Mugabe is not getting any younger and is desperate to safeguard his position, post retirement. Trusty presidential financial advisor, Gono, is believed to be part of the grand plan to ensure Mugabe has a peaceful retirement – but the political career of the man who murdered the Zim dollar has so far met with several challenges.
There was the alleged media smear campaign, following which came a total Zimpapers blackout on all things Gono. And most recently, head of ZEC Rita Makarau said there were irregularities in Gono’s voter registration in Manicaland province, which in theory renders him ineligible for the senatorial position he so desperately desires. Jonathan Moyo recently broke his vow of silence, which began around the Gamatox period. Moyo makes fun of Gono’s ‘ignorance of the law.’ When it seemed there was no go for Gono, justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa has said there might yet be hope for Gono’s senatorial aspirations. Perhaps somebody more senior to Mnangagwa instructed the justice minister to ‘find a way,’ hence the change of stance.