HARARE — The Joint Operations Command, led by President Robert Mugabe’s strategist and Emmerson Mnangagwa, has blacklisted several  government officials for playing a key role in the defeat of both Zanu PF and Mugabe in the March harmonised elections.

Reliable sources told ZimDaily the officials were blacklisted on the orders of Mnangagwa and Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) commander and General Constantine Chiwenga.

 

 

 

Topping the list is State Security minister Didymus Mutasa followed by Zanu PF political commissar and Minister without Portfolio Elliot Manyika, Labour, Public Works and Social Welfare minister Nicholas Goche, Mashonaland East governor Ray Kaukonde and Information and Publicity minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu.

Mutasa’s errors of judgment were outlined at a JOC meeting in April to have cost the party and its candidate victory in the elections.

 

He came under attack for allowing farm invasions that even targeted resettled farmers and his major gaffe was the diesel n’anga saga in which government was duped and embarrassed after a traditional healer claimed to have discovered natural diesel deposits near Chinhoyi.

 

Manyika and Goche were blacklisted from playing any role in the presidential run-off campaign as they were credited with causing Zanu PF’s defeat in the Mashonaland Central and East provinces – traditional strongholds of Zanu PF and Mugabe.

Ndlovu came under fire for allowing the opposition MDC and its presidential candidate positive publicity on state broadcaster. The ZBC blitz has already cost its chief executive, Henry Muradzikwa, his job, while Ndlovu has sought to distance himself from the accusations by claiming that Muradzikwa deliberately defied him and afforded the MDC positive publicity.

 

The latest victim of the JOC’s blacklist is independent businessman and advertising guru Gary Thompson, who is credited with coming up with the MDC’s “Morgan is More” adverts.

 

Kaukonde found his way on the list after it was discussed in the meeting that he had decampaigned Mugabe while secretly backing Zanu PF breakaway kid, Simba Makoni who was challenging Mugabe for the presidency.

 

“The list will soon expand, It will include allies of (retired) general Solomon Mujuru who are pushing for Mugabe to call it quits.”,” said the sources.

 

Mnangagwa has arguably become the most powerful man in the country behind Mugabe and is now widely tipped to succeed Mugabe.

 

He took over the chairmanship of  JOC from Mutasa last month and is running the presidential runoff campaign with major allies, Chiwenga, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono, Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa and former Zanu PF Midlands provincial chairman July Moyo