decision by veteran journalist Geoff Nyarota to also join the ‘freedom train’ as its being dubbed by supporters of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

So riled is Moyo, he has either assigned himself or was given the task of doing everything possible, by hook or crook to make sure Sibanda, Knight and Nyarota do not end up in parliament.

According to our sources Moyo has been busy trying to sell the ‘dummy’ story that Sibanda, Knight and Nyarota do not qualify to stand as MP’s, citing some obscure residency requirements in the Electoral Act.

There however seems to be no takers for Moyo’s misleading and devious agenda in the legal fraternity. But why is Jonathan Moyo and Zanu PF so worried about this trio of journalists?

The decisions by Knight and Sibanda especially send a clear message to all Zimbabweans that many people who work for the Zanu PF controlled state media actually support the MDC-T and only tow the Zanu PF line to feed their families.

The beef between Moyo and Nyarota is well documented. Nyarota was editor of the Daily News newspaper when Moyo, then the Information Minister, threatened on 27 January 2001 to have the paper silenced because it posed a ‘security risk to the nation’.

Around 1:30 a.m. on the 28th of January, what are now believed to have been military intelligence operatives, detained at gunpoint the six-man security crew at the factory where the paper was printed.

Several ‘military grade’ explosives were scattered inside the building and detonated about 15 minutes later. The damage to the printing press was estimated at around US$2 million.

Meikles mogul John Moxon donates cars to Zanu PF

The weekly Zimbabwe Independent newspaper on Friday reported that local business mogul John Moxon “nailed his political colours firmly to the Zanu PF mast by donating brand new vehicles to spearhead the party’s campaign for crucial general elections later this year.” How many of you were surprised?

For me the donation was no surprise. Many companies out of a survival instinct over the years have been forced to fork out money to sponsor Zanu PF events, functions or campaigns. The central part of the story for me was that, and I will quote the Zimbabwe Independent article;

“Moxon’s flagship company Meikles Africa Ltd, formed a mining arm, Meikles Resources (Pvt) Ltd, and applied for a diamond mining licence currently being considered by the Mines ministry, with the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) as a possible partner in a joint venture.”

Of course Moxon was too embarrassed to admit this daylight bribery and waffled some excuse about “a company with whom we have a connection donated a small number of vehicles, but I’m not sure exactly whom they were donated to as we have not seen any registration certificates,” said Moxon.

That’s how business is done in Zimbabwe! You have to pay the rapists, murderers and thieves in power to get what you want. Many years ago Strive Masiyiwa refused to give in to this culture of corruption and his Econet Wireless company had to secure an operating licence via the Supreme Court.

Who remembers Moxon getting specified a few years ago after his spat with former business partner Nigel Chanakira? Many alleged Chanakira had used his Zanu PF connections to get Moxon in trouble on allegations of ‘externalising’ foreign currency.

So then, is Moxon a new convert to how the game is played? The evidence suggesting this is overwhelming to say the least.

Zanu PF bribing Mapostori with residential stands

It was reported last week how Zanu PF are trying to win over members of the Apostolic sect by dishing out residential stands to Johane Masowe worshippers and urging them to vote for the party. This is what happens when you have arrested, abducted, beaten, raped and killed too many people in the past.

Zanu PF is clearly aware they cannot win a free and fair election. So if they cannot beat you up into submission they will try and bribe you to get your vote. If people who go to church find themselves voting for a party that relies on violence and murder, then God help us all.