via Warring ZANU PF factions head for showdown Saturday | SW Radio Africa by Tichaona Sibanda November 22, 2013
The ZANU PF extraordinary politburo meeting on Saturday is expected to be turned into a mini battlefield for the two main factions vying for control of provincial structures, crucial in the battle to determine President Robert Mugabe’ successor.
ZANU PF, which romped to electoral ‘victory’ in the July elections but is failing to lift millions out of poverty, is embroiled in an internal struggle between two factions led by Vice President Joice Mujuru and Emmerson Mnangagwa, the Justice Minister.
The recent provincial elections have brought tensions to a boil between the factions as the two party stalwarts try to position themselves to take over when 89 year old Mugabe steps down.
The provincial structures are seen as vital in choosing members of the presidium at the December 2014 elective congress. This is why they’ve now become the battleground between the warring factions. Anyone who can control six out of the 10 provinces will eventually ascend to the party presidency.
The party was on Monday forced to cancel this weekend’s provincial elections to pave way for the politburo meeting, in which Mugabe is set to intervene in the factional fighting.
National chairman Simon Khaya Moyo said a new date for the elections will be decided at Saturday’s meeting. This development follows public quarrelling by Mugabe’s loyalists over the results of the Mashonaland Central, Midlands and Manicaland elections which were held two weeks back and were reportedly marred by rigging and vote buying.
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