Home

Breaking the Momentum

Details: Written by: The Commentator - FB; Category: Take2Zimbabwe; Published: 11 May 2025; Hits: 462

Even If We Can’t Change the Government—We Must Break the Momentum of Looting.

The idea of political change in Zimbabwe feels like chasing a mirage. We’ve watched stolen elections, dead-end reforms, and opposition parties muzzled into irrelevance. But while change at the top may seem frozen, the bleeding hasn’t stopped. In fact, it’s speeding up.

Every day ZANU-PF stays in power is another day of looting dressed up as "development." Gold smuggled. Diamond proceeds vanished. Multi-million-dollar tenders handed to shell companies run by cousins and cronies. State land parceled out like sweets at a party. It’s not politics anymore—it’s organized theft wearing a liberation war medal.

But here’s the kicker: even if we can’t unseat the looters right now, we can still slow them down. We can break their momentum.

How?

1. Expose the Networks.
Corruption thrives in darkness. We need to drag dirty deals into the sunlight—name the companies, trace the shell accounts, connect the dots between minister and money. Digital whistleblowing, open-source sleuthing, and people who aren’t afraid to speak can gum up the gears.
2. Target the Enablers.
Every looter has a banker. A lawyer. A quiet civil servant who signs the papers. A businessman who plays middleman for stolen resources. If we can’t touch the powerful directly, we can disrupt their supply chains—call out collaborators, boycott their businesses, make silence a liability.
3. Empower Local Voices.
When people understand how the looting affects them—why clinics have no painkillers, why roads are pothole galleries, why their savings turn to dust—they stop being passive. We need to translate the billions stolen into the bread and blood ordinary people lose.
4. Use Digital Firepower.
Forget waiting for a newspaper headline. Social media is the new frontline. If 10,000 people share one dirty tender. If a viral video names one corrupt deal. If an exposé forces one apology. That’s momentum broken. Even for a day, it counts.
5. Preserve the Evidence.
One day, this will end. And when it does, justice will depend on what we remembered. Keep receipts. Archive stories. Record testimony. The day of reckoning needs a paper trail.

ZANU-PF's looting isn't just a result of power—it is the reason they cling to power. They’re not afraid of elections. They’re afraid of accountability.

We may not hold the keys to State House yet. But if we let the looting continue unchallenged, we’ll have nothing left to rebuild with when change finally comes.
So let’s fight. Let’s document. Let’s disrupt. Let’s break their rhythm.
Because while we wait for change at the top, we can still stop the rot below.
#TheCommentator #Zimbabwe #StopTheLooting #ExposeCorruption

Mnangagwa vs Traore

Details: Written by: Victor Simon and DeepSeek AI; Category: ZEXIT; Published: 11 May 2025; Hits: 506

Capt Ibrahim Traoré: Burkina Faso's new military ruler

Comparative Leadership: Ibrahim Traoré vs Emmerson Mnangagwa

Ibrahim Traoré (Burkina Faso)

Traoré, a young military leader, took power in 2022 and is known for his pragmatic, security-focused leadership style1 2.
He has prioritized military campaigns against jihadist groups, reforms for good governance, anti-corruption, and economic recovery1 7.
Traoré’s popularity has risen, especially among youth, for his bold reforms and practical approach to Burkina Faso’s immediate crises1 7.
However, he has extended his transitional mandate, postponed elections, and dissolved his government, raising concerns about democratic backsliding2 7.

Emmerson Mnangagwa (Zimbabwe)

Mnangagwa, a veteran politician, became president in 2017 after decades in government3 4.
He initially promised economic reforms, anti-corruption measures, and international re-engagement4.
Despite some achievements, Zimbabwe remains plagued by economic stagnation, political turmoil, and allegations of ongoing corruption and repression5.
Mnangagwa currently faces internal party divisions, public protests, and accusations of seeking to extend his rule beyond constitutional limits5.

Leadership Comparison Table

Aspect	Ibrahim Traoré (Burkina Faso)	Emmerson Mnangagwa (Zimbabwe)
*Background*	Military, youngest African leader	Liberation war veteran, long-time politician
Key Focus	Security, anti-corruption, reforms	Economic recovery, anti-corruption, political stability
Popularity	High, especially among youth7	Waning, facing protests and party splits5
Democratic Record	Extended transition, delayed elections2 7	Accused of seeking unconstitutional third term5
Economic Progress	Early reforms, results pending7	Limited progress, ongoing crisis5

Conclusion

No Government Evident in Zimbabwe

Details: Written by: John C Burke; Category: 45 years; Published: 17 April 2025; Hits: 445

Why do the World's Press, Governments and Academics, treat the Zanu PF Regime/administration in Zimbabwe as a Government?

UPDATE 18th APRIL 2025: Copy of our 45 years since Zimbabwe's Independence Petition as delivered to the PM and FCDO on the 18th April 2025 {CLICK HERE}

They are clearly and evidently a military mafia!

For 45 years they have dominated all the citizenry with intimidation based on gencode (Gukurahundi), Abductions, Torture and the campaigns of RAPE - yet they are still treated as a government?
In effect for 45 years the psychotic elite within Zanu PF have conducted a ruthless psychological campaign upon all Zimbabwean to remain in POWER - which appears to be their ONLY motivation - yet they are still treated as a government?
The ruling (non-democratic - or nothing like a democracy) regime has robbed & stolen all & any Wealth out of Zimbabwe - for their personal enrichment - yet they are still treated as a government?
The military mafia has deliberately and ruthlessly occupied/invaded/conquered every facet of the civic administration of Zimbabwe: the Military, The Police, the Electroral Commission, the Judiciary and more - yet they are still treated as a government?
At the same time they have not lifted a finger to maintain or update the high quality Infrastructure of the Ian Smith Government left to them on the 18th April 1980. Roads, Bridges, Rail, Air Lines, Surface Drainage, Flood Controls, Water Supply, Power Supply and lastly Sewage system - all are now a mere shadow of what was left to them. Worse - they are now a danger to the general population, in terms of health and safety. Mortailty and Maternal Mortality numbers are of grave concern - yet they are still treated as a government?

Whilst the blame lies squarely with the selfish, violent, criminal, corrupt morons within Zanu PF - one cannot help to wonder WHY the rest of the WORLD TREATS THEM AS A GOVERNMENT?

To illustrate this point let us shine a bright light upon the ZiG - something we said at launch that it was ANOTHER FRAUD! Yet Institutuion blindly took the Zanu PF clowns at their Word!

The long-term prognosis for Zimbabwe's ZiG currency, introduced in April 2024 as a gold-backed solution to chronic currency instability, appears precarious based on recent analyses, including Bloomberg articles and other sources. Below, I outline the key factors influencing its outlook, the debate over its gold backing, and the broader economic context, while critically examining the challenges and prospects.

1. Gold Backing: Sufficiency and Credibility

The ZiG, short for Zimbabwe Gold, is officially backed by a combination of gold, foreign currency reserves, and other precious metals, with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) claiming US$629 million in hard assets as of April 2024. Specific claims include 1.1 tonnes of gold worth approximately US$175 million and US$100 million in foreign currency reserves at launch. Additionally, the RBZ has reported increasing gold reserves due to rising royalty payments and higher global gold prices, which rose 24% since April 2024.

However, the sufficiency of this backing is debated:

Skepticism Over Reserves: Critics question whether Zimbabwe’s gold reserves are adequate to support the ZiG’s value, especially given the country’s history of mismanaging monetary policy. The IMF has cautioned that the ZiG alone cannot address deeper economic issues, suggesting that the gold backing may not inspire sufficient confidence.
Opaque Reserve Management: There is limited transparency regarding the actual size and management of Zimbabwe’s gold and foreign currency reserves. Past currency failures, like the Zimbabwean dollar’s collapse in 2008, fuel distrust in the RBZ’s ability to maintain credible backing.
Economic Pressures: Zimbabwe’s need for large grain imports and government overspending strain foreign currency reserves, potentially undermining the ZiG’s backing. By February 2025, the ZiG had lost 95% of its value on the unregulated market despite gold price increases, indicating that market forces and lack of trust outweigh the theoretical stability of gold backing.

While the gold backing provides a theoretical anchor, its effectiveness is undermined by low public confidence, limited reserve transparency, and external economic pressures. The RBZ’s claim of spending over US$400 million to support the ZiG since April 2024 further suggests that the reserves may be stretched thin.

Mnangagwa Failings

Details: Written by: John C Burke; Category: ZEXIT; Published: 27 March 2025; Hits: 507

Further Analysis of Mnangagwa’s Policies:

This Article is a continuation of a Question of Talent within Zanu PF and their 'Administration (see previous Article CLICK HERE)

Analysing Emmerson Mnangagwa’s policies as president of Zimbabwe since November 2017 involves examining their intent, implementation, and outcomes across key areas: economic management, governance, infrastructure, agriculture, and foreign relations. The focus here is on their practical impact, drawing from observable results rather than stated goals alone, and situating them within Zimbabwe’s challenging context—marked by decades of decline under Robert Mugabe, international sanctions, and domestic political tensions.

Economic Management

Mnangagwa’s flagship economic policy, encapsulated in the “Zimbabwe is Open for Business” mantra, aimed to attract foreign investment and stabilize the economy post-Mugabe. Key initiatives include:

Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP, 2018-2020): Led by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube, this austerity-driven plan sought to cut public spending, remove subsidies, and introduce a new currency (the RTGS dollar, later replaced). It included a controversial 2% tax on electronic transactions to boost revenue. Implementation faltered due to public backlash—fuel price hikes in January 2019 sparked deadly protests—and persistent currency instability. Inflation soared to over 500% by 2020, eroding purchasing power.
Currency Reforms: The reintroduction of the Zimbabwean dollar in 2019 (abandoning the multi-currency system) and the launch of the gold-backed Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) in April 2024 aimed to curb hyperinflation and black-market trading. While the ZiG has shown early signs of stabilizing exchange rates, public trust remains low due to past currency collapses, and parallel markets persist. Real GDP growth was 8.5% in 2021 (a post-COVID rebound), but it slowed to 3% by 2023, per World Bank estimates, far below the 10% annual target of Mnangagwa’s “Vision 2030” for upper-middle-income status.
Outcome: Economic policies have failed to deliver sustainable growth or investor confidence. FDI inflows remain negligible (e.g., $340 million in 2022, per UNCTAD), dwarfed by regional peers like Zambia ($1.1 billion). Unemployment exceeds 80% informally, and poverty affects over 70% of the population, per ZimStat 2023 data. Talent in design exists—Ncube’s academic credentials suggest capability—but execution is undermined by corruption and lack of structural reform.

Governance and Political Administration

Mnangagwa promised a break from Mugabe’s authoritarianism, pledging democratic reforms and reconciliation:

Persecution Narratives

Details: Written by: Evy Kagandi; Category: ZEXIT; Published: 21 March 2025; Hits: 592

Blessed Mhlanga Still Detained

As of today, March 21, 2025, Blessed Mhlanga has not been released on bail. The High Court, presided over by Justice Gibson Mandaza, denied his bail appeal, upholding the earlier decision by Harare Magistrate Farai Gwatima. Mhlanga, a senior journalist with Heart & Soul TV (HStv) and Alpha Media Holdings (AMH), has been in custody since his arrest on 24^th February 2025, facing charges of inciting violence under Section 164 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. These charges stem from his interviews with war veteran Blessed Geza, who criticized President Emmerson Mnangagwa and called for his resignation.

Implications for Journalism in Zimbabwe

The continued detention of Blessed Mhlanga carries significant implications for journalism in Zimbabwe, reflecting broader challenges to press freedom and freedom of expression: 6 key Issues Raised below

Chilling Effect on Journalists: Mhlanga’s arrest and the denial of bail send a strong message to journalists that covering dissenting voices or politically sensitive topics can lead to severe repercussions. This could foster self-censorship, as media practitioners may avoid reporting on controversial issues to protect themselves from legal harassment or imprisonment.
Erosion of Press Freedom: Despite constitutional guarantees under Section 61, which protect freedom of expression and media rights, the use of criminal laws to detain journalists undermines these protections. The case highlights a pattern of increasing state intolerance toward independent journalism, particularly since Mnangagwa’s re-election in 2023, as noted by media watchdogs like Reporters Without Borders.
Criminalization of Journalism: The framing of Mhlanga’s work—interviewing a public figure—as incitement to violence blurs the line between journalistic duty and criminal activity. Media advocates, including the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), have condemned this as an attack on the profession, arguing that journalism is being treated as a terrorist or subversive act rather than a democratic necessity.
Impact on Public Discourse: By silencing journalists like Mhlanga, the government restricts the flow of information and stifles public debate on critical issues such as governance and economic challenges. This limits citizens’ ability to stay informed and hold leaders accountable, weakening democratic processes.
Read more: Persecution Narratives

Page 3 of 15