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NewsDay

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‘Moyo public face of securocrats ’

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A Zanu PF faction allegedly headed by “securocrats” is upping its tempo as the race to succeed President Robert Mugabe intensifies, with Zanu PF politburo member Jonathan Moyo believed to be its public face. According to a Zanu PF insider, the securocrats, who have benefited immensely under Mugabe’s rule, were using Moyo to discredit the […]

A Zanu PF faction allegedly headed by “securocrats” is upping its tempo as the race to succeed President Robert Mugabe intensifies, with Zanu PF politburo member Jonathan Moyo believed to be its public face.

According to a Zanu PF insider, the securocrats, who have benefited immensely under Mugabe’s rule, were using Moyo to discredit the Copac-led constitution-making process and push for general elections using the current, but amended Constitution.

“I don’t think Moyo’s views are personal. He is the public face of a certain faction within Zanu PF. This could be the generals because they do not want to go for an election using a new constitution,” said a senior Zanu PF insider.

“Moyo seems to have strong backing because he has never been taken to task even at times when he contradicts the party’s formal position.”

Moyo has been writing hard-hitting weekly newspaper articles in the State media castigating Copac, where Zanu PF is represented by Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana, describing it as a “mafia” .

Mangwana recently dismissed Moyo as “an agent of the devil”.

But according to Zanu PF insiders, Moyo’s attacks on Copac had the blessing of army generals. Last Thursday, Moyo declined to comment over the allegations when NewsDay approached him soon after a Zanu PF politburo meeting in Harare.

However, Zimbabwe’s former Ambassador to China, Christopher Mutsvangwa, defended Moyo.

“Like him or hate him, Moyo is a great thinker. The Copac team feels challenged,” said Mutsvangwa.

On Defence Forces Commander General Constantine Chiwenga’s involvement in Zanu PF politics, Mutsvangwa said: “General Chiwenga has a strong footing in Zanu PF. He doesn’t need any proxy in the form of Moyo.”

Recent reports have shown that there is a segment within the country’s uniformed forces determined to take over the political reins in Zanu PF and participate as candidates in elections which Mugabe insists should be held this year.

Under Mugabe’s rule, top “securocrats” have amassed wealth from businesses and farms. The security chiefs have in the past openly declared their support for Zanu PF and vowed never to salute anyone without liberation war credentials.

They have also joined in the factional fights as the race to succeed Mugabe, who is fighting old age and reported ill-health, gathers momentum.

Two factions — one allegedly led by Vice-President Joice Mujuru and another led by Defence minister Emmerson Mnangagwa — have made the process a battleground for Zanu PF supremacy.

Although the battle between the two factions has been more pronounced, the military dimension, though salient, has been of late taking shape behind the scenes, a senior Zanu PF official source said.

Observers maintained that Zanu PF “never wanted a new constitution” and Moyo was being used as a tool to discredit the process.

“If it was his (Moyo’s) personal position, he could have been denied media coverage,” said the insider, adding that Zanu PF was looking set to disintegrate further as infighting escalated.