NAKED TRUTH

...An Audit of his political balance sheet IN my previous installment regarding the fate of Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa in light of the onslaught against him from the G40 group, and the yet unknown impending outcomes of the ZANU PF elective Congress in December 2017, I stated that Mnangagwa was on the banks of his political Rubicon River, just like Caesar was in 49 BC (see article https://thelmachikwanha.blogspot.fr/2017/10/mnagagwa-on-banks-of-his-political.html ). His choices were whether to cross the river (and face off with Mugabe and his detractors in G40), or not to cross. I proffered two options for Mnangagwa. One option is a “do nothing option,” which I said is a doomed option unless something happens to the life of the President (as in dying) between now and the ZANU PF elective congress. I called it an option steeped in fate. The other option was a “do something option”, based on activating a proactive strategy designed to take the fight to the other side. T

...The Die is Cast: To Cross or not to cross? ON January 10, 49 BC Julius Caesar and his Army lined the banks of the River Rubicon. He had to decide whether to cross the Rubicon into Rome and face Emperor Pompey, an act that would have meant a rebellion against the Emperor and the state. Once taken, that decision would be irreversible and would involve fighting his way against the fierce army of Pompey. This was not an easy decision for Caesar, so he called for a dice to be rolled. After this, Caesar knew there was no going back. He then uttered the words “The die is cast “, as he crossed the Rubicon, to face-off with Pompey and his army. He had reached his point of no return. Mnangagwa in Julius Caesar’s shoes: This is a story befitting of the situation facing the Vice President, Emmerson Mnangagwa at this very moment. He has been under sustained attack from the First Lady, G40, and the President himself, accused of wanting to succeed Mugabe, as if such ambitions are a cri

...Admitting failure is not in Zanu PF's DNA ZIMBABWE has been going through political social and economic turmoil for much of its post-independence period. The economy has been in a free-fall for the past twenty or so years; the social fabric of society has been torn with almost a quarter of the population living in the diaspora as economic and political refugees. Political democratic space has shrunk with police and other state agents harassing anybody seen as opposing the Robert Mugabe regime. But the truth that Mugabe and Zanu PF should confront is that they are responsible for the mess we find ourselves in as they have been stirring the ship since we attained independence in 1980. Although it does not take rocket science for one to figure that out, Mugabe and his men have mastered the art of shifting the blame on others. If it is not the imperialists then it is Morgan Tsvangirai or Sanctions and now lately Evan Mawarire and social media! Really, Mr President? Give us a

… .Lack of Strategy an indictment on the Opposition THIS past week was filled with drama in the Zimbabwe body politic. First, it was the predictable fissure in the economy, with the crash of the Bond and the return of speculative pricing and buying, and the consequent emptying shelves. This was followed by the absurdity of denials of an economic meltdown and threats by the authorities and the straight-faced pretensions that all was normal. Well, it isn’t. The authorities did their usual knee-jerk palliative responses: they injected foreign currency for imports in the sectors where the shortages had started to manifest themselves. A Panadol for a headache, but then again, the tumour remains. Ignatius Chombo, Minister of Home Affairs took the absurd step of issuing a statement threatening all who protest against the Government on social media. Evan Mawarire was arrested and accused of fomenting trouble (as if the Pastor controls the black market), only to be released by the courts