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Mugabe on Warpath 26th January 2003 President Mugabe is reported to be on the warpath against senior officials who he suspects are involved in a power-sharing plot with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) to dislodge him from office. Official sources said Mugabe has ordered a thorough-going investigation into the matter which Information minister Jonathan Moyo has described as a "coup plot". Mugabe's perceived heir-apparent and Speaker of Parliament Emmerson Mnangagwa and Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander Vitalis Zvinavashe have been linked in press reports to an approach made in December by retired Col Lionel Dyck to Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai about arrangements for Mugabe's early retirement and a transitional government leading to elections. They have both denied any involvement. The Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) is playing a leading role in the probe under the direction of Internal Branch director Mernard Muzariri, the Zimbabwe Independent understands. Seasoned officers have been deployed to investigate the unprecedented political moves which have led to fulminations by Moyo whose career would be the first casualty of Mugabe's exit. Mugabe is also understood to have assembled a crack Zanu PF taskforce comprising party inquisitors with an intelligence background. The team is believed to include Home Affairs minister Kembo Mohadi, State Security minister Nicholas Goche, former PF-Zapu military intelligence chief and Home Affairs minister Dumiso Dabengwa, and former State Security and now Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi. The Police Internal Security Intelligence unit could be involved too. Airforce of Zimbabwe commander, Air Marshall Perence Shiri, a fierce Mugabe adherent, would act as a technical adviser, sources said. It is understood Mugabe met the team on Monday and they are expected to meet again today. "Those involved are in deep trouble because Mugabe is livid," a source said. "They trod on a political mine and it went off." However, several of those cited as taskforce members were quick to deny any connection to an investigation when contacted by the Independent. "I'm not aware of any investigation," Mnangagwa said. Dabengwa claimed it was "news" to him and Sekeramayi said he did not want to talk about it. Mohadi said: "We are not doing anything like that." Mnangagwa was reportedly in South Africa on Monday, clearing a vehicle. He had been due to meet Mugabe on Monday in what sources said was likely to be an uncomfortable exchange. Dumisani
Muleya - Zimbabwe Independent |