‘Zimbabwe’s Worst Eleven’: The ZIMafia – the team that plunders Zimbabwe’s wealth, loots without a license and will kill to keep what they have stolen.
The star players in the ZIMafia team comprise Zimbabwe’s illegitimate and unelected Joint Operations Command (JOC) – a group of military and strategic commanders who maintain the oppressive structure set up by Ian Smith’s racist government 30 years ago under a State of Emergency.
From top left: Patrick Chinamasa, Obert Mpofu, Emmerson Mnangagwa, Paradzai Zimondi, Perence Shiri, Constantine Chiwenga
From bottom left: Johannes Tomana, Happyton Bonyongwe, Gideon Gono, Augustine Chihuri, Phillip Sibanda
Today under the leadership of their ‘coach’ and President, Robert Mugabe, the ZIMafia are still using force to stay in charge of Zimbabwe, in spite of the existence of a transitional “Global Political Agreement” – aka a Government of National Unity brokered by SADC.
This Nation-Beating (literally) team are the ‘real’ rulers of Zimbabwe, the ones who have sworn never to give up power, and the ones who have committed the worst crimes. All are experts in abduction, intimidation, torture and political murder.
Now they are in control of a multi-billion dollar diamond strike with which they are personally enriching themselves while purchasing arms and ammunition to use against the electorate, or each other – or any other force that challenges their right to loot in perpetuity.
- Not one of them was elected to office in a free and fair election.
- None of them are in office today by consent of the people of Zimbabwe.
- The military commanders are all Zanu-PF party loyalists – in contravention of the universal and constitutional regulation that national defence force officers may not be partisan in their professional duties.
- Each of them has sworn never to recognize any other head of state but Mugabe.
- Every one in this team is under international targeted sanctions (travel, banking and business sanctions) for gross abuse of human rights.
The danger this team poses to the sovereignty of the people of Zimbabwe and the security of the region must not be underestimated.
