The argument that Zimbabwe’s military is calling the shots has been harped on since the March 29 elections. The argument says Robert Mugabe would have stepped down when his Zanu-PF lost its parliamentary majority, and Mugabe himself won fewer votes in the presidential race than opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, had it not been for the military.
Even his wife, the extravagant Grace Mugabe, was reported to have persuaded him to step down gracefully. But the military leaders through the Joint Operations Command (JOC) told him to stay on to save their own interests.
The argument makes good reading. After all, former defence forces chief Vitalis Zvinavashe made it abundantly clear just before the 2002 presidential elections that the army would never salute anyone without liberation credentials.
The same threat was repeated by the current defence forces chief, Constantine Chiwenga, before the March elections. This was a direct challenge to Tsvangirai who does not have liberation credentials. The military could therefore not allow him to rule.
But the argument is very hollow. It may have been deduced from a fact, as stated by Zvinavashe and Chiwenga, but it is not backed by anything else, including history. Zanu-PF has always comprised the political and military wings — namely Zanu as the party, with the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (Zanla) as its Âmilitary wing.
The two have always worked together but Zanla was a creation of Zanu. The military got its orders from the politicians. It has never been the other way round. It does not therefore make sense to say Mugabe, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, the first secretary and president of the ruling party, is now taking orders from his lieutenants.
It is only a paranoiac media and sceptical public that have created the myth that Mugabe has lost his clout. Far from it — he is still the boss. If he had lost his power, he would have been kicked out as party president at the special congress in December last year. The purpose of that special congress was to elect a new party leadership but the plan flopped.
Though highly unpopular now, especially because of the way he forced Tsvangirai out of the presidential race and the way he beat up people to win the elections, Mugabe is still in command. He is not being held to ransom by anyone.