Businesses interrogated by Joint Operations chiefs

By Tererai Karimakwenda
March 17, 2008

The ruling party is reported to be very concerned about losing the March elections and has resorted to desperate tactics to intimidate opposition officials and supporters. Business people suspected of funding the opposition or providing resources for their campaigns, are also being targeted. With the entrance of Simba Makoni into the presidential race, his supporters have also become targets, just as MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai warned.

The Institute for War & Peace Reporting (IWPR) recently revealed that several retailers and other top business people were summoned to a meeting at the offices of Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono on March 4th. These suppliers of basic commodities were surprised to find that the meeting had been convened by the Joint Operations Command, not the RBZ.

Chaired by the army commander-in-chief, General Constantine Chiwenga, the JOC was put together by Mugabe to make crucial decisions during this political crisis. It is comprised of military, police, intelligence and prison chiefs, and they are believed to be even more powerful than the cabinet.

Present at the meeting were Godwills Masimirembwa, head of the National Incomes and Pricing Commission and JOC members in full military uniform. They interrogated the business leaders, first accusing them of defying price controls introduced by Mugabe last year.

Then the accusations turned to political activity. The JOC alleged that
the businesses were funding presidential candidate Simba Makoni's election campaign. Chiwenga had with him files of bank statements, deposit slips and surveillance reports. Individually the businesses were grilled about why there were shortages in their shops and why they had not applied for foreign currency to buy the scarce goods or necessary inputs from the Reserve Bank. It appears the JOC had much miscellaneous information about each business.

One of the business managers interrogated was National Foods managing director Jeremy Brooke. He insisted he had sold flour at the official price and defended himself. His arguments enraged Air-Vice Marshall Henry Muchena who ordered him to leave. Brooks was arrested later that week and spent several days in detention.

Shingi Munyeza, chief executive of the Zimbabwe Sun Leisure Group, was interrogated at a separate meeting at the RBZ about his alleged support for Makoni. A source at the RBZ is quoted as saying he was told to stop financing Makoni “or else".

The IWPR report also noted other situations that are linked to ZANU-PF paranoia. It alleges that two car retailers were ordered to stop all sales until after the elections, so that Makoni’s campaign team has no access to vehicles. There are also fuel supplies that have been reserved just for ZANU-PF campaigners. The IWPR also reported that all printing companies were booked up by ZANU-PF, forcing the MDC to turn to South Africa to get its election literature printed.

Mcdonald Lewanika, spokesperson for the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, said this intimidation of businesses is not new. He confirmed that intimidation is rife and much of it is occurring behind closed doors. He said the government’s reaction is a sign that they are running scared.

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