Makoni - the dangers he faces

How Mugabe's men plan to sabotage Simba Makoni's bid for the Presidency

Zanu-PF's top operatives are wasting no time in setting out to destroy the Makoni campaign before it even gets off the ground. A high level security meeting was held on Wednesday, plans were formulated, and on Thursday a top secret Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) memo was sent out. As usual I was one of the first to see it.

It's a chilling document. It emanates from the office of the CIO director general Happyton Bonyongwe, it is coded DG/sm11, and it puts all national and provincial security operatives, spies, thugs and bullyboys on "condition red."

The memo describes Makoni as "too hot to handle", says that in challenging Zim1 (CIO code for Mugabe) he is posing a big security risk, and adds that the political atmosphere is charged up, and "citizens are restless and ready to vote out Zim 1."

This last is an extraordinary statement. Apparently the top CIO men believe Mugabe could lose. But they are also intent on making sure it doesn't happen, by all fair, and as you will see if you read on, by all foul means.

The memo essentially summarises the CIO's anti-Makoni plans. First, the document instructs: "Be advised to temporarily suspend all minor operations in your provinces for RDWK ahead."

"RDWK"? That was a new one on me. My CIO source who showed me the memo told me that, almost unbelievably, it stands for "Real dirty work." That certainly makes sense in the light of what follows.

"Assign your trusted operatives to ensure a tough ride for Makoni... Place Makoni, his financial backers and disgruntled civil servants who might support him under top 24 hour surveillance. Employ all RDWK strategies without restraint. Mobilise street kids in urban areas, hire them, then plant them at all Makoni's rallies to cause violence. The police will be on hand to arrest rioters. Those arrested will be detained in jails until after the elections."

"Without restraint" are the key words in the above paragraph. We know what that means. Intimidation, violence, beatings...

And for the first time in my experience this document gives written proof of how Zanu-PF uses food aid for its political ends. It reads: "In rural areas keep track on Non-Governmental Organisations when distributing relief food. Ensure that no non-card carrying Zanu-PF  individual gets food. Feed villagers wth any tarnishing information on Makoni that you can think of."

There is more, too much to be contained in this space. It's all frightening. We know that Simba Makoni is a man of integrity and intelligence. We will soon find out if he is a man of courage. At least if he reads this - or some of his people read it - then he will know a little of what to expect in the coming weeks.

The elections take place on March 29. Not long to go. Ladies and gentlemen, my fellow citizens, to paraphrase an old Chinese curse, we live in interesting times.

Comments

[max ngwenya]

If Makoni did not anticipate this then he is in the wrong race! Coming from within (ZANU-PF), he should have expected it: he is not naive! These dirty tactics have been employed before and they are known to all, even me! In fact, it is the fear of these that keep us suppressed. Now that we have a man prepared to challenge the devil all we need to do is support him. Surely thats not asking too much of nation in such distress as ours!

[Nodza]

I think Makoni knows what he is doing.He has more experience on these RDWK and will be able to handle it.What I perceive is the guys who are send to do that RDWK are part of Makoni's project so this time we will laugh. There is no trust in ZANU PF and this should worry the Zim1 so much and make us the pvo laugh and smile while ivo vachiurayana zvavo. This year tichaonerera.

[J. Makombe Bukutu]

The "discredited dictator" is in a panic mode. He can never fathom himself not being Zim 1 (imagine!) Whatever, happens, even if they steal this election things are not going to be the same after the elections. What Makoni and Morgan should do is to force the Evil One to steal the election. It has to be so patently clear to anyone that the Old Evil is a Thief! The people of Zimbabwe would have to tell him that enough is enough. How can the whole country suffer because of one Old Rag that has stuck itself to our backs? How did we allow this to happen?

Makoni has opened the way. We have to find the courage to rise and craft our own Zimbabwe of the future. We have formed an organisation known as the Great Zimbabwe Society, that has to start now to prepare for capturing power after all this dreaded mess is swept away. If you interested in rebuilding Zimbabwe and restore it as the centre of power, economic prowess, state building, like the Empire of old, watch this space and other fora. We need all the people who are ready to put their shouders to wheel, the academia, business people, politicians, lawyers, students, farmers, solders and everyone who can contribute. We have to capture power in all sense, political, economic and social.

[Bryce Curry]

OK – I’m confused. And I suspect I’m not the only one!

On the one hand you said in your earlier blog ‘The men behind Makoni’ that the following are among his cohort: Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri, Army Commander Valerio Sibanda, Airforce Commander Perence Shiri, CIO spy agency boss Happyton Bonyongwe, and retired Defence Forces Commander Vitalis Zvinavashe.

If this is true, the Simba Express is indeed starting to look and feel like an alternative gravy train for ZANU’s desperados. And he does not get my vote.

Yet now you claim that the fragrant Happyton is in Zim1’s camp, and that his boys are about to make life tough for the Great Contender.

Please throw some light on this apparent inconsistency. Do we actually KNOW yet that any of the creatures you named earlier have crawled into Simba’s bed?

And if any of your readers would like to join the discussions at the Facebook group called Debate Zimbabwe, that would also be much welcomed.

Thanks!!

[Moses Moyo]

Bruce you will know that all the names I mentioned are indeed behind Makoni but YOU MUST RECKON THAT these guys have a weird masterplan that is even puzzling us. Bonyongwe needs to appear relevant to Mugabe while doing a service for Makoni. He needs to be in the system to do that. And very soon you will see the story taking an interesting twist. But my fear like yours is that these people are like Plebians and are moving with wind. Its possible that these people who the Makoni camp tell us secretly are with them might actually run to Mugabe as usual when the old man waves his fist at them.

[Is He a Hero or a Villain?]

Why is he really doing this? Because if he doesn't then Zanu PF is stuck with Mugabe till he turns 92!

http://truezimbabweheroes.blogspot.com

More commentry here

[McPaul]

Make no mistake if or when Makoni takes over from Mugabe he will remain a member of the ruling Mafia gang in Zimbabwe and therefore in the end just as corrupt. His present boldness indicates he has either already done a deal with Mugabe or he has a very powerful backer, which would probably be the United States of America.

[JEFTER]

Guys how on earth can we sit and watch our life be shattred be this shameless dictator its high time we stand for lives lets give makoni all the the support he needs to remove this life dictator

[JEFTER]

Guys how on earth can we sit and watch our life be shattred be this shameless dictator its high time we stand for lives lets give makoni all the the support he needs to remove this life dictator

[Harare Resident]

We hear of Zim 1 & RDWK etc but can you believe we have a goonish, stupid uneducated police force that are on standby to beat and arrest people trying to make things better whilst those same policemens' families are also starving and their parents in thbe rural areas are being beaten by other policemen???? How proud we should be of these people. Whilst they are beating us up in town, we should be petrol bombing their houses next door to us in Mabvuku etc. I'm sure if we did that a few times, they will soon leave us alone to fix this disgusting problem once and for all. It took 24 hours to get rid of Molosovitch so where are our balls?