The Sunday Mail
In previous instalments, I unpacked the nature of factionalism and how factions abuse power bases, related how factionalism is transcending into a palace coup, and submitted that factionalism in Zanu-PF has been premised on illusions of power created by factional kingpins who are in fact paper tigers.
This instalment seeks to decipher the motivational imperatives that drive factions as a basis for making concrete proposals on how to vanquish factionalism.
It is submitted that current factional contestations are fuelled by the regime change agenda under the pretext of preparing to succeed President Mugabe.
This instalment will use previous and current manifestations of the factional Mavambo phenomenon.
In efforts to strengthen the resolve of Zanu-PF members to resist factionalism, there is need to interrogate the motivational imperatives of the factional Mavambo phenomenon.
It is necessary to understand the forces driving Mavambo and how factionalism is central to the efforts to effect a regime change in Zimbabwe that is underpinned by a palace coup within Zanu-PF.
The primary objective is to exorcise the factional demon that is the factional Mavambo phenomenon to obviate a repeat in 2018 of the humiliation Zanu-PF suffered in 2008 because of the devilish Mavambo.
I will start by justifying why it is necessary to unpack the factional Mavambo phenomenon. I will then highlight how factionalism has combined with the Mavambo phenomenon elements who, in their various configurations, are networking in pursuit of a regime change agenda.
I will conclude by illustrating that the factional Mavambo Phenomenon elements are demonic paper tigers that can be quite easily exorcised
Why unpack Mavambo?
The factional Mavambo phenomenon is a continuing expression and demonstration of the kind of factionalism that Zanu-PF is faced with and threatened by.
It, therefore, becomes vitally important that not only should the factional Mavambo Phenomenon’s untold story be told, but that it is unmasked and openly discussed.
The factional Mavambo phenomenon is silently infecting unsuspecting Zanu-PF members with its highly toxic venom.
The factional Mavambo phenomenon, as it first manifested itself and in its present mutated form, has never been unpacked as an example and expression of factionalism then and now.
The fact that Zanu-PF has never formally critically examined the factional Mavambo phenomenon, in my view, is arguably the largest victory that the regime change agenda has achieved since the advent of Zimbabwe’s historic land reform programme.
The deleterious machinations of the factional Mavambo phenomenon need to be critically examined because of its ebola-like viral and haemorrhagic nature.
This is important considering that even though some of the elements of the Mavambo project left the party in 2008, some have remained entrenched within Zanu-PF as an insidious viral infection.
Some of those who left in 2008 have come back to re-infect the party.
What makes viruses difficult to deal with is the manner in which they mutate and become stronger via cross-infection.
The Mavambo factionalists exist in at least three viral strains which include those that left Zanu-PF in 2008 and remain outside the party, those that have re-infected the party since, and those that remained dormant within the party.
These viral strains of the Mavambo factionalists continue to network, mutate and strengthen.
What is clear, however, is that the factionalist and treacherous objectives of the factional Mavambo phenomenon have not changed.
Driving the perfidious objective of the factional Mavambo phenomenon is unbridled ambition that seeks to effect regime change and reverse total liberation, independence and freedom which have built much momentum and energy towards delivering sustainable political and socio-economic empowerment and transformation as the basis for enhanced quality of life for all Zimbabweans.
The factional Mavambo phenomenon is becoming the dominant strategy for regime change as evidenced by the project of American operative Eric Little and his “Dirty Dozen” of little men.
Mavambo has always been a tool of regime change from inception. As a virus, the factional Mavambo phenomenon keeps mutating, changing and adapting its strategy in pursuit of its master’s objective of regime change.
The architects of regime change started losing faith in their puppet Morgan Tsvangirayi and with the MDC after Zanu-PF’s crushing victory of 2005, which yielded a two-thirds parliamentary majority.
They developed alternative strategies and sought to diversify their pool of puppets and stooges. As a result, the so-called Mutambara formation of the MDC was created in tandem with the initiation of the factional Mavambo phenomenon.
The factional Mavambo phenomenon started to visibly manifest itself in Goromonzi in 2007.
Factional regime change network
What makes the factional Mavambo phenomenon a manifestly harmful regime change project is that it has at least three components. These components coalesce into a regime change network which must be closely looked at.
Firstly, it is necessary to establish the elements of the factional Mavambo phenomenon who have left Zanu-PF and how they are relating with their fellow conspirators who they have left deployed within the party.
When Simba Makoni and Dumiso Dabengwa left Zanu-PF in 2008, they left behind sleeper agents.
These sleeper factional Mavambo phenomenon regime change agents were and remain reluctant to denounce the emergence of Mavambo because of close ties; they are referred to as the “ubhudhi Du” contingent.
In severally instances, some of the factional Mavambo phenomenon conspirators who left Zanu-PF have been readmitted into the party with the help of the “ubhudhi Du” contingent.
They have by-passed party regulations and can be found in senior party positions and even as legislators.
As a result, the “ubhudhi Du” contingent of the factional Mavambo phenomenon conspirators has been growing and repositioning in critical parts of the party.
Furthermore, the “ubhudhi Du” contingent has been actively recruiting and positioning factional conspirators within what they perceive to be Zanu-PF’s power bases.
The disorder and chaos that is manifesting itself can be traced to these elements.
The second component relates to determining how the factional Mavambo phenomenon conspirators are linking with external hostile interests and elements that are associated with the regime change agenda.
A glaring manifestation is the “Dirty Dozen” scandal.
American operative Eric Little has managed to work himself into the hinterland of Zimbabwe where he takes pictures, gets to know local authority leadership, and distributes his business cards and contacts with impunity.
All of this happens with the assistance of a high-ranking Zanu-PF official who has reduced himself to being a specialised treasonous tour guide.
The American operative managed to get himself escorted in his treacherous escapade by State security and intelligence agents! Unbelievable!
The factional Mavambo phenomenon conspirators are aiding and abetting the regime change agenda drivers in mapping out Zimbabwe’s socio-political terrain; which exercise the enemy cannot do despite having a sophisticated satellite surveillance system.
Why, for God’s sake, would any patriotic Zimbabwean facilitate for the CIA to acquire socio-political intelligence in contravention of protocols governing diplomatic behaviour?
As if that is not enough, the factional Mavambo phenomenon conspirators submit the incredulously ridiculous and nonsensical argument that all of this was done in an attempt to secure the filthy 30 pieces of silver.
I will not even submit the argument of sanctions.
The factional Mavambo phenomenon conspirators stupidly argue that their application for money was turned down! Why would the Americans provide money when they had already been given access to vital intelligence?
The escapades of the American operative Eric Little are exactly how the regime change agenda drivers in Libya infiltrated that country to the point where they were able to establish numerous units that they triggered in an engineered rebellion.
In Libya, these so-called insurgents were then supported by air strikes under the guise of a no-fly zone.
Despite being advised, directed and guided by both the party and Government on how to relate to foreign entities, you find factional Mavambo phenomenon conspirators actively defying such instruction.
I was personally attacked for privately advising one of the factional Mavambo phenomenon conspirators of how the “Dirty Dozen” scandal represented a major security threat to the country.
The third component of the factional Mavambo Phenomenon relates to how the “ubhudhi Du” conspirators who remained in the party are linking up with elements in the opposition parties and associated regime change elements through the Mavambo group that left Zanu-PF.
Those who left have remained deliberately deployed outside so as to provide the link between the “ubhudhi Du” contingent with the architects of the regime change agenda.
The language of the factional Mavambo phenomenon elements always refers to some form of a “new” Zimbabwe whilst attempting to negate that Zimbabwe became independent in 1980.
Parenthetically, the “ubhudhi Du” factional conspirators of the Mavambo phenomenon who are still hiding in Zanu-PF never ever say “down with MDC” or “down with Mavambo” or “down with imperialists”.
That is how you recognise the “ubhudhi Du” contingent.
The regime change agenda is being pursued via a multi-pronged approach.
Infiltration of Zanu-PF is being used to foment discord and disharmony. This discord is then amplified and reported in the regime change media to portray an image that Zanu-PF is disintegrating and that the centre can no longer hold.
This sets the stage for an attempt to unseat the President and First Secretary of Zanu PF, Cde Mugabe, and replace him with a compliant stooge.
Furthermore, the infiltration is also being used to lower the guard and vigilance of not only Zanu-PF, but State security agencies as well.
It becomes so unfortunate that some senior officers in the State security, defence and intelligence establishment fail to recognise the clear and present danger that American operative Eric Little and his “Dirty Dozen” band of little men present to Zimbabwe’s sovereignty and Independence.
Some of these senior officers choose to reduce this massive intelligence breach to factional contestation to the point of being oblivious of the parallels that can be drawn from the take-over of Libya.
Mavambo paper tigers
In the previous instalment, I submitted that factional kingpins are merely paper tigers who rely on illusions, smoke and mirrors to convey a perception of power they do not possess.
A paper tiger is something that appears threatening but is actually ineffectual and unable to withstand challenge.
The “ubhudhi Du” contingent of the factional Mavambo conspirators appears threatening but they are in actual fact ineffectual.
A story is told of one such member of the “ubhudhi Du” contingent who displayed amazing levels of cowardice on the eve of Simba’s announcement to run as a presidential candidate.
It is said Simba drove to this fellow’s house and the guard on duty at the gate indicated that the said fellow had just driven in.
As was usual, since Simba and the fellow were on good terms, Simba was allowed in.
But when he knocked on the door, the said fellow’s wife refused to let Simba enter saying that the said fellow was not home. When Simba replied that the guard had said the fellow had just driven in, the fellow’s wife responded by saying that the fellow was in his rural home.
When Simba pressed on to say that the fellow’s car was in the driveway, the fellow’s wife angrily retorted that the vehicle in the driveway had not been moved for days and slammed the door in Simba’s face.
Although shocked, Simba had the presence of mind to put his hand on the bonnet of the said fellow’s huge Land Cruiser vehicle to feel the heat that indicated that the engine had recently been running.
The factional Mavambo phenomenon had to borrow the presidential votes of the then Mutambara-led MDC formation in the 2008 harmonised elections.
An analysis of the votes cast during that election shows a telling congruence between votes cast for Simba and those cast for the Mutambara-led MDC formation.
Factional kingpins in Zanu-PF do not have the courage and conviction of their positions.
They are so terrified of the democratic process of a secret ballot at the upcoming 6th National People’s Congress that they are alleging that voting is unconstitutional. What a shame. Pamberi navaMugabe chete.
Icho!
Honourable Patrick Zhuwao is Chair of Zhuwao Institute, an economics, development and research think tank that focus on integrating socio-political dimensions into business and economic decision-making, particularly strategic planning. Zhuwao is the holder of a BSc (Honours) degree in Computer Systems Engineering and an MBA in Information Technology Management (City University, London). He also holds BSc (Honours) and MSc degrees in Economics (University of Zimbabwe), as well as a Master of Management (with distinction) degree in Public and Development Management (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg).
