via Army worried by faction fighting | The Zimbabwean 18 September 2014
The Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) is worried that the escalating faction fighting within Zanu (PF) could destabilise the party and ignite internal strife. Senior officers plan to approach President Robert Mugabe with a neutral candidate if things get out of hand, a senior military source has said.
Two major camps led by Vice President Joice Mujuru and Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa are jostling to succeed Mugabe, 90, as he moves into the twilight of his career.
The Mnangagwa faction is reportedly gunning to take over from Mugabe by February next year while the Mujuru camp is considered to enjoy more popular support but is increasingly isolated by the First Family.
“We are watching with keen eyes. It depends on how the candidates who wish to grab posts in the presidium at congress conduct themselves. Some may lose and want to either break away or cause mayhem. That is when we will move in because we don’t want to leave anything to chance,” said the senior officer.
He admitted that the army was itself divided along factional lines, adding that the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) commander Constantine Chiwenga had a soft spot for Mnangagwa. “Word is spreading around, however, that he can shift to Sydney Sekeramayi if Mnangagwa proves to be a problem,” he added.
Sekeramayi, an astute tactician who heads the defence ministry, has largely kept out of the succession battle, but is considered a dark horse. Having spent most of his post-independence political career in security portfolios, observers say he could spring a surprise and emerge as the ultimate Mugabe successor.
Chiwenga recently urged those fighting to succeed Mugabe to stop claiming support from the army as it was not involved in party politics. “(Our role) is to defend Zimbabwe, its people, its wealth, the independence and the national interest,” he said.
The army has, however, been accused of direct involvement in supporting Zanu (PF) during elections. All the top officers are former liberation fighters who have benefited richly from the patronage system.
COMMENTS
Sweat sweat
They terrified. ( of mob justice )
Starting to unravel slowly but surely. All it will take is one incident.
The Army was never neutral after Solomon Mujuru and Josia Tungamirai. Zvinavashe, Chiwenga and the Mugova stated clearly what are their preferences. However when they mentioned it they never relaised that Grace Mugabe would one day want to be president though its a pipe dream.All said and doen, nature will determine who will be the next leader for Zimbabwe, it may not be any othe names that are featuring but remote name like Chombo or Obert Mpofu or ven Tsvangirai. God decides, so its would be better for all people to focus on socio-economic developmental issues and have prosperous country for the future generations just like what Smith and partners did. When they were in power they all belong to the white supremacy and they guarded it jealously. However Zanu PF are doing the opposite. factionalism and regionalism, tribalism is killing and destroying the very inheritance that should be for the future generations. Bulawayo a former industrial hub of Southern Africa is now a ghost industrial town, why because Nkomo and ZAPU belonged there. Mutare and Masvingo with so much potential, Feruka Oil plant and Hippo Valley Sugar and Triangle sugar mills in these places respectively were run down so much that you can hardly think of them why? they do not belong to Zezurus but karangas and Manyikas. Tekere, Sithole and Zvobgo seemingly opposed to Mugabe. Now the factionalism in Zanu Pf, Mnangagwa may try to please himself by a probable support if any against Mai Mujuru, the real issue that Zezurus are not supporting anyone not of their group. The factions are there to avoid a popular leader nationaliy to emerge and that will pave way for a remotely considered Zezuru. Yet if common leadership growth is allowed, it would be Mugabe, Mujuru, Simon Khaya Moyo,Jorum Gumbo, Mnangagwa etc in the leadership seniority. But they would rather seem to back Mnangagwa and use him as a pawn for their Zezuru in the background, so watch Sekeramai, Chombo, Mliswa or similar.
The Army always tell us they are not into party politics (we obviously dont believe them), so why are the meddling now? These are decisions for Zimbabweans, the civilians to choose who they want. stop putting your noses into civilian matters you fools!
The Army that has kept Mugabe in power will be his downfall.Had these people , especially Mugabe done what they promised in 1980 (unite every under one banner as Zimbabweans) they would not be in this predicament. But they practice d first tribalism, then racism now they do regionalism.
Gukurahundi ZANU PF and its leader Mugabe are the worst nightmare that ever befell Zimbabwe. Anyone who grew up in Rhodesia will tell you black people are far more divided under Mugabe than they ever were under I an Smith (a White Scotsman).
Almost all African languages in Matebeleland survived and prospered in Rhodesia, but today under Mugabe (a Blackman), many now face extinction – all because of gukurahundi and their 1979 Grand Plan.
They define our country as a Shona country, because Shona clans settled earlier and longer than other black people who came after them; but they conveniently ignore those Africans (the Khoisan) who they found already settled in the region, as if they are not people, in very much the same manner the white colonialists ignored the Tonga people who were already settled around the Zambezi for centuries and instead attributed the discovery of the Victoria Falls to David Livingston the white Missionary.
Its just unfortunate that, notwithstanding their now virulent opposition to Mugabe and ZANU PF rule today most of our Shona Bretheren refuse to see these ZANU PF devilish divide and rule tactics for what they really are; but instead choose to embrace them and are now actually using them as arguments to justify they opposition to the Devolution political governance system of the country. Its as if the proposals for Devolution are meant for only one region.
Red herrings are raised about possible secession – no proof of widespread support or otherwise for this is provided. This is Zimbabwe; proof for any claims is never required, as long as those claims are made by the majority – the so-called Varidzi venyika”, who have carte blanche licence to smear anyone from Matebeleland the way they like and get away with it unblemished!
The people of Matbeleland were not the first people to trek down to South Africa in the 1980s for no good reason. They did so because of ZANU PF policies that disadvantaged them. These have now created a very entrenched patronage system; even those in the opposition, particularly the MDC-T continue to support these policies, as long as they benefit from them and totally ignore the fact that those very same policies are actually disadvantaging other fellow citizens!
Chiwenga tibvire apa this is all u wanted wen u helped Zanu to rig elections & this is it nw,plz turn Around this economy we need 2•two milliom jobs kwete zvose zvose zvamunotaura hazvidyiwe