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| Africa Subsaharan |
| Zimbabwean generals have 'taken Robert Mugabe's power' |
| 2008-06-06 |
| Zimbabwe's generals have mounted a "military coup by stealth", reducing President Robert Mugabe to a "figurehead", a senior western diplomat said. The tight circle of "securocrats", who sit on the Joint Operations Command (JOC) committee, are now believed to be in day-to-day charge of Zimbabwe's government. They ensured Mr Mugabe did not step down after his defeat in the presidential election's first round in March and are now masterminding a campaign of terror to suppress the opposition Movement for Democratic Change and guarantee victory for Mr Mugabe in the June 27 run-off. The government indefinitely suspended all work by aid groups and non-governmental organisations, accusing them of breaching their terms of registration. Taking a page from the Burma junta Mr Mugabe is a useful figurehead who still commands the deference of other African leaders, notably President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa. But the western diplomat said Mr Mugabe's power had ebbed away and Zimbabwe was now run by a "junta". "This is a military coup by stealth," he said. "There are no tanks on people's lawns, but the Joint Operations Command runs this country." The most powerful figures on the JOC are Gen Constantine Chiwenga, the overall military chief; Augustine Chihuri, the national police commissioner, and Gen Paradzai Zimondi, the commander of the prison service. Air Marshal Perence Shiri, the commander of the air force, who masterminded a brutal military campaign against Zimbabwe's minority Ndebele people in the 1980s, is also part of the circle, although believed to be less influential. All four fought in Mr Mugabe's guerrilla army during the war against white rule in the 1970s. Each has publicly proclaimed their support for the ruling Zanu-PF party. They have also benefited from Mr Mugabe's seizure of white-owned land, with farms and business concessions falling into their hands, allowing them to amass considerable wealth. The diplomat said after the first round of the election on March 29, Mr Mugabe, 84, "almost went" when it became clear that Morgan Tsvangirai, the opposition leader, had won significantly more votes. But a pivotal meeting of the JOC on March 30 convinced him to stay. "The generals didn't let him go," said the diplomat. From that moment, Mr Mugabe was "beholden to his senior generals to hold office". Another source inside Zimbabwe confirmed: "He [Mugabe] was prepared to concede but the generals, whose positions would become uncertain with his departure, prevented that from happening," he said. And another page from the Burmese book. Other observers backed the diplomat's view that Zimbabwean politics had fundamentally changed. Tiseke Kasambala, a Zimbabwe specialist at Human Rights Watch, said there was an "increasing militarisation of the state". "The evidence points to an increasing role by the army in state affairs," she said. "The army is no longer just in barracks, waiting to protect the country. The army is out there, taking a role in the day-to-day government of the country." Mr Mugabe does not fear his generals will actually overthrow him – they still need him as the regime's titular leader – or he would not have travelled to Rome for the United Nations food summit this week. However, observers believe Mr Mugabe's age and his new dependence on the generals means he is no longer the sole arbiter of Zimbabwe's fate. |
| Posted by:mrp |
| #7 What you do in cases like this is to make contact with the #2 general and offer to make him the #1 general if he plays along. |
| Posted by: crosspatch 2008-06-06 18:23 |
| #6 A coup that killed Mugabe and then appealed to the world for aid would be able to feed the people and come across as heros to help solidify their power. These guys are ZANU-PF. It's a 'meet the old boss, same as the old boss' situation. I wonder how long it will take the U.S. to start pouring millions of dollars into this septic tank of a country? Do we think that Russia and China would really want to fund these regimes? Likely the US won't 'pour money' until the current party in power is gone. As for Russia and especially China - they're not supporting the government because they like them. They're supporting the government because of what Zimbabwe has in the ground. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2008-06-06 18:17 |
| #5 I have trouble believing this. The generals would be taking a huge risk by keeping Mugabe alive. Coups generally occur when a leader leaves the nation or the first goal is to kill that leader. A coup that killed Mugabe and then appealed to the world for aid would be able to feed the people and come across as heros to help solidify their power. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2008-06-06 16:17 |
| #4 Change! You can believe in.... |
| Posted by: Scooter McGruder 2008-06-06 14:22 |
| #3 I wonder how long it will take the U.S. to start pouring millions of dollars into this septic tank of a country? Moreover, which one of those tribal chieftains will become the next "Mugabe" and how long will he last? Watching events in these crummy little third world countries is like watching "Ground Hog Day" (the film) without any changes being made in behavior for a favorable outcome. Its only a temporary grab for power and foreign aid. Will we ever learn to leave these shit holes alone. Do we think that Russia and China would really want to fund these regimes? Can anyone see a pattern here? Anyone? |
| Posted by: Jim Woodward 2008-06-06 12:33 |
| #2 What else do Zimbabwe and Burma have in common? A growing bond with the PRC, for one thing. More on this matter is included in an article titled Zimbabwe: China Trade Relations Improve (allAfrica.com) LINK Excerpt: The ambassador said China and Zimbabwe had strong bonds of friendship and co-operation that developed since the days of Zimbabwe's struggle for independence. Ambassador Nasheng said these relations were now bearing fruit in many fields of co-operation, including politics, economic co-operation and trade, culture, tourism, people to people contact, especially after Zimbabwe adopted the Look East policy in 2002. "Take trade for example. In 2003, bilateral trade was US$197 million. In 2007, trade reached US$340 million, up 72,6 percent from that in 2003. "Zimbabwe exports to China also increased to US$200 million from US$167 million in 2003, a rise by 20 percent," he said. He said the aggregate investment by Chinese companies in engineering and contracted projects amounted to US$1,6 billion. Ambassador Nasheng said it was his fervent hope that the good harmonious relations existing between the two countries would continue to grow from strength to strength. Add to that the PRC veto in the UN Security Council and Chinese military arms shipments. |
| Posted by: mrp 2008-06-06 08:57 |
| #1 Nice looking group of chaps. I've always wondered why they think it's necesary to wear their fancy headgear indoors. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2008-06-06 08:03 |