E A R LY W A R N I N G B U L L E T I N
• Grace Mugabe’s political ascendancy
has been met with scorn. Her
ambitions have been described as
“delusional”13
• July 17, Grace Mugabe at the Youth
Rally in Lupane, Matebeleland North
declared that the MDC-T should not
be allowed in Matebeleland North,
a statement that promotes political
intolerance. At the same rally
President Mugabe spoke in forked
tongues “I hear there are groups that
are moving around beating people.
No, that is not our way of doing things.
If you see them push them off the
road and give them the punishment
they deserve. Do not even wait for
the police to come. We cannot have
criminals spoiling our good name.”14
• July 9, Prof. Jonathan Moyo accused
top military commanders of tribalism
and killing Ndebele comrades at
Mgagao potentially heightening
tensions within the military and
ruling party15 but also indicating the
need to address historical grievances
being used to whip up emotions.
• June 2, after the Marondera Youth
Interface, Prof Jonathan Moyo
tweeted after the that the sun would
rise from Mashonaland East. This
was construed by political opponents
as reinforcing Zezuru supremacy in
Zanu PF politics.16
• February 12, Temba Mliswa, MP for
Norton, was quoted, “We cannot have
a situation where we are monopolized
by one tribe. They are not superior
and not even educated. Somebody has
to just start fire by throwing a match
The Newstatesmen, Last Days of Robert Mugabe
http://www.newstatesman.com/world/2017/01/last-daysrobert-mugabe
14
ZBC live broadcast of Lupane rally
15
http://news.pindula.co.zw/2017/07/09/prof-moyo-fullstatement-responding-allegations-air-marshal-shiri-genchiwenga/#.Wa0pUMZLfIU (last accessed 5 September
2017)
16
https://www.theindependent.co.zw/2017/06/12/sunwill-rise-mash-east-mugabe/ (last accessed 5 September
2017)
13
8
stick into the bush. That is what I
have done today. The grass is ready to
burn. Let us see, how far the fire will
go”.17 Mliswa further stated that “The
birth of the tribal agenda is not a
secret. I am from Midlands, a Karanga
from Shurugwi. My mother is
Manyika and my grandmother is
Ndebele. I cover three tribes in one.
Our worry is that the game of politics
is kept at the hands of one tribe being
in power and no one else. If you look
at the values of the liberation struggle,
the president and the generals they
were not many Zezuru’s. The general
was Karanga (Tongogara) and Nikita
Mangena was Ndebele. But when it
comes to the presidency it should not
be a monopoly of one tribe. I have
said this and I will repeat it, they is
nothing powerful than a people
standing by their tribe. They is going
to be a time when a regional balance
and they going to be a distribution of
power. Where Zezuru’s are in, at
some point Karanga’s, Ndebele’s etc
should come in. But come 2018, I will
not vote for a Zezuru’s president….”18
• August 17, Mliswa was reportedly
quoted again at a press conference
that he will not vote for a Zezuru19.
• Following the coalition fracas and
tensions within the MDC-T and
MDC Alliance formation, Tsvangirai
reportedly stated, “I’m very concerned
that we are now forming different
groupings and formations. Zezuru
unconquerable, Karanga invincible,
Ndebele hegemony. This is a very
dangerous development. This country
should never be divided on the basis
Sunday Mail February 12, 2017
(http://nehandatv.com/2017/08/21/will-never-votezezuru-president-2018-temba-mliswa-video/) or (http://
newzimbabwe.com/news-38740-Mliswa+says+no+more+
Zezuru+president/news.aspx) (Last accessed, 04 September 2017)
19
http://newzimbabwe.com/news-38740-Mliswa+says
+no+more+Zezuru+president/news.aspx (last accessed 5
17
18
September 2017)
of ethnicity. Those who are promoting
ethnicity and ethnic affiliations are
dangerous for this country”20
Social media has lately been used by
political parties and individuals to drive
their narratives including largely hateful
and statements that incite violence. For
Zanu PF, an effort to rein in individuals
on social media has failed, despite
Mugabe’s attempts. Professor Jonathan
Moyo, minister for Higher and Tertiary
Education, and secretary for technology
in the Zanu PF politburo is very active on
social media platforms and has a created
a large following.21 His comments have
also been laced with hate speech targeting
individuals perceived to be associated with
Lacoste faction. Professor Moyo allegedly
presented a dossier against Mnangagwa
before the Zanu PF politburo on 19 July
2017. Moyo has accused Mnangagwa of
leading the Lacoste faction, of fanning
factionalism in Zanu PF and pursuing
unconstitutional methods in leadership
change. For opposition parties, the
MDC-T allegedly ordered members of
its party to desist from making statements
considered to incite violence or hate
against the party leadership on social
media platforms.22 During this period,
ZPP documented very concerning trends
of hate speech online as indicated below:
• On June 19 Prof. Moyo through a
statement released to the media called
command agriculture “ugly-culture”
accusing Mnangagwa of hijacking and
corrupting the program. However, on
30 June President Mugabe praised
command agriculture describing it as
a “beautiful programme”23
• On August 19 Prof. Moyo posted
“Soon. One day & only one day
https://www.zimeye.net/khupe-fanning-tribalism-saystsvangirai/), (last accessed, 04 September 2017)
21
As of 31 August 2017, Moyo had over 165 200 followers on twitter
22
http://www.newzimbabwe.com/news-34027-MDC-T+
feuds+Komichi+bans+social+media/news.aspx
23
ZBC Live broadcast Masvingo rally, Mucheke Stadium
20