REPORTS that President Robert Mugabe continued to pile more misery on Information, Media and Broadcasting Services minister Jonathan Moyo by directing an investigation into how editors perceived to be anti-Zanu PF had been appointed to head Zimpapers controlled by the government, are all puzzling and confusing.
NewsDay Editorial
The majority of Zimbabweans are shocked because it is only in Zimbabwe where a Cabinet minister can be dressed down in public for daring to perform their duty as duly appointed public officials.
It is trite that Moyo serves in government at the pleasure of the President and perhaps now he could continue serving at the mercy of Mugabe.
Perhaps this could point to the fact that Zimbabwe is a young, dynamic society led by an old, stagnant clique averse to criticism even when it is due. There is no doubt that the jibe against Moyo is clear indication of factional fighting within the ruling Zanu PF party.
The taunt left many unanswered questions. Did Mugabe heal the rift between the two camps – Vice President Joice Mujuru and Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa’s factions or not by his public rebuke?
It is fact that Moyo is one of the few Zanu PF cadres capable of reading the national mood – a trait many in his party do not have. Moyo unravelled rampant corruption in public institutions resulting in Mujuru alleging those exposing graft in Zanu PF wanted to destroy it from within.
Could it be that Mugabe was just singing from the same Mujuru hymn book? Mugabe should have leant a lesson or two from that gloomy Mujuru chapter when she recanted.
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Instead of Mugabe to discuss the free-falling economy, unemployment, load shedding, company closures, water rationing, drug shortages –the list is endless –he chose to discuss how Moyo has reportedly been employing “MDC activists” at Zimpapers.
It shows Mugabe is paranoid. He needs to be reminded that Zimbabwe belongs to all regardless of political affiliation, colour or creed. Otherwise, what then is the difference between him, South Africa apartheid leaders like John Vorster and colonial master Ian Smith?
Mugabe has made anti-corruption pronouncements in the past and Zimbabweans have always known that he was not serious about fighting corruption. Who is he trying to hoodwink in this regard?
Zimbabwe has been stagnant for a while now, the majority are struggling to make ends meet. Zimbabweans would want to see some movement in the way government deals with endemic graft in top echelons of Zanu PF and State apparatus. While it is within Zanu PF to investigate Moyo’s appointments at Zimpapers, couldn’t it be that it is about inclusiveness?
It is regrettable that Mugabe has shown that he does not want people who tell the truth in government, and it is this mentality that has killed Zimbabwe’s economy while other nations are flourishing. Zimbabweans are equally surprised how Mugabe (90) still hopes for a flourishing Zimbabwe after 34 years in power.
Zimbabweans will not buy Mugabe’s assertion that Moyo is the one responsible for fanning divisions when what the Press has been doing is simply to expose corruption by those in the corridors of power. In fact, the Press is always spelling out the national agenda, its values and aspirations.
But it is now very clear that Mugabe is himself a divisive figure in Zanu PF by trying to divert attention from the economic meltdown.
Mugabe is clearly offside as Zanu PF has always been divided along factions even before Moyo.
