Gutu, Mugabe was not "tasting his own medicine" inwarning security Chefs to stay out of politics - he was dishing it out! by W Mukori

It is by listening to MDC leaders’ statements, they child-like naivety, that one can see why they failed to implement even one of the GPA reforms design dismantle the Zanu PF dictatorship. Obert Gutu, MDC-T spokesman is pleased “Mugabe is having a taste of his own medicine” following the tyrant’s complaining about people in the security services being involved in Zanu PF politics.

"Apa patasvika pekuti vamwe vava kupindira hapana kunaka. Vanhu vari kuuya kwandiri vachinditi zvakanaka here izvi? Inga vamwe vava kupindira, vechisoja, vechipurisa, veintelligence vaakufamba vachiti ava vanodavo ngana avo ndovokwangana. Havadi ngana vanoda party,” Mugabe warned at the Conference.

"Let's stop that. We are ruining the party. Gwara reparty riripo (We have now entered a dangerous era. People are telling me that what is happening is not good and that soldiers, the police and the intelligence services are now also involved in the party's factional wars)."

There was euphoric pleasure in MDC circles at hearing this.

"But then, he (Mugabe) is primarily responsible for openly inviting the securocrats to become active politicians,” commented Obert Gutu.

"How many times have you witnessed uniformed police officers and soldiers, including CIO operatives, openly campaigning for Zanu-PF with the president conveniently keeping quiet about it? Nhasi zvazorwadza nhaika (It is bad now)?" How naïve!

Of course Mugabe has encouraged members of the security services to play an active role in politics. The tyrant has used the Women’s League and Youth League members and in the last 15 years war vets as the party’s foot soldiers for the bulk work of harassment, intimidation, rape and beating. But when it came to the heavy duty stuff of stopping opposition party rallies and the murder of opponents Mugabe has relied of the Police, CIO and Army.

Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri has written his doctorate thesis on Policing in Zimbabwe and in it he boasts that the greatest challenge for the Police was to “stop regime change agenda”. So defending the de facto one-party dictatorship and not the traditional role of maintaining law and order was ZRP’s principal duty.

Mugabe was not moaning the Police or anyone else in the security sector’s role in defending his no regime change mantra or campaigning for the party, he will be very pleased to see them step up their political involved in these area. Very pleased indeed given the pressure the party is in from the within with all the factional fighting and from outside from the worsening economic situation.

What Mugabe was complaining about is stories of those in the security sector siding with the Mnangagwa faction, siding with the G40 faction is fine. Even if no one has said anything, being seen talking to Mnangagwa or any of his cronies could get them into serious trouble given Mugabe’s paranoia.

Mugabe was just reminding everyone in the security services that he has his spies everywhere, that he alone appointed them into whatever post they are in and, more pointedly, that he alone can fire them if he so wished. Watch out!

Mugabe has remained top dog in the party and government not because he is a competent and visionary leader, loved and admired by all in equal measure. He is a corrupt and incompetent leader and a ruthless tyrant, his greatest forte; for it is because of his “several degrees in violence” as he has often boasted, that everyone fears him.

Even with the country in economic ruins and the party imploding because his 35 years of mismanagement, corruption and tyrannical rule; even with every sign that he is both physically and mentally too frail to remain leader because of old age and ill health; Mugabe still maintains that he is the only person best suited to remain at the helm. There is not even one person in Zanu PF who has had the guts to tell him that he should step down. Not even one! They are all frightened stiff to dare contradict him!

For your information Mr Gutu, Mugabe is not having a taste of his own medicine; he is in fact dishing it out in bucketful to his subservient minions. You should know this medicine Mr Gutu, after all you and your fellow MDC minions took potbellies full of it during the GNU. Fear! It was your fear of Mugabe’s anger that stopped you lot from implementing even one democratic reform in the five years of the GNU! Not one!