Masiyiwa played a more active role two years later both before and after the disputed 2008 elections.
Simba Makoni who broke away from the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front after the party endorsed Robert Mugabe as the presidential candidate for 2008 told United States embassy officials that he had tried to form a coalition with Tsvangirai but was prevented by Masiyiwa.
Makoni said he failed to make headway because Tsvangirai was “too much under the influence of advisors Strive Masiyiwa, Roy Bennett and Melinda Ferris”.
Alpha Media owner Trevor Ncube confirmed Masiyiwa’s power but added that the Econet boss must not be trusted because of his ego. Ncube said Masiyiwa had thwarted Makoni’s plan to form a coalition with Tsvangirai simply because Makoni had not approached him (Masiyiwa) directly.
When asked what the possibilities were of MDC and Makoni coming together without Masiyiwa’s intervention, Ncube responded: “Unfortunately, Strive’s got the money.”
MDC-T treasurer Roy Bennett complained that Masiyiwa had taken over the party even though he was not an elected official and was a control freak.
Bennett said Masiyiwa was now controlling access to Tsvangirai “for his own purposes” and calling all the shots, including whether or not Tsvangirai returned to Zimbabwe after he fled to South Africa because of the violence that engulfed the country in the run-up to the presidential elections run-off.
“Strive is clever, rich, and a control freak, and Tsvangirai does what the last person tells him to do,” Bennett said.
Masiyiwa still pulled the strings after the signing of the Global Political Agreement that ushered the inclusive government.
According to the United States embassy, the formation of the inclusive government was delayed because the MDC now had three power centres.
“The MDC now has three power centers: Harare, where most of the leadership is; Gaborone, Tsvangirai’s temporary home; and South Africa, where Masiyiwa and MDC treasurer Roy Bennett live,” the embassy said.
These are definitely not the signs of someone who is not interested in politics. But even taking him on his word, there are clear signs that though he might not be interested in politics now, as he says, he has definitely been testing the waters.
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