ZIMBABWE

POLITICAL ECONOMY REVIEW

Mugabe’s Cabinet Reshuffle – Power, Patronage and Greed 13 October 2017

© Democracy Institute 66 Jason Moyo Avenue www.zimdem.org [email protected] The 9th of October Cabinet reshuffle – a ZANU-PF, state machinery and wining the Mnangagwa management scheme – can 2018 election is the actual challenge to be understood in the context of the to which the reshuffle has current intra-ZANU-PF discohesion and a been the first remedy. So, the reshuffle trinity of interwoven matrices in was manufactured to “manage” President Robert Mugabe’s struggle to Mnangagwa and show his followers and capture ZANU-PF and 2018 elections – anybody in ZANU-PF where power lies, greed, power and patronage. capture strategic state machinery and create an electioneering hand ahead of the 2018 elections.

How has the Mnangagwa management scheme been executed through this reshuffle? Firstly, the reshuffle has confused the securocrat syndicate which wields an overwhelming share in Mnangagwa’s force majeure. By destooling Emerson Mnangagwa in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Source: 9 October 2017 Parliamentary Affairs and replacing him with a securocrat CIO Director-General A critical analysis of the destooled, retired General Happyton Bonyongwe, revised and enthroned cabinet ministers President Mugabe displayed serious judo shows that, Mugabe attempts to dispel mastery: (i) cutting the enemy’s source of fears that he is no longer in control of power. The Ministry of Justice and ZANU-PF and effects thereof, heighten Parliamentary Affairs since 2014 has uncertainties among internal party saved as serious institutional power used enemies that he can still unmake them by Mnangagwa, i.e using it and parliament with the same ease he felt when making to amend the constitution so if he them, put his presidential stamp on the becomes president, he can appoint Team G40 faction as the anointed faction while Lacoste to the Chief Justice and Deputy making sure he doesn’t loose the state Chief Justice positions and rely on them to machinery necessary for remaining persecute enemies to manage his political power. foes both within and without the party The real and immediate challenge to the and the state generally; (ii) replacing longevity of President Mugabe’s rule is Mnangagwa with Bonyongwe is a classic Vice President Emerson Mnangagwa who, example of strategic killing of two birds as Grace Mugabe testified, has caused him with one stone – a double dose carrot and “to sleep with one eye open” whereas, the stick (appointment to disappoint) and opposition being the second. Capturing divide and rule machinations. The latter

2 “manages” Mnangagwa in that: it has partly weakened his securocrat powerbase by co-opting Bonyongwe through awarding him Mnangagwa’s ministerial post whilst creating distrust among him and his fellow generals for dining with G40. It is yet unclear whether Bonyongwe will be retired as CIO director Left: Outgoing Minister of Justice and Parliamentary general. If he does, this means he has Affairs . Right: Newly appointed been appointed to be disappointed; he is Minister of Justice Happyton Bonyongwe the first modality of Mugabe’s promise to If he continues double dipping in the retire rogue Generals and reduced to a security sector and the cabinet, this mere minister without constituency – means he has been lured to Mugabe to thus serving at the mercy of Robert handle Mnangagwa and use the Ministry Mugabe who will destool him to a general of Justice role in ZEC to allow CIOs to citizen anytime if he feels his loyalty has manage 2018 elections in a manner warned. favourable to G40 and sabotage internal and external enemies. By this gesture, President Mugabe has sent a clear message to the rest of the Team Lacoste generals – that, they are removable and should obey while His grace lasts. Observers of external elections will be accredited by CIOs.

Capturing the War veteran constituency is important to ZANU-PF’s ability to win

elections and maintain internal cohesion. Source: The Herald 11 October 2017President Mugabe Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube has failed poses for a photograph with his deputies Emmerson Mnangagwa (left) and Phelekezela Mphoko, newly to do this job, he has actually smoked appointed ministers Thokozile Mathuthu (far right), from the same pipe with Team Lacoste; Chiratidzo Mabuwa (far left), Edgar Mbwembwe (back calling for a successor was a final row), retired Major-General Happyton Bonyongwe, , and Chief Secretary to exposure. Hence, he has been destooled. the President and cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda, after the Undesirable war veterans led by swearing in ceremony at State House, have continued vitriol against Robert Mugabe. Replacing him with a vassal failed Tsholotsho war veteran-cum-politician is but a quest to find the best puppet among war veterans. Since his dismal defeat by

3 Mtoliki Sibanda as MP for Tsholotsho in by ZANU-PF register. Remaining a ZANU- 2000, Mathema has been a proud PF candidate in uMguza depends on doing beneficiary of Robert Mugabe’s patronage as Mugabe says as his stay in cabinet has network, awarded political appointments been. It is beyond reasonable doubt that to sustain his loyalty and dependency on he is doing a satisfying job for the the president for survival. The current President as evidenced by his ever move is meant to divide the war veteran presence in cabinet despite his corruption constituency behind Mnangagwa and, record. He is there to capture the police only God knows how a failed politician and its revenue generated through like Mathema will do any better than various road fines to finance and assist in Tshinga. Only better bootlicking of G40 is the 2018 election. Opponents to Robert thinkable and through Matema as the face Mugabe are assured persecution by the of War Veterans, Mugabe’s (and Grace’s) police statecraft in Mpofu’s hands. This unchallenged power is assured through will also “manage” Mnangagwa’s ability to serious patronage gamesmanship access the police machinery to do executed in the War Veterans Ministry. “corruption investigations and persecutions “of G40. The revision of ’s duty and assigning him to the Home Affairs The Finance Ministry is the most Ministry in charge of the police (their important ministry when it comes to the intoxicating role against political enemies power of the purse. Loyal people are kept and their lucrative roadblock resources) in that area. Ignatious Chombo, apart is an a clear evidence of Mugabe’s pursuit from being Robert Mugabe’s loyal of patronage, power and greed as a homeboy, has been associated with priority over quality of government. leading failed ministries. It will be Minister Mpofu presided over the foolhardy to think his appointment has Ministry of Mines and Mineral anything to do with the ailing economy Development when the USD 15bilion that has dismally worth of diamond proceeds disappeared, failed to handle. Chombo cannot do he finished the rail transport when he got anything better than Chinamasa except to that Ministry but President Robert managing state resources for the party Mugabe has continuously retained him in and First Family as well as bootlicking. cabinet. He has a serious history of Thus, he is there as a loyal patronage alleged corruption practices and refined conduit of President Mugabe and his bootlicking. It is the same Obert Mpofu family who will religiously deploy who eloped from PF-ZAPU to ZANU economic resources to Robert Mugabe’s towards independence days and after election whilst giving “targeted sanctions” suffering a trail of opposition defeat in his to internal and external enemies home area, he caved his constituency including Team Lacoste. The complains known as uMguza today, villages settled by Professor in the 2013

4 campaign that he was a victim of appointment as Minister of Local “targeted sanctions” from Mujuru faction Government, Rural Development and are a pointer to Mnangagwa and his National Housing. Kasukuwere is the faction that sanctions are used. This Political Commissar of ZANU PF switching of individuals was meant to responsible for party organization and make panicking people feel like state of party structures. This dual control something is being done about the of party and government structures to the economy whilst in reality being a political lowest levels is critical when it comes to maneuver to control capture strategic the contestation for power among ministries. Patrick Zhuwawo’s move to different factions of the party. The the Ministry of Labour is another ministry has access to dish patronage strategic economic position of power goods such as houses, land and control captured by President Mugabe and his resources and assignment of party cadres wife. The contentious ZANU-PF youths in key local as well as government who have met hardship in their enlisting projects in rural areas. on government payroll have gotten their The case of Minister Simon Khaya Moyo’s problem solved. appointment to the Ministry of Media, Information and Broadcasting Services is not separate from Mugabe’s quest to recapture the state propaganda machinery. It is he who was formerly called a faction and allegedly saved by a sleeve by Professor Jonathan Moyo from being ejected. He is therefore expected to reciprocate this favour to G40 in his new assignment. ZBC has been

source of power for Team Lacoste Minster of public Service, Labour and Social Welfare; (particularly through its permanent Patrick Zhuwao secretary), broadcasting critical content Zhuwao will also manage resources of the about Jonathan Moyo in particular and a national cash cow; the National Social stumbling block to the G40 faction. Its Security Authority which controls capture was therefore expected. Its millions of pensions funds that. Zhuwao management will yield results in being Mugabe’s loyal nephew will be Mugabe’s bid to stay in power, control useful in financing the ZANU-POF youth every powerful institution on the land militia in the coming 2018 election and and destroy enemies through this using his position to sabotage Team ministry of propaganda. Lacoste youth. Most significant to note is

Minister Saviur Kasukuwere’s new

5 Conclusion

The cabinet reshuffle is therefore a representation of continuous elite capture of the political economy and reconfiguration of power and patronage in both party and state focusing strategically to preserve the political power and economic interests of President Mugabe and his family. Most critically it sends clear messages that President Mugabe is control and that Vice President Mnangagwa is being managed and watched.

6