Military-style psychological operation
NATHAN GUMA
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s family has come under a scary siege of military intelligence-style psychological operations as the silent power struggle and succession battle between him and his deputy, Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, dramatically reaches a zenith.
Two chilling incidents with a familiar army-style footprint against Mnangagwa’s sons — one biological and the other one a brother’s offspring — have driven home the point — there is a low intensity political battle underway.
In African culture, a son of one’s brother is a son. In Western culture, he is a nephew.
Yesterday, it emerged there has been a break into the office of Tourism and Hospitality Industry deputy minister Tongai Mnangagwa’s office in Harare.
Police confirmed they were probing the incident. Paul Nyathi, the police spokesman, said:
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms that investigations are being conducted in connection with a report of alleged break in at the office of the Deputy Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Honourable Tongai Mnangagwa in Harare between 5th and 8th July 2024.”
This came hard on the heels of another intrusion at Mnangagwa’s son’s house.
The earlier security breach was against Kudakwashe David Mnangagwa on 23 June, 25 June and 28 June, with a series of bizarre incidents which have left the Mnangagwa family in a state of shock.
At the time, police said: “The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms that investigations are currently underway in connection with a fire incident which occurred at the house of the Deputy Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Honourable Kudakwashe David Mnangagwa on 28 June 2024 at 11.30 PM.”
The calculated intrusions included entering the deputy Finance minister’s house and leaving bullet cartridges on his bedroom door, taking his laptops into the ceiling of the house, inviting superstitious references a “ghost”, and starting a fire, causing minor damages to his property and stealing some cash.
Military insiders described these two incidents, especially the one at the deputy Finance minister’s home, as “military intelligence-style”, suggesting psychological operations underway.
A military insider told The NewsHawks: “We don’t know what is happening on these specific issues, but what we do know, particularly in Zimbabwean context, is that such incidents are associated with military intelligence. “Military intelligence agencies have been known to use stealthy and intimidating tactics to influence politics and political outcomes. Some of the operational approaches include surveillance, harassment, intimidation, infiltration, coercion, burglary, cyber attacks, and psychological operations. “This appears to be that sort of thing. These tactics aim to strike fear into hearts of targets and exert control over officials, influence their decision-making, and maintain military intelligence’s grip on political power.” T his is not the first time such tactics have been used in Zimbabwe for political reasons. In January 2016, police arrested little-known Zimbabwe People’s Front political party leader Owen Kuchata (34) and Borman Ngwenya (30), Solomon Makumbe (29) and Silas Pfupa (37) for trying to petrol-bomb the late former president Robert Mugabe and his family’s Alpha Omega President Emmerson Mnangagwa with his sons Kudakwashe David Mnangagwa (insert) and Tongai Mnangagwa (below) Dairy Farm in Mazowe, Mashonaland Central province. T hey were charged with “possession of weaponry for sabotage and money laundering for terrorism purposes”. Police said the suspects confessed to planning to bomb the late president’s dairy farm. In Zimbabwe, all the First Family’s residences, businesses and properties have 24-hour security, but there was a security breach then in 2016 as now. One of the suspects then accused of attempting to petrol-bomb the Mugabe farm said it was a military-sanctioned operation, and he had been tasked by his superiors from the Zimbabwe National Army to monitor and trap the culprit. T he incident was later contextualised as part of deadly continuum of events which eventually led to the November 2017 coup and Mugabe’s ouster by the military led by Mnangagwa and Chiwenga. Insiders say the current situation maybe a calculated threat against Mnangagwa family or propaganda stunts for political agendas. Last week, Mnangagwa was forced by political pressure and unknown forces to announce he is retiring in 2028 when his current constitutional term of office expires. T his came as his political allies and supporters urged him to cling onto power until 2030 behind his constitutional term limit. T he military, which has been politicised and weaponised for political outcomes, is a major and influential factor in Zimbabwean politic
