Popular award winning Zimbabwean journalist, Hopewell Chin’ono has today taken the time to receive feedback from Zimbabwe on his proposed Zimbabwe “Government in exile”. Chin’ono says people who are saying he is starting an NGO are mocking his ideas.
Chin’ono said there are a lot of people as people on both sides of the political spectrum thinks he wants to get into politics. Chin’ono said politics is polarising and he is above politics. Chin’ono said the obsession with the name GIE is tragic, there should be a focus instead on what the organisation will do.
Key points from the X space that was held
- I have joined the space and would like to announce that we have made progress with Dr Nyasha Maboreke. There are certain things that we can not discuss on a space. You must understand the art of intelligence. They have delusions of us trying to depose the government. Out intention is not to break international law.
- A lot of people have came forward and offered certain things. There are people who want to create trouble for me, they want me to say I will carry guns and depose the government.
- Starting on 2 September, Zimbabweans are starting a clinic for the elderly who are over 65.
- This will start with 10 elderly people.
- A surgery has been made available that targets the elderly for operation, including an anaesthetics.
- A private hospital has said they can take 30 to 45 from this same pensioners age groups.
- There will be medication made available starting with the UK.
- There are people high up in the NHS who will come and answer questions, those who don’t mind being known.
- I want people who are capable of coming up with ideas.
- We want to come up with a constitution so that people can be held accountable.
- I believe in using my network and other people using their networks as well.
- I am using my networks of doctors that I know in Zimbabwe and those in pharmaceuticals in the UK.
Questions and Answers
Question 1: The GIE idea has been watered down too much. I propose that we form a political action committee that will contest in elections or sponsor some candidates such as a Presidential candidate.
Answer 2: Everything that you have proposed we can still do that. Some in the government were saying we want to depose the government, which is not true. In terms of politics, we said we will lobby on behalf of the progressives, and I have already been doing that.
We want to make sure that Mnangagwa will not run for a third term, tat there is no torture and that there are no arbitrary arrests.
Question 2:
Hopewell must stand by the GIE as he announced it and he must take responsibility for it. he must not backtrack out of fear. Also his statistics are not aways accurate.
Answer 2:
A prominent CEO has called me and said I think you made a mistake by taking the idea to everyone as not everyone will understand and agree. He said go and prepare and then bring the complete idea. However, I note that there are people with vendettas with me and they are now bringing them here in order to distract us. if you think the idea will not work, do not request the mic, as the idea has already started to work. We want to work within the realm of the law. I know there is an attempt within the CIO to prep me and I will not fall for it.
I had a meeting with the British embassy in Zimbabwe and they said they will find out how they can assist with the water plant.
We can have disagreements, but let us mot destroy things that will save lives. When trouble comes into your homestead, you will not care which political party a doctor or nurse supports.
Question 3:
There is need for people who will provide communication of what is a message. It will be important to have a 100 year plan on what we are trying to do. I have about 300 people who are interested in taking courses in digital literacy, how can we leverage on what we are intending to do.
Answer 3:
I will be in Westminster in about three weeks time, lets talk and maybe we can go together to that meeting. This is what I have been saying, that I do not want to do things by myself. i want to share my network with other people. When we had the last space, I received an email from a PA of a former minister who was saying their bosses were listening and they wanted to assist on the humanitarian side.
Question 4
What will the organisation be named.
Answer 4
I have not yet applied my mind on what to call this. People have been throwing around names and maybe we can decide in three of four weeks time. Eventually someone will have to make a decisions. A number of designers have came up with ideas and emblems and this shows people are engaged on the idea.
Question 5
Has there been an attempt to engage the military
Answer 5
The military in Zimbabwe is ZANU-PF, so the issue of starting off at a political level, I want everyone to know that I took it to CCC and they did not act on it. I took it to people in ZANU-PF and they wanted to know how they could make money from it. I gave it to Nelson in 2022. When Mnangagwa got into power, he wanted to know how the sanctions can be removed. We put together about USD20 million and I said do not write a cheque. I said warehouse these funds at the World Bank in Zimbabwe.
I had a meeting with Mnangagwa, Chiwenga and the British Ambassador and the EU. After which George Charamba wrote a long post of lies saying he was trying to capture the ZBC on behalf of the MDC-A
Question 6
I struggle to understand where you are coming from. What is it that you talking about?
Answer 6
Please drop him Ged. This is not a Government in Exile. I have no interest in politics as a politician, I am a journalist, I am a documentary maker and I have had an opportunity to be in politics so many times.
Question 7
Our problem in ZANU-PF, how do we get past the reality that for us to make progress then any idea has to pass through ZANU-PF.
Answer 7
I was talking to one of my colleagues and were laughing about the problems that we perceive. if ZANU-PF stops us from doing what we want to do, they are the ones who suffer. The last time we did this, we were getting duty free certificate from a permanent secretary who is a General. There are two governments who have said if the governments do not allow you, give us what you have and we will take it and allow the people to access it. in terms of ZANU-PF, let us give them a chance. If they say NO, we will simply decampign them.
