The problem with Ed Pfee and Sir Wicknell
Given the recent revelations surrounding Wicknell Chivayo, it is imperative for Zimbabwean citizens to engage in a comprehensive examination of critical questions concerning President Emmerson Mnangagwa's leadership. Firstly, one must ponder whether Mnangagwa can be labelled as a morally questionable leader. Secondly, does he display poor judgment in his decision-making? Lastly, is he unduly influenced by unscrupulous individuals within his close circle?
Upon thoughtful reflection, the responses to these inquiries definitely lean towards the affirmative: Mnangagwa emerges as a figure tainted by moral turpitude, incompetence, and susceptibility to corruption, thereby posing a significant political threat to Zimbabwe.
It is crucial to remember that a 2002 United Nations Security Council Report implicated President Mnangagwa in illicit activities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). These activities not only drained the war-torn nation of substantial financial resources but also contributed to the financing of rebel factions. In 2017, Professor Jonathan Moyo accused Mnangagwa of participating in corrupt practices linked to the Command Agriculture Scheme. Additionally, investigative journalism by Al Jazeera placed both Mnangagwa and his wife, Auxillia, at the heart of the infamous Gold Mafia scandal.
Mnangagwa's proclivity for nepotism is evident through his frequent appointments of family members to governmental positions, compounded by his endorsement of regional warlords such as Owen "Mudha" Ncube. This constellation of unethical conduct, nepotism, and questionable appointments underscores a leader severely compromised by his inherent deficiencies and starkly lacking in moral integrity.
If the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission were truly robust and wholly independent, it would undoubtedly initiate a comprehensive investigation into President Mnangagwa and his cadre of corrupt affiliates.
In 2020, former Zanu-PF youth leader Godfrey Tsenengamu levelled accusations against prominent business figures—Billy Rautenbach of Green Fuel, Kuda Tagwirei of Sakunda Holdings, and Tafadzwa Musarara, chairperson of the Grain Millers Association. These individuals were purportedly exploiting their connections with Mnangagwa and other government officials to manipulate exchange rates, as well as the prices of commodities such as fuel and maize.
The fervent "ED Pfee" enthusiasm witnessed during the 2018 elections becomes all the more perplexing in this context.
Despite the concerted and, at times, farcical attempts by Zanu-PF to present Mnangagwa as a harbinger of change and renewal in the lead-up to the July 31 elections, those familiar with his record from the 1980s would recognise his inherent unsuitability for the presidency from the outset.
Mnangagwa's tenure, much to the detriment of ordinary Zimbabweans who want and desperately need clean, efficient, and transparent governance, stands as a stark testament to his political malfeasance and profound unfitness for office.
No amount of ornate rhetoric or media manipulation by spokesperson George Charamba can obscure this glaring and disheartening reality: Zimbabwe's president is a political delinquent.
