Former minister reveals Mugabe only listens to his security chiefs

By Violet Gonda
20 June 2006

Former Information Minister Jonathan Moyo has revealed that Zimbabwe’s 82 year old dictator Robert Mugabe makes crucial decisions about the country based on advice only from his security officials. “I think if we look at what has happened in our country over the years – since independence – and if what we want to do is to find out whom Mugabe really listens to, disappointingly he does not really listen to free rational advice especially coming from outside the system. But even within the system he does not listen to people – either because they are cabinet ministers or they are politburo members or central committee members. He ultimately and always consistently listens to his security people.”

Moyo’s statement confirmed long held views that the country is now controlled and run by the military. Moyo added; “His (Mugabe) economic advisors are his security people. His political advisors including who to appoint to cabinet, who to appoint to central committee or politburo are his security people. He is a security president. And that explains why many responses of the government to economic challenges are predictable and they often take a law and order dimension.”

Jonathan Moyo was responding to questions during a teleconference on the programme Hot Seat about Mugabe’s state of mind, since many believe the former information minister had a close personal relationship with Robert Mugabe.

The panellists, including political analyst Professor Brian Raftopoulos and economist John Robertson, discussed how Mugabe thinks, his mindset and whether or not Mugabe was still a key player in any process towards the democratization of the country? With inflation nearing 1200% it's been said the economy has become Mugabe's real opposition.

Professor Raftopoulos said clearly it’s a de-facto government. He said, “ I think the other problem is that given what has happened in Zimbabwe the paradox is; despite Mugabe’s so-called anti imperialists rhetoric, Zimbabwe is now more vulnerable than ever to any future influences of international financial pressure.”

The analyst believes there are increasing problems that are being created by this vulnerability which will make a reconstruction programme very difficult.

When asked if he thought Mugabe was still a key player in any process towards the democratization of the country Raftopoulos responded; “Well I think his future is a key issue. I don’t think his presence in a future government is at all going to stabilize the situation but certainly his future is a key political question and given – you know what Professor Moyo said about the securitisation of the state – the state has become an increasing problem and will be a problem for any transition.”

Professor Moyo also revealed that Mugabe was desperately trying to strike a deal to safeguard his own interest. He said, “The possibility of President Mugabe facing all kinds of legal suits after office is something which plays heavily and regularly on the mind of his advisors and so we are now dealing with a president who will simply not leave office without trying to win certain safeguards regarding possibilities of prosecution whether within Zimbabwe or internationally.”

He added; “Mugabe operates like an opposition politician. He does not accept the kind of conservative role or decision approach of a leader who has to balance different interests and so forth. No. He is very single minded and now he has had to discover only too late that the situation in Zimbabwe is almost irretrievable and I see that he is concerned about his legacy.”

Economist John Robertson also agreed saying some analysis of Mugabe’s mindset is called for because his approach to the problems in the country seems to have changed in recent years. “It becomes more a psychological debate than a political or economic debate but I think that itself explains why ZANU PF and President Mugabe have become very much preoccupied with their own survival rather than with the country’s survival and recovery.”

The full audio interview can be heard on Tuesday’s Hot Seat