War vets leader Chinotimba threatens Makoni

By Lance Guma
06 February 2008

Newly announced presidential candidate Simba Makoni had a taste of his own party’s medicine Wednesday when the state machinery against him kicked into gear. Not only was he expelled from Zanu PF but both the government owned media and war veterans took turns slagging him off. A few hundred war veterans demonstrated at the Zanu PF headquarters with deputy leader Joseph Chinotimba warning Makoni against showing up at the building. He called on war vets to take control of the headquarters declaring that Makoni and his followers are now barred from entering the premises; ‘We are now going to campaign vigorously for President Mugabe. I feel sorry for Makoni, ayirasa (he’s lost it). From today to the nomination date we will have finished with them. Mupanduki kana achinge apanduka anoziva zvinoita Zanu-PF (a sell out will know how Zanu PF deals with them).’

Mugabe has traditionally used the war vets as a paramilitary force to intimidate or beat up his opponents and on cue Chinotimba has fired the warning shots. He said Makoni could not stand as a Zanu PF candidate and should form his own party. He also accused the former SADC executive secretary of being used by the West, alleging; ‘We know them all, it is not Makoni alone. We were waiting for them to come out in the open.’ The war vets demanded to know Makoni’s status within the party and Zanu PF secretary for legal affairs, Emerson Mnangagwa seemed to confirm the inevitable. ‘He has expelled himself from the party, he was not expelled by anyone but himself. That is the position according to the rules of the party. So yes, indeed, he is expelled from the party,’ Mnangagwa told journalists.

A Herald story on Makoni’s announcement was eager to link the challenge from the former finance minister with sponsorship from the British, Swedish and American governments. They accused the three countries of working with the MDC to effect regime change and that Makoni was now part of the plot. Some analysts however say Mugabe’s regime has been shaken to its foundation and the extension of the nomination deadline from the 8th to the 15th February was now an attempt at weeding out Makoni supporters, who may be running for parliament. Not lost on the minds of many Zimbabweans is still the possibility of the entire charade being a plot to split opposition votes in the urban areas. A private meeting between Mugabe and Makoni two weeks ago remains a source of suspicion.

The MDC has meanwhile welcomed Makoni’s decision. Tsvangirai party spokesman Nelson Chamisa said, ‘the chickens are coming home to roost. This has to be seen as a ZANU PF rebellion which should crystalise the momentum for democratic change in this country.’ Gabriel Chaibva from the Mutambara camp said, ‘We welcome any Zimbabwean committed to fighting the dictatorship of Mugabe. Zimbabweans strive to see our country rising again,” he said.