Source: Mugabe’s succession is story of the day – DailyNews Live
27 June 2017
HARARE – Today, Zimbabwe stands on the brink of chaos if Zanu PF fails to
deal decisively with its succession.
Without a shadow of doubt, President Robert Mugabe’s unresolved succession
issue continues to affect the country and in so many ways.
Prospective investors are standing on the sidelines waiting to see
positive signs that could encourage them to put their money in our near
comatose economy.
As we have previously said, capital is a coward; it takes flight where
there is risk.
The opposition, no matter how much it tries to offer an alternative to
Zanu PF, question marks will always be hanging over a smooth transition as
the future is not clear given the current mindless bloodletting in Zanu PF
over the party’s dithering on naming Mugabe’s successor.
It is frightening that, as we report elsewhere in this paper, the party’s
apparatchiks are scrambling to gag and warn members from openly
encouraging Mugabe to name a successor.
Why would Zanu PF continue to stifle debate when it is clear that its
failure to persuade Mugabe to deal with finality on this issue has driven
the country to the brink?
Crucially, Zanu PF itself is almost imploding as factions go hammer and
tongs at each other with disastrous results as evidenced by the paralytic
effects these fights have had on the economy.
That is why it is refreshing that War Veterans minister Tshinga Dube has
broken ranks with the tradition in Zanu PF by openly backing former
liberation war fighters who are ratcheting up pressure on Mugabe to name
his successor to end the dog-eat-dog infighting ravaging his party over
his succession.
Of course, there are many different opinions about who should be second in
line.
The peak of this rancourous quarrel will come when a vacancy arises in the
presidency. This raises the spectre of deadly chaos which could descend
into war.
Given the military’s interest in succession politics, there is real risk
of attempts to subvert the constitutional process, with disastrous
consequences for peace and order.
Zanu PF must know that the issue of Mugabe’s successor affects everyone
and it is not their baby alone – because an orderly succession plan
guarantees stability, peace and forward planning.
As things stand, no one knows for sure how things are likely to pan out in
the event of Mugabe leaving his post either due to natural causes or poor
health.
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