NOTORN Powerful military and police chiefs last week trooped to Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor Gideon Gonos Norton farm to attend a function at the property, in a move seen as clear indication of the security commanders support for the embattled central bank chief. (Pictured: RBZ governor Gono (r) shares a joke witA Senior Assistant Commissioner Sibanda represented Police Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri. The service chiefs, dressed in designer suits shared loud laughs and hugs with both Gono and his wife Helin.
After the commissioning of the US$40 000 silos that was also attended by King Mswati of Swaziland and President Robert Mugabe and their spouses, the security chiefs stayed behind for the main function held at Gonos farmhouse.
Mugabe last month viciously defended Gono by emphatically stating that the embattled RBZ chief would not be removed from his position as demanded by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirais MDC party and international donors.
The MDC insist it wants Gono as well as Attorney General Johannes Tomana dismissed from their jobs and has referred the dispute over the two senior officials to the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which together with the African Union, is a guarantor to the global political agreement signed by Zimbabwes three largest parties last year.
The SADC is yet to respond to the MDCs request for the body to look into the Gono/Toman issue.But the service chiefs, the real force behind Mugabe and Zanu (PF)s decades-old hold on power, earlier last week waded into the war of words over Gonos fate, declaring that they would not sit idle by while the RBZ chief was being hounded out if his job.
Air Vice Marshal Henry Muchena — speaking on behalf of the service chiefs — told mourners at the funeral of Gonos brother that the central bank governor was a cadre in the revolution to reclaim Zimbabwe (a euphemism for Mugabes chaotic and disastrous land reforms). Muchena said the security sector would not countenance Gono being driven out of the RBZ, a message that appeared meant for the MDC as well as the SADC facilitators.
The service chiefs have immensely benefited from many of Gonos illegal quasi-fiscal activities at the central bank, including the farm mechanisation scheme that saw the army men receive free farm inputs and equipment. The MDC says Gonos continued presence at the RBZ was discouraging donors from pouring in funds badly needed to rebuild Zimbabwes economy.
Among concerns key Western donor governments want addressed before they can support the unity government is reform at the central bank where governor Gono is accused of stoking up the countrys economic meltdown through quasi-fiscal activities, including funding Mugabes political programmes. Gono has also come under fire for printing money to fund activities ordinarily undertaken by government ministries through allocations from the national budget.
But with Thursdays show of support it is highly unlikely that Gono will go.