The Changing Tunes Of ZANU PF Turncoat Jonathan Moyo

ZANU PF is not a party to be trifled with. But, as shown in the alacrity that they accepted Jonathan Moyo back into their ranks, they have a forgiveness which changes about as often as Moyo changes tack.

And Mugabe has seen fit to reward to return of the prodigal son to the ZANU PF ranks by allowing him to run off at the mouth, rewarding his utterances with a return to the politburo – the decision making bloc within Mugabe's fractious party.

Jonathan Moyo is a chameleon. He changes colour to suit his surroundings and has no compunction in anything that he says - just as long as his point is made.

When he was Mugabe's Minister of Information, he used to come out with some outrageous 'facts' even if it was apparent that he was blatantly wrong.

There was an article on the internet today, that shows just how Moyo has realigned himself to Mugabe and the ZANU PF party, but not before he came out with some comments that back the targeted sanctions against Mugabe and his senior loyalists.

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"Writing in May 2006 Moyo, then an independent MP after being sacked by ZANU PF, argued that targeted sanctions, including the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (ZIDERA), "cannot be said to be illegal either in terms of United States law or international law".

Moyo proceeded to say; "If there was any illegality in terms of international law, the government of Zimbabwe would have by now taken the matter up with the appropriate international bodies with the relevant jurisdiction. The fact that no such thing has happened or will happen shows that the mumbo jumbo from the ZANU PF government about the so-called illegal sanctions is cheap propaganda."

Astonishingly Moyo even defended his inclusion on the targeted sanctions list, arguing; "Sovereign countries have a right to take policy measures and enact laws such as those contained in the sanctions targeted at some individuals in this country including this writer (Moyo), as long as those measures are lawful in the countries imposing them."

In the recent past, I have alluded to the story that Mugabe had a UN torture specialist removed from the country very early this year. That is his prerogative. As a 'sovereign' country (Mugabe's words), the government has the right to chose who can and cannot enter the country.

The targeted sanctions are very similar insofar as the countries participating are exercising their right to chose who can and cannot enter their countries. The targeted sanctions also put limitations on which companies can trade with companies belonging to ZANU PF loyalists.

My question is simple. If Mugabe can pick and chose as to who can enter Zimbabwe, then why can other countries not exercise that same right?

"Moyo attacked what he called the 'policy poverty' of Mugabe’s speech at the opening of parliament in 2006 saying it 'demonstrated that the ZANU PF leadership is now brain dead, hence its policy delinquency'.

Moyo said: “Despite spirited attempts to attribute the present economic turmoil to the so-called illegal sanctions, all available indications suggest that the sanctions issue in indeed nothing but propaganda. That is why there is no response to it either in the fiscal or monetary policy."

And yet Mugabe welcomes Moyo back into the ZANU PF fold - and Moyo tries to have the MDC Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, arrested for saying what he feels about the judiciary, for having an opinion?

How come Mugabe has seen fit to ignore the utterances of the publicly reviled Moyo? How come he was never sanctioned for his anti-Mugabe rants? How is it acceptable that Moyo can be elected as an independent, misleading all of his public support, only to rejoin the Mugabe party?

If he had jumped ship from one party to another, then it is my understanding that he would lose his seat and it would be up for by-election. Notwithstanding that no by-elections have been held in over two years, why has his seat been retained even though he has shifted alliance from the people back to Mugabe's party.

Double standards - alive and well in the ZANU PF camp...

Robb WJ Ellis

The Bearded Man