via Mugabe confronts Mavhaire over factionalism – The Zimbabwe Independent 29 August 2014 by Elias Mambo
THE Zanu PF succession debacle came to the fore at a cabinet meeting a fortnight ago amid revelations President Robert Mugabe confronted Energy minister Dzikamai Mavhaire, accusing him of abusing resources from parastatals under his portfolio to advance political factional interests, it has emerged.
This comes after volatile factionalism erupted into the public in a major way following clashes at the Youth and Women’s League conferences recently. Top government sources said Mugabe questioned Mavhaire’s board appointments in the energy sector, which are dominated by politicians aligned to Vice-President Joice Mujuru’s faction.
At the time of the appointments in June, business and commerce raised concerns over Mavhaire’s appointments to the boards running Zesa Holdings and its nine subsidiaries.
The appointments were widely viewed as part of a grand plan to accommodate Mujuru loyalists.
Mavhaire reportedly belongs to the Mujuru faction, which is embroiled in a bitter struggle with a camp led by Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa.
“Mugabe attacked Mavhaire saying he is aware that the minister authorised the write-off of huge electricity bills for some Zanu PF officials who are aligned to VP Mujuru’s faction,” said a top government official.
“Mugabe in the meeting said he was informed that several electricity bills running into hundreds of thousands of dollars were cancelled as Mavhaire tried to lure members to his faction. Mugabe also said he is aware that fuel from PetroTrade was given to some Zanu PF officials without paying anything and then people say the economy is not performing.”
In an interview this week, Mavhaire said those were just “rumours”.
“Go and ask the Zesa authorities whether at one time I went there to order them to cancel the bills,” Mavhaire said. “The minister has no jurisdiction over how bills are paid or cancelled.”
Mavhaire was appointed Energy minister after last year’s general elections. He had spent many years in the political wilderness after a fall-out with Mugabe prompted by his “Mugabe must go” remarks in the late 1990s.
Recent Zanu PF infighting forced Mugabe to call an emergency meeting at State House where politburo members, cabinet ministers and Zanu PF provincial leaders confronted each other as problems caused by unresolved succession issues escalate ahead of the party’s December.
COMMENTS
Once a prodigal son always one. If Mugabe thought Mavhaire has changed, then the old man is in for a rude awakening.
Who on earth is this mavhaire ? Or this Mugabe ? Are they important
Everyone knows very well who is fermenting violence but just in case the old man has forgotten its mujuru and mnangagwa.no need to vent anger on poor mavhaire.
No Sir, I beg to differ. Them 2 are not the problem. It is Mugabe who is the source of these squabbles we in Zanu today. By remaining tight lipped about his succession agenda when everyone except him, knows that aahariyofanzirofa, he is the reason why there is this jostling & rivalry. Instead of being a graceful leader who not only leads the succession debate but also facilitates it or even appoints a successor, he is increasingly tightening grip on power like he is going to live & be fully functional for another 20yrs thereby causing his lieutenants to go at each other behind his back. What an arrogant, foolish & bitter oldman he has became. Its such a shame. Anyways im not complaining. I m actually happy that we will probably wont even have to do nothing to rid ourselves off of this stupid party, but to just sit back & relax & enjoy watching them devouring each other….
This sustained combined Mugabe-Mnangagwa loyalists assault on Mujuru and her supporters suggest one of two things.
Either Mujuru has not been as weakened by the loss of her husband as most expected, and the likelihood of her consolidating at the December Congress has in fact got both Mugabe and Ngwena rattled.
Or else that the loss of General Mujuru has really left her exposed and now emboldened Ngwena to move in for the kill, in collusion (for now) with Mugabe.
Rwendo..thanks for the great intellectual perspective. The provincial election’s saw majority of Mujuru sympathisers ascend to higher provincial leadership positions and the just ended National Youth leadership Contestation. ..went in favour of Mujuru….she has full control of the party as it seems…and Munangangwa group know the that the only way to slow down Mujuru..or dent her ambitions is to appeal to Mugabe’s coup fears and use Mavhaire..whom they know Mugabe is paranoid about. … considering the famous Mugabe Must Go ..statements…
ZESA has not followed the dictates of the new constitution which exempts senior citizens 65 years and above from paying ZESA bills. ZESA refuses to follow the constitution saying it is a piece of paper which means nothing. They (ZESA) have now dodged the issue by installing prepaid meters in every household to defraud the poor seniors. But for ZESA to agree to cancel bills for the young politicians to advance his (Mavhaire) political interests is not only disrespecting the seniors but also driving seniors out of Zpf.
Should we really care what Zanu or Mugabe do. After all they do whatever they choose anyway as if they own everyone and everything on earth. The dipsticks.
Does this mean Mugabe belongs to the Mnangagwa faction. Mugabe does not want any successor from Zanu Pf while he is still alife. He feares the emergency of such since it will prove his incompetence. Currently he is not being compared to anyone in Zanu Pf or Zimbabwe except Smith which he knows many people by now have forgotten him. He will continue playing this card and outwit even the gentlemen in Zanu Pf. Solution is for all Zanu Pf to just speak with one voice tell the old Mugabe to go regardless.
Sadly, what with the opposition in disarray, what happens in Zanu will continue to determine the prospects for our country’s recovery. It is not clear who will take over. And as they say, know thy enemy – or in our case, who your enemy will be.
So really if Mugabe has any evidence that Mavhaire wrongfully authorised the cancellation of certain ZPF officials debts why doesn’t he order an investigation and let the law take its course. He goes to China and talks about how he jails people for corruption which he has never done.This is a chance for Mugabe to walk the talk for once. Jail Mavhaire and those who had their debt cancelled.
Go on do it.
Mugabe should ask Mavahire what is happening with electricity generation because this also affect industry zvetumafactions zvavo izvi hazvina basa handiti this factionalism keeps him in power.