via Mnangagwa to become Vice-President – The Zimbabwe Independent November 21, 2014
WITH the Zanu PF elective congress slated for December 2-7 just around the corner, confusion reigns in the faction led by Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, which is working with First Lady Grace Mugabe, over the replacement of Vice-President Joice Mujuru amid indications that President Robert Mugabe might appoint different deputies for the party and the state.
Mugabe can only do this if the proposed Zanu PF constitutional amendments which will allow the president to appoint his deputies are endorsed tomorrow at the party’s politburo meeting.
The president is facing difficulties on how to accommodate Mnangagwa, outgoing Women’s League boss Oppah Muchinguri, Phelekezela Mphoko and possibly Simon Khaya Moyo. Even if Khaya Moyo is in Mujuru’s faction, he seems to have been spared the wrath of Grace and her allies.
Top Zanu PF officials say it is now likely that Mugabe — who will decide Mujuru’s fate and new appointments — could appoint Muchinguri and Mphoko as vice-presidents of the party and accommodate Mnangagwa as state vice-president possibly with either Mphoko or Khaya Moyo.
Mujuru is under pressure from Grace and her supporters to resign immediately or face humiliation at the congress where they plan to boot her out for allegedly plotting either to oust or assassinate Mugabe.
The vice-president has since August been subjected to vicious attacks by Mnangagwa’s loyalists and Grace who are now hysterically demanding her immediate resignation or risk being fired by Mugabe.
Grace has since her surprise nomination by the Women’s League to be their new boss made it her mission to fight Mujuru and remove her for what has become clearly an individual crusade for personal and family interests.
In trying to clear the confusion that has hit the faction, Grace gave clues as to how Mugabe is likely to address the issue. The First Lady said on Tuesday in Mazowe it did not necessarily follow that the person elected or appointed vice-president by the party should automatically be chosen as Mugabe’s deputy as state vice-presidents were appointed at the pleasure of the president.
“The party constitution is the one with a provision for a quota system in order to mainstream gender so that women can be elected into senior positions. The party even resolved that the Number Two person in the party should be a woman,” she said.
“So in the party hierarchy, if there are two men, the third person should be a woman and it cascades like that down the party structures so that women are recognised and have senior positions in the party.”
Grace added: “The national constitution states that the President shall appoint the vice-presidents but it doesn’t say whether the person is a woman or a man and it’s very clear. So the President can appoint either a man or a woman as Zimbabwe’s (Vice) President, it’s up to him.”
With clear permission from Mugabe, Grace has all but savagely finished off Mujuru and in the process thrown a lifeline to the Mnangagwa faction which, before her entry, seemed to have no answer to their rival’s juggernaut as she had consolidated power after seizing control of key party structures during controversial provincial elections last November.
The well-calculated removal of nine provincial chairpersons, executive committee members, Women’s League bosses and the suspension of Mujuru’s bravest lieutenant, Rugare Gumbo, signalled the end is nigh for the vice-president who seems to be merely waiting for her fate to be sealed at the congress even though she might actually have a dignified exit if she is not nominated or appointed back to the same position.
Mujuru’s faction says that would be better than her resigning due to Grace’s angry and emotional agitation as that might lend credence to her threadbare claims against her.
The near-demise of Mujuru has led to a new stampede to occupy her position.
Muchinguri has already launched her campaign using provincial chairpersons in her structures to canvass for support. The provincial chairwomen who had resisted Muchinguri’s push have been ousted and replaced by her runners.
However, a caucus meeting chaired by Women’s League secretary for finance Sarah Mahoka resolved Senate president Edna Madzongwe should replace Mujuru. But top Zanu PF sources say Madzongwe seems reluctant to take up the post because of events surrounding Mujuru’s ouster.
Top Zanu PF officials from Mashonaland West say in their province the Women’s League is split over Muchinguri and Madzongwe. There is also the problem that Madzongwe is from Mashonaland West and might be related to Mugabe, which could raise eyebrows of dynasty politics given Grace’s role.
“Campaigning for Muchinguri has not started in the province as the women are split on who to support. The problem for Muchinguri is that people are saying the province should support Madzongwe, who hails from there. Leading this call is Sarah Mahoka,” an official said.
Another clique in the Mnanagagwa/Grace faction wants Mnangagwa to be vice-president. They believe that Mugabe should right the wrong done in 2004 when he imposed Mujuru as vice-president through a constitutional coup under the guise of gender equity.
Mnanagagwa and his allies were accused of plotting a “palace coup” against Mugabe. As a result Mugabe purged Mnangagwa’s allies, including suspending six provincial chairpersons and ironically war veterans’ leader Jabulani Sibanda.
Mnangagwa had bagged at least seven provinces to nominate him for the vice-presidency.
Grace recently bragged at rallies that Mnangagwa was the clear favourite for the vice-presidency in 2004, while oddly confessing Mugabe, herself and allies illegally imposed Mujuru.
A staunch Mnangagwa supporter said: “It is now time for Mnangagwa to reclaim his position. He would have been vice-president in 2004 if he had not been disqualified by a dubious amendment stating that one of the VPs should be a woman.”
However, Grace earlier fuelled confusion as she suggested she has a right as a Zimbabwean to be president. Mugabe seemed to support that when he said there is nothing in the constitution which prevents her from joining politics and seeking positions.
COMMENTS
It is naive to think Mnangangwa will become president. Bob is using him to destroy Joyce. Bob reasoned he could not fight two camps at the same time hence unleashed Emerson on Joyce. Bob will spring a surprise and bring someone in my opinion it might be Gono. Thereafter its going to be project 2 Emerson’s demise and that will be the End.
Things aren’t going to be any better until Gid himself deals with Pharaohs
You politicians are taking our beloved Zimbabwe as a video game neh? We have suffered enough. We are now standing next to zero. Would you be able to bring back people who are dying due to lack of medical services, poverty and political violence when you are done fighting? Remember, with or without Zanu-Pf, there was still going to Zimbabwe. We were not created out of Chimurenga, we were are human beings and it is through the love of God that we exist.
We were not discovered by Zanu-Pf as Vic falls was discovered by David Whitehead. We did not choose to be Zimbabweans neither can we change that. I do not understand the reason of your animosity against Zimbabwe. You act as if you have control over our lives, as if you shall not retire to the anthills. We have become like pests in foreign lands. Do you really care about Zim or you are just after your own interests.
Come on guys its high time we need to work together for the best of our country. Leave the widow alone and start building the 2 million jobs you promised before stealing elections from Save. Remember God is watching. You might escape the judgement here on earth but let me promise you that there is but 1 judgement you will never bunk. You will find the 1 who said to Moses ” I AM WHO I AM” waiting for you. You kill whoever, where ever and where ever you want to yet you do not understand the mystery of the soul. As for me I say kill me if you want to I was still going to die anyway. To amai Mujuru I say remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ
John 8:7
So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and
said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at
her.
Nothing new with changing constitution. Zanu puff are masters in bending the law to meet a temporary want without due regard to long term effects.
Changing the constitution willy-nilly to fit their needs at any one time is a form of rigging that is a characteristic of dictators.
Has Mnangagwa ever won an election. If so when and wasnt this allocated to him as a safe seat. mxm..