Source: Zanu PF succession: Mugabe is the real problem – The Zimbabwe Independent November 10, 2017
THE expulsion of Emmerson Mnangagwa as the country’s vice-president, as well as second secretary of Zanu PF brought into perspective the consequences of President Robert Mugabe’s failure to resolve the thorny succession issue.
Candid Comment,Faith Zaba
fzaba@zimind.co.zw
Mugabe sacked Mnangagwa from government on Monday. He was axed for “consistently and persistently exhibiting traits of disloyalty, disrespect, deceitfulness and unreliability”. The former vice-president was subsequently expelled from Zanu PF on Wednesday after deliberations at the party’s politburo meeting.
This comes three years after the dismissal of Joice Mujuru from vice-presidency, allegedly for attempting to topple Mugabe, along with several other senior party officials, among them, Didymus Mutasa and Rugare Gumbo. The wrangles within the party are borne out of Mugabe’s refusal to finalise the succession debacle, as he seeks to tenaciously cling to power despite deteriorating health and old age.
What Mugabe fails to understand is that the infighting in Zanu PF is a direct result of his messy succession issue.
Zimbabwe’s problems emanate from a president who has overstayed in power, in the process running down the economy.
After failing to address leadership succession, Zanu PF has spent most of its current mandate, which it won controversially in 2013, enmeshed in suspensions, disciplinary hearings and expulsions of anyone who has directly or indirectly threatened Mugabe’s hold on power without tackling the deepening multi-faceted crisis. The succession fight has not only imploded the former liberation movement, but also paralysed government from a fragile into a failed state. The economic malaise, characterised by a debilitating liquidity crunch, has resulted in companies failing to access foreign currency to import critical inputs for production, an acute cash shortage demonstrated by long winding bank queues, dwindling investment inflows, plummeting from US$545 million in 2014 to US$319 million last year, company closures and massive job losses.
As Zanu PF has continued focussing on power struggles in the moribund party, the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries has warned in its latest manufacturing sector survey that 30% of all manufacturing companies are on the verge of collapse, with severe consequences for the crippled economy. As Zanu PF officials expend energy on factional squabbles triggered by Mugabe’s unresolved succession, more than 2 000 workers have been retrenched in the first half of this year alone.
The removal of Mnangagwa, as well as that of Mujuru and her allies, does not ameliorate the gross impoverishment of ordinary citizens. The economy continues screaming for help. The vacuum being left by Mnangagwa is being filled by maleficent elements, creating instability. Ten Zanu PF provinces, the women and youth leagues, have endorsed First Lady Grace Mugabe as Mnangagwa’s successor.
Without putting an end to the succession dispute, vicious infighting will escalate, thereby grinding the economy to a halt.
Mugabe must start listening to the ever-growing calls that he must step down without further delay.
COMMENTS
Beloved Zimbabweans, We witness once again the dangerous behavior of HE as he has capture the State through his wife and his gang of 5 in manipulating and stripping public assets to conduct numerous vilifying rallies to covering up for the his and relatives’ thieving going on in the RBZ and other public enterprises.
He has appointed 45% relatives in 45% loyalists in Government and party posts against the interest of the economy. The idea is to drain the treasury, close any loopholes for detection and clean public funds for personal benefit. The man is greedy for both cash and political office.
It is clear he cannot trick anyone anymore that 10 Provinces voted to endorse his action. He has captured the political will of the Zimbabwean population and installed representatives in structures of the party to follow blindly his instructions.
Why have 15 rallies of vitiol against President ED Mnangagwa if you wanted a choice at Congress 017 made by members of a party the people are asking?
What happened in prison before independence which turned your soul against your party President National Chairman, Zanla Commender, Retired First Army Commender and the Current Army Commender, they continue to ask? Why sink so low to use reckless Marujata in this bedroom coup?
The answer is there for all to see. HE was always driven by power hunger and greed in politics.He tricks politicians in his game by dividing and ruling in his game. He was a student of Smith whom he worked with successfully undercover for many years even in prison to dislodge and exterminate perceived political enemies.
Any politician at present with any ambition to rise, be warned, you will be the next target. We have a blood thirsty animal among us to be caged. He will stop at nothing to give us so much hardship and no economic rest.
Let’s pray for Almighty’s intervention, register to vote in 2018, reject any vote buying and listen to good alternative political voice. I wish all of you a prosperous agricultural and mining season as shown in 2017. VaChihera:Professor