The Battle for Zimbabwe Part 2: Emmerson Mnangagwa the spymaster

Nehanda Radio, publishes the second article, to this three part installment on the controversial succession of President Robert Mugabe, in light of presidential and parliamentary elections taking place soon in Zimbabwe.

The report is intended for you the Zimbabwean reader to make your own informed view, based on new details, which hitherto could have not been known to you. Pleasant reading!

By Itai Mushekwe

Defence minister, Emmerson Mnangagwa, who appears to be having a new spring in his step is not giving up on his bid to become the next President of the Republic of Zimbabwe.

Looking at the Zanu PF presidium, Ngwena (The crocodile) as he is popularly known is nowhere near the radar to attain power, yet one thing we might overlook is his ability to flash an ace from up his sleeve even when there are no political prospects and all odds being against him.

Senior figures in Zanu PF holding influential posts, such as secretary for administration, Didymus Mutasa have openly said it’s impossible for Mnangagwa to circumvent party procedure, while launching himself to replace Mugabe ahead of Mujuru who has always been acting president time and again when Mugabe goes on his annual Asian excursions.

Zanu PF insiders told Nehanda Radio, that the one asset Mnangagwa has at his disposal is covertness and shrewdness in underhand political manoeuvres, allowing him to operate in proximity to power, thus being able to control and manipulate political business without being easily traced.

Mnangagwa is by far the most experienced spy in government, and as we found out from our briefings even his foes acknowledge they are no match for him in this realm. The minister, Zanu PF officials maintain, is like a duck appearing peaceful on the surface, yet its feet are moving frantically under the water.

“Ngwena for illustrations sake can be paralleled to Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, who used his mastery of KGB covert power politics to ascend to the top,” a Zanu PF minister said.” Putin had always been around, but not a serious contender to become Russia’s leader since he was an agent posted in East Germany during the cold-war.

How he managed to become Boris Yeltsin’s successor ahead of formidable and more senior politicians we may never know, but my guess and linking it to how Mnangagwa is now closing in to seal the presidency is related to the dirty world of covert intelligence operations.

Russian Vice President, Alexander Rutskoy was next in line to the throne, but Putin a young and inexperienced prime minister at the time was Yeltsin’s surprise pick.

“Everywhere the world over, you notice that strong leaders are likely to have a military or secret service background and they are many examples. They usually sweep to power after a first republic leader leaves the stage.

“Mugabe has already in a way written Mujuru off, although not in words because he doubts her leadership qualities and that she was heavily dependent on her late husband, Solomon.

“I want you to look at Mnangagwa, without journalism prejudice, so that you understand where I’m coming from and what it might mean for our country. Did you know that Mnangagwa is credited to this day, for foiling a putsch on the Zanu leadership in the late 70s while in Mozambique?

“His efforts saw him being elevated to Zanu’s intelligence chief, taking over from Cletus Chigowe. The defence minister went on to become the first head of the Central Intelligence Organisation at Independence in 1980. So where do you think such a person’s career is headed?”

Mnangagwa, who was doubling as Mugabe’s personal bodyguard while at the helm of Zanu’s intelligence machinery, also flashed out Rugare Gumbo, Henry Hamadziripi, Zivavarwe Muparuri and Crispen Mandizvidza, all of whom were implicated in the attempted coup to overthrow the Zanu leadership headed by Mugabe.

Had the coup succeeded, Mugabe might not have become Zanu PF leader and president sources said.

Closer home, South African leader, Jacob Zuma is another example our informants contend. Zuma who had been tainted by corruption charges, and surviving expulsion from the ANC under Thabo Mbeki, seems to have used his experience and skills of guiding underground ANC structures in 1987, during his stint in exile in Lusaka, Zambia.

Zuma was immediately appointed to be chief of the ANC intelligence department, and today it would seem he might have used covert politics, to force Mbeki out using the ANC Youth League, under its ousted leader, Julius Malema, a one-time close Zuma ally whom he has discarded.

Credentials

* Emmerson Mnangagwa, is a notable figure of the liberation struggle who as we have come to know thwarted an attempted coup on the Zanu leadership led by Mugabe.

* Credited for integrating the Rhodesian intelligence machinery, into the new Zimbabwe government in 1980. The Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), has however largely kept the Rhodesian spying playbook intact. The Joint Operations Command (JOC)’s philosophy of being a shadow government has not been disbanded.

Key faction protagonists

General Constantine Chiwenga (ZDF commander); General Phillip Valerio Sibanda (ZNA commander); Augustine Chihuri (Police commissioner general); Happyton Bonyongwe (CIO boss); Major General Douglas Nyikayaramba (Army chief of staff-Quartermaster); Patrick Chinamasa (Justice minister); Oppah Muchinguri (Zanu PF Politburo member); Jonathan Moyo (Politburo member); Mike Madiro (Suspended Zanu PF Manicaland chairman); July Moyo (Former cabinet minister); Josiah Hungwe (Former Masvingo governor); Owen Ncube (Midlands security secretary).

Power comes from the barrel of a gun

One thing Mnangagwa has perfected is to, consolidate influence within the military, intelligence and foreign affairs realm, which gives him a cutting edge over his opponents vying to replace Mugabe.

Only in September last year, it became crystal clear during his 66th birthday party in Kwekwe that the qualified lawyer had managed to court the military to support him, as witnessed by Chiwenga’s endorsement of Mnangagwa.

Chiwenga was interestingly the guest of honour at the banquet held at the minister’s Sherwood Farm.

“Mnangagwa is the only surviving member of the first politburo meeting because in the first days, the president (Mugabe) did not attend the politburo,” Chiwenga said according to media reports in the capital.

“All the others who attended the first meetings are now dead. I’m sure he is alive for a reason which we all know.”

Mnangagwa and the military generals are now inseparable, as they accompany him across the country to officiate at government and private meetings.

Reports indicate, the defence minister and his army strongmen, now enjoy being airlifted in the country using military helicopters, including a new one said to have been purchased from Russia for Mugabe.

Mugabe usually goes about the length and breadth of his presidential campaign, aboard army helicopters to reach the many rural constituencies inaccessible by road.

Only last month the army generals snubbed Mujuru in Kwekwe, where she was officiating at the Sables Chemicals plant in favour of a small function in the same home-town of Mnangagwa.

The military top brass chose to grace the commissioning of two blocks of new classrooms, at Mbizo High school, an open message some say to who matters the most for the soldiers.

Statesman in waiting?

Ever since Mnangagwa cherry-picked for himself the defence portfolio, after engineering Zanu PF’s survival following a defeat in the 2008 elections, believed by many to have been a landslide victory by Prime minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, he began what can be seen as a personal foreign policy crusade to strategically promote his “Statesmanship”.

The defence minister has met counterparts in China, Iran and South Africa among other countries. Sources also say, links between the ZDF and Russian military are also growing, as Zimbabwe opens up more outlets for the possible sourcing of arms.

Of the many foreign visits Mnangagwa has made, one made to Iran in 2012 remains outstanding, because he did not just meet the Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his generals to consolidate military cooperation, and to organise the training of army officers in that country.

Mnangagwa was given a red-carpet welcome by Iranian generals, who he said were good friends of Zimbabwe dating back to the days of the armed struggle, against Britain.

“We have now been independent for 30 years,” Mnangagwa is captured by a news clip from Press TV.

“And throughout, the 30 years we have received support from the Islamic Republic of Iran. I have come here to consolidate and deepen our relations with the minister of defence, and the defence of The Republic of Zimbabwe.”

Blue-eyed boy

To more serious disclosures in our findings, Zanu PF sources say, Mnangagwa has always been Mugabe’s blue-eyed boy. Although they have been frosty relations, here and there, the two seem to find each other against the odds.

During the 2004 Tsholotsho fallout, caused by the alleged plot to push Mnangagwa as VP ahead of Mujuru, Mugabe punished most of the culprits including his favourite minister at the time, Jonathan Moyo and six other Zanu PF provincial chairmen.

Mnangagwa remained unscathed, and Mugabe allowed his anger to cool down while still keeping the minister.

Over the years Mnangagwa has lost parliamentary elections, but Mugabe has come to his rescue, making room for him in his cabinet and at one time even personally seeing to it that he became Speaker of Parliament.

“There are many occasions, when Mnangagwa was supposed to be fired from government,” but Mugabe would not hear any of it.

“It became clear that there were people plotting to frame Mnangagwa with various serious charges including a coup, so he could be blamed and charged for it,” another minister told Nehanda Radio.

We have since established, the coup incident referred to, is that of 2007 where Mnangagwa was alleged to have mobilised for a political putsch. The coup d’état, involving 400 soldiers and other high ranking officers was to occur between 2-15 June.

Mnangagwa who was visiting China during the saga, dismissed the coup allegations as “stupid” after holding a crisis meeting with Mugabe in Harare upon his return.

Alleged leaders of the coup, who included retired army Captain Albert Matapo, ZNA spokesman Ben Ncube, Major General Engelbert Rugeje and Air Vice Marshal Elson Moyo were all arrested and charged with treason.

Speculation was rife, that the late Solomon Mujuru’s hand was heavily involved in the affair, in an attempt to damage Mnangagwa, but state and military intelligence reported to Mugabe of Mnangagwa’s “clean-hands” in the issue.

A former head of the presidential guard, Brigadier Paul Gunda was eliminated and declared a national hero due to the explosive putsch attempt, military sources said.

Solomon Mujuru remained untouched, and as we were to learn during our brief with sources, incidents such as the coup attempt of 2007, and the 2008 mushrooming of the Mavambo party to pose electoral challenges, among other highly sensitive intelligence secrets could have caused the eventual mysterious death of Solomon.   

Ezra

Some of Mnangagwa’s long-time allies, such as Josiah Hungwe have anointed him as a redeemer sent by God, likening him to Ezra in the bible.

“In the Bible, Ezra was a legal advisor sent by God to redeem the Israelites,” Hungwe is reported by the press to have said.

“Now in Zimbabwe we also have Emmerson, who happens to also be a legal expert, and was also sent to redeem the children of Zimbabwe. He is our own Ezra.”

Another major boost is Chiwenga’s seemingly new role in the faction, as a campaign wizard for the defence minister. The general is criss-crossing around Zimbabwe, promoting Mnangagwa’s candidature after dropping his own early ambitions to be president.

SWOT analysis

Strengths: Mnangagwa has taken the move to court, all the important levers of power for his presidential bid. Having the military and intelligence apparatus backing him is a huge advantage over Mujuru.

In Zimbabwe political parties have power only on paper, just as the coalition government, but the centre of all command power revolves around the security establishment.

Weaknesses: Not charismatic, and not being in the Zanu PF presidium.

Opportunities: The fact that Mugabe will not immediately leave office after this year’s election, gives Mnangagwa and his troops ample time to plan an assault of a total and complete power usurpation, since his realistic chances of being voted into power through the ballot are remote.

Threats: Mnangagwa’s involvement in the Gukurahundi Massacres stands out as his biggest stumbling block. This alone hinders his presidency, and even when in power, the atrocities can be raised once again by those wanting him to be prosecuted by the International Criminal Court.

Is Mnangagwa a cunning political fox?

As the curtains comes down on Mugabe’s three decades in power, it remains to be seen if the spy master will pull a fast one.