PRESIDENT MUGABE TOURS FORMER GOVERNOR GONO'S FARM

President Mugabe’s unannounced visit to Dr. Gideon Gono’s farm, the former Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has set tongues wagging. Speculations increased last week that President Mugabe has been grooming Gono for the cabinet post and the presidency. In a report by Nehanda Radio it said that the 90 year old Zanu PF leader commended Gono for the massive project underway at his, farm and narrated how he started a similar but much smaller project at his rural home in Zvimba a few years ago. 

Mugabe’s unannounced tour to Gono’s chicken farm last week was full of praise. President Mugabe said: “I started doing some chickens at home and I thought I was doing quite a big project, some 3 000-4 000 (birds).” But President Mugabe said Dr Gono’s project dwarfed his with the former central bank boss planning to grow it even larger. Dr Gono produces both birds and eggs and the business seeks to cater for both local and foreign markets, thus netting the country hard currency. He is also a cattle rancher of note.

President Mugabe tours former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr Gideon Gono’s chicken project at New Donnington Farm in Norton, Nehanda Radio.

According to NehandaRadio article, Zimbabwe imported chickens from South Africa at the height of economic collapse as local producers failed to meet demand. The cheap imports were condemned by local poultry producers as they suffocated indigenous farmers who benefited under the Government’s land reform program me. Last year two suspicious fires within two months at the farm raised suspicion that Gono was being targeted due to fierce factional fighting within Zanu PF. Workers at the farm described the fire as having a yellow to a strong blue coloration at base level alleging that it was clearly not a normal fire. In January this year it was reported that Gono was allegedly failing to pay workers at the many companies he owns and that his business empire was struggling to keep afloat. Employees said they had not been paid, with some saying they were owed money dating back to more than a year ago.

Political analysts however, have said that Gono’s chances of landing the cabinet post and presidency were slim considering his lack of political clout and the complexion nature of Zanu PF’s succession matrix. NewsDay reported that there has been wide speculation that Gono was being groomed, but it intensified last Friday after Mugabe toured the former central bank governor’s New Donnington Farm in Norton. Mugabe for the first time in long time last week defended Gono’s credentials and right to ascend to higher political office despite blatant opposition from some within the Zanu PF and the government. The analyst said while Mugabe publicly endorsed Gono, the Zanu PF leader could not implement far reaching changes to the politburo and Cabinet before the party’s congress in December.


Comments from the University of Zimbabwe, political scientist Professor Eldred Masunungure said that the praises were only anecdotal that Mugabe has a special interest in Gono and that attempts by political rivals to put a wedge between the two  had failed. He said: " Mugabe is playing his cards close to his chest . The appointment to Cabinet is a long shot-maybe after the congress because Mugabe has been unhappy about the performance of some of his Ministers. However, Gono's chances of becoming a compromise candidate to take over from Mugabe were remote considering his lack of political shrewdness. Gono is not politically astute to navigate the crocodile infested waters in ZANU PF. I also do not see him succeeding Mugabe because he is to devisive a factor to take over especially that he is a leading player in one of the factions intending to succeed Mugabe.

Other Zanu Pf heavyweights touted as contenders in the succession race include Vice President Joice Mujuru, Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, Defence Minister Sydney Sekeramai and the Minister of Media and Information Jonathan Moyo