Senior officers campaign for Simba, Morgan

BY ITAI DZAMARA
HARARE
President Robert Mugabe’s hitherto unshaken support base among the military is crumbling as massive lobbying take place in the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) for members to vote for either Simba Makoni or Morgan Tsvangirai instead of the geriatric leader.
In addition, a good number of Zanu (PF) senior officials are not seriously campaigning for him.
Inducements given to ZDF members in the form of huge salary increases and soft loans have not succeeded in winning hearts and minds, as sources say Makoni and Tsvangirai have penetrated the army, air force, prison service and police and gained support from influential senior members.
Confidential information obtained this week also reveals that, while Zimbabwe Prison Service head Paradzai Zimhondi has already issued a directive to his subordinates to vote Mugabe, senior army, air force and police officials are clandestinely campaigning for the other two candidates.
Sources at KG V1 army headquarters this week revealed that pamphlets and fliers have been circulated urging members to “vote with your consciences and put the interest of the nation ahead. Remember your kids and parents are dying of hunger”.
Major William Mutasa of KG V1 responded to inquiries saying the pamphlets “are coming from some unknown elements outside the army” but our investigations showed that senior army officials were behind the anti-Mugabe campaign and that it was stirring a lot of enthusiasm as well as anxiety in the ranks.
Security services sources say given the scenario and available options, Tsvangirai has the backing of many members described as having “long chosen to support the opposition”, whilst Makoni is said to be attracting those who still regard themselves as Zanu (PF).
We have also established that Mugabe this week complained to the other members of the party’s presidium that, according to an informed source, “there is not enough zeal, commitment and enthusiasm down to the lowest party levels for the campaign and it appears most candidates are not giving it their best to campaign for the president’s re-election”.
A senior ruling party official said “many members are campaigning for other candidates other than Mugabe, and mostly Makoni because they admit we cannot continue the way things are in the country”.
Zanu (PF) political commissar Elliot Manyika admitted that “there are some in the party who are being double-faced and sell-outs by pretending to be with the rest of us but doing something else behind our backs”.