In name they are a couple, but in their Facebook posts they are estranged and their different political beliefs could well have been the marriage breaker – although they both claim to be Zanu (PF) members. The couple has become a source of entertainment and debate stimulus and gives an insight into what is happening behind the scenes of the country’s politics.
Amai Jukwa is older in Facebook age – having joined the social platform on January 17 this year. She had been liked by 11,838 people, with 6,524 talking about her page at the time of going to print.
The brief description on the page reads, “Amai Jukwa is a loving mother of three. She respects Robert Mugabe, is amused by (Morgan) Tsvangirai and feels sorry for (Arthur) Mutambara.”
Baba Jukwa joined the social platform on March 22 and had soared to 17,933 followers, with 9,667 people talking about him, in less than a month. The description on his page says he is a “Concerned father, fighting nepotism and directly linking community with their leaders, government, MPs and ministers.”
According to their posts, Amai Jukwa is pro-Mnangagwa while Baba Jukwa is pro-Mujuru. According to the latest public spat, Amai Jukwa is pro-Jonathan Moyo/Saviour Kasukuwere, while the husband is pro-Gideon Gono.
Amai Jukwa is obsessed with empty attacks on Gideon Gono, Joyce Mujuru, the MDC-T and Baba Jukwa. When the going gets tough, she shifts her focus to giving motherly advice on social issues.
In one of her recent posts, she addressed the issue of election campaign material broadcast on state radio and television: “As the MDC prepares its election material for broadcast they must be conscious of what they say lest their message be illegal and therefore not suitable for broadcast. Alex Magaisa, please note the Public Order and Security Act, the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, and the General Laws Amendment Act, which make it a criminal offence to make utterances that may engender feelings of hostility or cause hate, ridicule or contempt towards the head of state or his office. This is a privilege only enjoyed by the head of state.”
Baba Jukwa’s posts have been more incisive, “exposing” politicians for their alleged covert operations and giving out internal communication memos, public officials’ emails and contact numbers, so that followers can contact them.
Some of those he has torn to shreds are Zapu President Dumiso Dabengwa, Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander Constantine Chiwenga, Mines Minister Obert Mpofu and Fideism Fengu, who Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo wanted to force into the Bulawayo City Council as a special interest councillor. A number of pictures in which Fengu was posing with Zanu (PF) officials and security commanders were posted on the page.
Baba Jukwa seems to be a well-informed Zanu (PF) official or state security agent, with a deep knowledge of internal information and officials’ private contact details. As the public tries to figure out who the two could be, the characters are busy attacking and trying to expose each other.
Amai Jukwa believes her “estranged husband” could be Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor, Gideon Gono. “Let us not get distracted. Gideon Gono, aka Baba Jukwa, just has to explain the missing gold coins. These are not empty allegations without evidence, but based on a Deloitte audit,” she wrote recently.
Baba Jukwa believes his “estranged wife” could be a (named) Zimbabwean journalist/lawyer.
When she wrote: “This is why I always say ask for hard evidence to the padlock-brains who jump up and down like children as Baba Jukwa lies to them and plays their brains like an instrument. Munoitwa vana vadiki,” he responded: “Vanangu (my children), I am happy that my estranged wife is now personalising her fights on me. I would like to assure you that I will never lose focus and be drawn into her personal petty squabbles where she wants to divert our agenda.
“I will just keep and maintain our dignity by sticking to our purpose of exposing the evil that she represents and our Zanu (PF) organisation. Let her burn up and scribble whatever she wants about us but we are not moved. Our eyes remain on the ball, not on the man.
These two characters might be wide of the mark with some of their posts, but their timing – as Zimbabweans brace for probably the most decisive election since independence, has shot them to instant popularity.
Post published in: News
Great man baba Jukwa. keep up the steam