‘Chindori-Chininga was killed’

[NOvEMbER 15, 2017]

THE Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) last night seized the State broadcaster ZbC-Tv and told the nation their action was targeted at “criminals” surrounding President Robert Mugabe.

but in a statement read out by Major General Sibusiso Moyo, which came a few hours after the army besieged Pockets Hill, the ZbC headquarters, the State security agents indicated this was not “a military takeover of government”, adding Mugabe was safe.

The move also followed a State media black-out of ZDF commander General Constantino Chiwenga’s Press statement on Monday in which he called the 93-yearold Mugabe to order and directed him to stop the on-going purge on former vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s allies ahead of Zanu PF’s extra-ordinary congress next month.

Chiwenga had, in the statement, warned that the threat to the nation and Zanu PF by “counter-revolutionaries” in the ruling party could force the army to “step in”.

He made four key demands that he said Mugabe should urgently fulfil, failure which the army could “step in”, which were “to stop reckless utterances by politicians from the ruling party denigrating the military which is causing alarm and despondency within the rank and file; that the current purging which is clearly targeting members of the party with a liberation background must stop forthwith; that the known counter-revolutionary elements who have fomented the current instability in the party must be exposed and fished out; and, as the party goes for the extra-ordinary congress, members must go with equal opportunity to exercise their democratic rights.”

NewsDay reporters heard heavy gunfire and at the police armoury at Chikurubi Support Unit, where the elite police unit is stationed, and parts of the leafy of Harare, early today.

Maj Gen Moyo said: “We wish to assure the nation that His Excellency, the President Robert Gabriel Mugabe and his family are safe and sound and their security is guaranteed. We are only targeting criminals around him who are committing crimes . . . that are causing social and economic suffering in the country. As soon as we have accomplished our mission, we expect that the situation will return to normalcy.”

Although Moyo could not name the army’s targets, NewsDay understands that Finance minister Ignatius Chombo, who is also Zanu PF secretary for administration, Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo, party commissar Saviour Kasukuwere, Central Intelligence Organisation deputy director Albert Miles Ngulube, Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri were arrested with little resistance at their homes. There was no official confirmation.

but other security sources claim Kasukuwere and Moyo had sought refuge at Mugabe’s blue Roof mansion. Moyo also urged Zimbabweans to remain calm and limit unnecessary movement. The military assured the Judiciary that its independence was guaranteed, and that the security services should “co-operate for the good of our country” and any provocation would “be met with an appropriate response”. The army cancelled all leave for the defence forces and ordered personnel to return to barracks immediately.

Western embassies have issued warnings for the nationalities in “Harare to remain safely at home or in their accommodation until the situation becomes clearer”.

“We are only targeting criminals around him who are committing crimes . . . that are causing social and economic suffering in the country. As soon as we have accomplished our mission, we expect that the situation will return to normalcy,” Moyo said.

A defiant Chiwenga, who was flanked by Zimbabwe National Army commander Lieutenant General Philip valerio Sibanda, Air vice Marshal Elson Moyo and army chief of staff (administration) Major General Douglas Nyikayaramba at the Monday Press conference addressed nearly 100 major generals, brigadier generals, wing commanders and senior army commanders raising concerns about the dismissal of Mnangagwa and other senior party officials with liberation war credentials.

“It is with great humility and a heavy heart that we come before you to pronounce the indisputable reality that there is instability in Zanu PF today and, as a result, anxiety in the country at large. What is obtaining in the revolutionary party is a direct result of the machinations of counter-revolutionaries who have infiltrated the party and whose agenda is to destroy it from within,” Chiwenga said.

“It is saddening to see the revolution being hijacked by agents of our erstwhile enemies who are now on the brink of returning our country to foreign domination against which so many of our people perished.”

The military boss threatened retribution on all Zanu PF counter-revolutionaries bent on “destroying the party from within”, in apparent reference to the Tsholotsho North legislator, Moyo.

He is a leading figure in Zanu PF’s G40 faction that engineered Mnangagwa’s recent expulsion from both government and the ruling party on allegations of disloyalty, deceitfulness, attempts to usurp power from Mugabe among others.

Other key members of the G40 faction include First Lady Grace Mugabe, Zanu PF national political commissar Kasukuwere and vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko. Mnangagwa reportedly leads a rival faction Team Lacoste over Mugabe’s succession.

The belligerent military, hitherto seen as a malleable tool in Mugabe’s hands, was believed to be sympathetic to Mnangagwa’s bid to succeed the 93-year-old leader and was, until his expulsion, a leading contender.

Mugabe has already been endorsed as Zanu PF presidential candidate for the 2018 election, but with the new turn of events, the veteran leader could be challenged by Mnangagwa at next month’s elective congress.

— NewsDay

The late former Zanu PF Guruve South MP Edward Chindori-Chininga [JUNE 27, 2013]

THE family of the late Zanu PF Guruve South MP Edward Chindori-Chininga yesterday claimed the outspoken MP who died last week in a car crash was murdered by his political foes within the party.

It also emerged that his wife Linda wanted Chindori-Chininga to be buried at Glen Forest cemetery in Harare, but her request was turned down by other family members. She threatened to boycott the burial and only arrived just before her husband was interred at his Mudhindo homestead in Guruve.

It is understood that she only agreed to attend the politician’s burial after being convinced by Indigenisation minister Saviour Kasukuwere’s wife.

Speaking during the burial, Chindori-Chininga’s relatives said there where young politicians who wanted to destroy Zanu PFby using dirty tactics against political rivals.

“Politics kills, You are killed by a stupid person,” Chindori-Chininga’s nephew John Chanetsa said.

“Stupid people plan for you. People who want to rule this country are not fit to do so. Beware those who want to rule don’t care about you and if (President Robert) Mugabe goes, there will be trouble.”

Chanetsa alleged that political rivals celebrated Chindori-Chininga’s death in bars.

“After I heard about the death, I ran around and realised people were celebrating the death. You killed him to pave way for yourself, but I am sorry God is for us all. If you want to rule do it cleanly,” Chanetsa said.

He said he held a meeting with Chindori-Chininga just a few hours before his death where he outlined various community projects.

Chanetsa said all the campaign material that ChindoriChininga was supposed to use including 6 000 chicks and maize seeds would no longer be distributed, but would be sold and proceeds given to the family. He said he would not be deterred by ChindoriChininga’s death, but will campaign for Mugabe.

Chindori-Chininga’s brother Gilbert confirmed that the politician had a sense of insecurity since his first accident last year.

“We were told it was an accident, I am told he was very happy when he called home around 6pm only for his wife to receive another phone call about his accident around 7:30pm,” Gilbert said.

Another brother Tynos Shokora said that even though Chindori-Chininga was gone there shall rise another person in the family of his calibre.

Kasukuwere and Zanu PF Mashonaland central provincial chairperson Dickson Mafios were the only notable Zanu PF members at the burial.

Kasukuwere described ChindoriChininga as a dedicated party cadre who died while on duty to serve his party.

He took a swipe at the local media and political parties for claiming to be closer to Chindori-Chininga than Zanu PF.

“Leave this man to rest in peace and please desist from writing what you don’t know,” Kasukuwere said.

“He died because it was God’s will. He was dedicated to the party and don’t act as if you liked him and we find it very strange. Stop claiming him as yours, he was Zanu PF, period. We also have opportunistic political parties who are also claiming him as the irs.” — NewsDay -