Wednesday, June 12, 2013

(NEWZIMBABWE) Knives out for Gono as police guards withdrawn
10/06/2013 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter

COMMENT - This is mainly gossip, leading up to the 2013 elections. - MrK

ZANU PF hardliners have twisted the knife on Reserve Bank governor Gideon Gono by withdrawing his police security from his home.

Gono is under pressure from hawkish Zanu PF elements in the politburo, the army and police who fear his public opposition to indigenisation is undermining the party’s electoral chances.

The central bank chief was labelled a “house nigger” by Jonathan Moyo, who is charged with drawing up the party’s election manifesto, and bad blood exists between Gono and Indigenisation Minister Saviour Kasukuwere.

It has since emerged that Gono, who will leave office in November at the expiry of his second and final term, has been stripped of his 24-hour police protection at his home – it is believed on the instructions of Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri.

Gono retains his Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) protection, but his plush Borrowdale home is now guarded by private security.

The central bank chief raised the withdrawal of his police protection with President Robert Mugabe but was told that it was an issue for Chihuri, presidential spokesman George Charamba confirmed.

Gono was philosophical on Sunday when asked about the matter. He told the Standard newspaper that “permanent and unbreakable refuge, security and protection is found in God not man”.
But aides say Gono fears his Zanu PF opponents are sending him a message to ease up on his criticism of indigenisation.

Zanu PF strategists are furious with Gono for allegedly threatening the party’s electoral chances with his opposition to indigenisation – a major manifesto issue for the party ahead of general elections next month.

Gono has pegged Kasukuwere back by blocking the transfer of controlling stakes in foreign-owned banks by locals in line with the indigenisation law while also alleging industrial scale corruption in the form of huge pay-outs to brokerage firm, Brainworks, which was involved in the indigenisation deals for Unki, Zimplats and Mimosa mines.

New Zimbabwe.com understands Gono has been privately warned by his Zanu PF opponents that they will “deal with him” after elections which they hope to win, but the withdrawal of the security detail suggests the backlash is already underway.

It is an ironic fate for Gono who for four years since 2008 faced demands from the MDC-T to be removed from his job. He came to be known as an “outstanding issue” as the MDC-T tried to get him and other senior civil servants axed – but Gono survived with the protection of Mugabe and Zanu PF.

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Monday, October 15, 2012

Nawakwi implores men to vote for her in 2016

Nawakwi implores men to vote for her in 2016
By Darious Kapembwa and Abigail Chaponda in Ndola
Mon 15 Oct. 2012, 14:00 CAT

IF only men can vote for me, I will be president in 2016, says Edith Nawakwi. In an interview in Ndola on Wednesday, Nawakwi said she had growing support from the women groupings and youths were joining her party in numbers because they believed in the agenda the party was advancing.

She said Zambians would be looking for real change in the 2016 general elections.

"So it's only men who should give me a vote, I am not worried about the women vote, they know we are capable as women," she said. "We have been in alliances which did not work like the UPND-FDD-UNIP (UDA), things did not go well, in 2008 we decided to play a role of a mother, we said, 'let's help our friends who are mourning', so we supported the MMD based on that principle."

Nawakwi said the stereotype approach where men think only women should vote for fellow women should come to an end. "Women will vote for me, so if only men vote for me in 2016, I will be president," she said.

Nawamwi said in 2011, people wanted to get rid of MMD and they made it clear that they wanted to move away from MMD at all costs.

"So they supported the PF but 2016 will be a different ball game. People will vote for real change and that is where I as a mother comes in. There is need to eradicate poverty completely, all these cases of gender-based violence need to be fought vigorously so that women claim their rightful position," she said.

She said there was need to lower the cost of living in the country by providing opportunities for all classes in society.

"We can develop roads, we can bring in development of any kind but we must remember that poverty can exist in the midst of development. Development must affect people positively," she said.

On the Mufumbwe by-elections, Nawakwi said there was need for all political players participating in the election to be tolerant and promote peace.
She said human life was precious and should not be lost merely for wanting to win a parliamentary seat.

"Elections come and go but life is sacred and should continue, we must treat each other with a motherly heart despite our differences."

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