Joice Mujuru wrote a fairly copious statement late last year trying to exonerate herself from the dirty allegations her foes in Zanu (PF) had constructed against her. Predictably, she reserved one or two paragraphs to salute Mugabe, despite the fact that he had publicly called her a witch and a saboteur and booted her out of power. All and sundry at the ruling party congress held in December jostled to pile praises on their aged leader. They even illegally named the venue of the congress
Robert Mugabe Square. Former spokesperson Rugare Gumbo appropriately described the party summit as “a praise and worship farce”.
No party functionary can stand up to give a speech and not shower Mugabe with accolades. In the past, we have had full-grown men grovelling as the president’s ever-obedient sons, while other heathens in the ruling party have likened him to Christ. Traditional chiefs have made beelines to present him with rare pangolins , describing him as the king of kings, while church leaders say he was anointed by God to rule this country.
Needless to say, any who dare to show the slightest tendency to rebel against this type of behaviour have met Mugabe’s full wrath. They include the likes of Dzikamai Mavhaire—who at one time told Parliament that Mugabe must go—Margaret Dongo, Edison Zvobgo, Edgar Tekere and, lately, Joice Mujuru.
Interestingly, his supporters find no difficulty in boot-licking Mugabe – despite clear evidence that they have grown tired of or even now resent him. They are increasingly embarrassed by his gaffes as old age takes its toll on him. His vitriol at all he perceives to be against him has peeved many in the party and numerous others in the security sector, his inner circle. It seems most are secretly wishing him gone.
So, why do they keep talking and acting as if the sun shines through Mugabe’s bowels? There are numerous rational and provable factors that explain why men and women alike kneel before him and sing his praises even when he treats them worse than sewer muck. Mugabe is still considered a doyen of the struggle for nationalist independence by some. They see him as a symbol of freedom against external dominance.
He seizes any opportunity to parade himself as one of the few remaining true African nationalist leaders. Of course, that image of him as a liberator is full of fatal contradictions. He is busy oppressing his own people, yet he claims he is fighting to free Zimbabwe. Those who genuinely believe his liberation mantra are mere victims of his propaganda, which has been abetted by a powerful coterie of spin-doctors.
There are many who feel beholden to Mugabe for their climb up the social and political ladders. This applies especially to those from the former Zanu and Zanla, its military wing during the anti-colonial war. During the war, Mugabe, a teacher by profession, set aside long hours to educate his colleagues in prison. At independence, this continued, with many of them attending adult classes personally conducted by Mugabe at State House.
Joice Mujuru is one of these beneficiaries. When the war ended, she could hardly read or write even though she was made a cabinet minister. As in the case of others like Shuvai Mahofa, Mugabe was directly responsible for the gradual improvement in her literacy and numeracy. He goaded her to further her education, finally leading to her attainment of a doctoral degree last year.
Mugabe has cleverly combined this mentoring with partisan, nepotistic and strategic political and other appointments – all with financial benefits of course. It is therefore not surprising that Mujuru still crawls before him. This applies across the board where military, cabinet, politburo and other public appointments and pay checks come courtesy of his signature. Those that have benefited are fully aware what will become of them if they don’t feign sufficient loyalty and servitude.
Furthermore, the Old Man has managed to build an intricate web of power and authority characterised by subtle extortion, divide-and-rule, manipulation of the histories of those he appoints to influential positions and foxy use of state apparatus against potential and actual rebels. The majority of those surrounding him have well-documented criminal and/or immoral backgrounds.
They know that the slightest evidence of rebellion will see them in prison or some other nasty place.
They can also lose the farms, cars and other forms of wealth they have accumulated over the years. Mugabe has let them accumulate ill-gotten largesse and positions elsewhere and he is regularly briefed by his corky spooks, most of who have creaking skeletons in their own backyards. In this regard, Mugabe easily passes as a Mafia boss. He sets one group against each other and the only way for his subordinates to survive is to scream themselves hoarse in praise. – To comment on this article, please contact majonitt@gmail.com
Post published in: Mugabe Succession