via The Mugabe dynasty – DailyNews Live 4 August 2014 by Tendai Kamhungira
HARARE – First Lady Grace Mugabe’s endorsement to take over the leadership of the Zanu PF Women’s League and the push by Mashonaland provinces for her son Robert Junior to be nominated for an influential position in the party’s National Youth League has raised fears of a political dynasty.
The two are wife and son respectively to President Robert Mugabe, who has been in power for the past three decades.
Mugabe is the country’s sole leader since it gained independence from the British colonisers in 1980.
He celebrated his 90th birthday in February and retained power last July, after a largely-contested landslide victory.
The main opposition party MDC, claims Mugabe rigged the elections.
Notwithstanding his advanced age, coupled with ill-health reports, Mugabe has however, not showed any signs of slowing down.
The nonagenarian leader has not nominated any successor from his party and now his family has been thrown into the political fray, with an anticipation of grabbing top positions, a move seen as a political game changer.
This has further brought to the fore the succession dispute and widening the cracks that already exist in the revolutionary party.
Political analyst Pedzisai Ruhanya told the Daily News that Mugabe’s move is aimed at safeguarding the family’s economic interests after his demise.
“The Mugabe family has realised that Mugabe’s political life has reached its sunset. What is happening now is an attempt by the first family to protect the economic interestS of Mugabe after his demise which is imminent, inevitable and inescapable. It’s irreversible at his age,” Ruhanya said.
His succession has remained a closely-guarded aspect, but some analysts believe, the possible elevation of his wife and son is a move to promote a culture of political dynasty.
However, Ruhanya said he did not know whether Mugabe and his family were going to achieve the desired outcome, because of the succession dispute currently bedevilling the revolutionary party.
He said the country was hit by a serious economic free fall soon after Zanu PF won the elections last year. He said the party is clueless on how to avert the situation.
“The question will be why should Zimbabweans continue to give a mandate to a clueless and failed regime. He (Mugabe) is losing grip from the national political economy of the state because of old age”.
With the coming in of Robert Jnr, another piece has been added to the country’s political “chess board”, casting it as a long-term plan aimed at maintaining the country’s leadership trail within the Mugabe family.
The net has been cast wide and it is free for all in the revolutionary party as the current political developments involving first Mugabe’s wife and now his son, have kept people guessing.
Grace’s election to the post at the party’s congress to be held in December means she will take her place in Zanu PF’s politburo — further tightening her husband’s octopus-like grip on power.
Though the selection of the first family members is seen in some political circles as a way of bridging the gap between warring factions that are threatening to tear the party apart ahead of the congress, some feel this is a strategic move aimed at perpetuating the Mugabe hegemony.
The latest developments could be seen as a way of neutralising the bigger political fight pitting Vice President Joice Mujuru and Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa’s factions who are allegedly seen as the leading contenders to succeed Mugabe.
But both Mnangagwa and Mujuru have publicly denied leading any factions.
Some insiders fear Grace’s involvement in the equation is strategically meant to convert her into a personal political power base, possibly eyeing the presidency although some see this as a long shot.
The First Lady helped fire up an overflow crowd that nominated her at her 49th birthday party at her farm in Mazowe over a week ago.
She was serenaded by throngs of supporters in her northern stronghold.
The event came as days for the Women’s League elective congress draw closer. Following Grace’s nomination, University of Zimbabwe political scientist Eldred Masunungure told our sister paper, the Daily News on Sunday this week that it was a momentous development, which will likely reconfigure lines of factionalism in Zanu PF.
Masunungure said Grace had not taken power for herself.
“She has been given power on a silver platter.
“She does not qualify for that position given the stringent rules the party has set for itself. It may be part of the dynamics that she wants to be closer considering that the president might not hang around for much longer and if he does, he will not have the stamina to continue to rule,” he said.
COMMENTS
All dynasties fall. Mnangagwa mujuru sekeremayi won’t permit their criminal ambitions to be thwarted anyway. All dynasties perpetuate rogue states. Equatorial guinea. North Korea. Syria. Cub. DRC. Venezuela.. Gabon.Swaziland. Saudi Arabia etc
History isn’t on their side,the move is quintessential and harking back to all failed Africa dictatorship dynasties.These are mere desperate valiant moves.
Isn’t it amazing how dictator’s follow the same processes to protect themselves from the people they claim to have liberated, but have actually robbed and brutalised?
Bob has played the divide and rule game for many years, keeping the likes of Mnangagwa and Mujuru close but at arms length. But he clearly doesn’t trust them enough to hand over control. Deep down Bob is terrified of being held to account for his criminal past. Therefore the only solution for him is to do what dictators have always done; rely only on his direct family.
Once again it is confirmed that Mugabe is nothing special, just another selfish, gutless, scheming dictator.
Grace is a political nothing. Any influence she has will not outlast her husband. This goes for the offspring too.
this is sensational and irresponsible journalism….who is Robert jr.?Why are you giving him media coverage?Fools
Grace is greedy! And greed knows no bounds. It is like a deep black swirling pit that cannot be sated!
This is “nyonganyonga” at its best. Time up for ZANU PF.
After Robert Mugabe we will have another Robert MugabeRuling. They are now aristocrates created by us.
Well, they can have their Mugabe dynasty in their gukurahundi party ZANU PF, who cares really? As long as it does not extend to the country, I dont give a damn. We are not India, where the Nerhu/Gandhi family has been in charge for close to a Century!
Whose son is Robert jnr, if I may ask?
The boy does not share Gukurahundi Mugabe’s very dark complexion; he does not share Mugabe’ shape of the head and face; does not share his short stature; in other words he is just too tall, even taller than the mother; he has a somewhat far sharper nose than Mugabe; he is no book-worm; etc etc.
In other words, he seems to be everything his so-called father is not, why?
At 21, he should be almost finishing a first degree at University – what is he doing sitting at home?
Gucci Dynasty not Mugabe Dynasty!
Hahahahaha! It’s time for Yu zimbos to c that country belongs to the so called bobo family eish
In defense of the First Lady and her son, has anyone of you been surrounded by bootlickers/sycophants or whatever name you might call them?
So we have genocidal RGM, First Whore Grace and the dubious paternity of Robert Jnr. wanting to run Zim. If this was an opera plot we’d laugh out loud at how ridiculous and improbable it is. Common as muck.