PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe’s fear to name a successor stems from a deep sense of mistrust and fear that the chosen heir-apparent could make a volte-face and persecute him, a former Zanu PF activist has claimed.
Source: ‘Mugabe family scared’ – NewsDay Zimbabwe June 6, 2016
BY RICHARD CHIDZA
Expelled Zanu PF Mashonaland Central provincial youth leader, Godfrey Tsenengamu, made the disclosures on his Facebook page yesterday, saying Mugabe’s continued indecision was triggered by his family’s fear and insecurity over what a new leader might do.
He confirmed his assertions in an interview with NewsDay.
“Some in Zanu PF choose to criminalise it (succession) and say it’s treasonous to discuss the matter,” he said.
“No, I prefer to differ. My President (Mugabe) should preside over this matter while he is still around and it is in his best interests to do so. We must understand that the succession issue is being fuelled by the insecurity that a lot of people are feeling. There is lack of trust and that is dangerous.”
Tsenengamu issued an ominous warning that if Mugabe failed to deal with the succession issue now, Zanu PF was doomed.
“He (Mugabe) must preside over the matter now or else Zanu PF is doomed. His family remains insecure, the economy continues to go down and those feeling insecure in the party continue to cause unnecessary divisions and fights,” he said.
“It’s not taboo to plan for our future. We can’t afford to postpone reality.
“If anything were to happen to him, given the current factional fights, there will be chaos in both the party and government. Talking about a succession plan does not mean people do not want the President. It is in his best interests.”
Mugabe, two weeks ago, told a Zanu PF gathering in Harare that “the small groups discussing succession are treasonous”, adding, “I am not going anywhere.”
Tsenengamu insinuated Mugabe’s family was discussing the succession issue.
“I am taking a cue from the First Lady (Grace Mugabe), who, at the Chiweshe rally, said they had been considering someone as a successor, but had lost confidence in that person,” he said.
“That means they discuss the issue and are weighing the options. It’s important that the President sees this process through. No investor will bring their money where they are not sure of the future and a clear succession plan will instil confidence in our people and the international community.”
Tsenengamu was expelled from the ruling party early this year, along with six other provincial youth leaders for alleged gross misconduct.
His remarks came as war veterans have upped their demands for Mugabe to name Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa as his successor.
The former freedom fighters have also demanded that Tsenengamu and his colleagues be unconditionally reinstated into the ruling party.
Zanu PF is bedevilled by fierce internal factional fights centred around the succession issue with Grace and Mnangagwa touted as possible contenders.
Tsenengamu said Mugabe needed to open up and allow members to start discussing the matter and allow for a new leader for the country in 2018, while he retains the ruling party’s presidency.
“Our leaders have come a long way and have every reason to be together and work together. We also have a role to play and help them mend relations and rebuild trust,” he said.
But Zanu PF political commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere yesterday scoffed at the suggestion, saying the succession debate was being fanned by those who wanted to side-track Mugabe.
“We have always said the issue of succession is not on the agenda. But for us, we need to ensure that the party continues to run the government under President Mugabe. We have a President and he is our candidate for 2018. So we wonder whom the successor is going to succeed,” he said.
“The President has consistently said Zanu PF has a time-honoured tradition of leadership renewal that should be followed at congress when the time
comes.
“Our party is comfortable with President Mugabe. He has the confidence of the membership and given the numbers that turned up at the million-man march (last month), he has confidence of Zimbabweans.”
COMMENTS
Mugabe’s family scared?…and so they must be! Just think of all the many people whose lives they have destroyed.
These destroyed people, or their surviving relatives, cannot wait for payback time with the Mugabe hoodlums.
And still these ZANU PF criminals still believe that they can dominate Zimbabwe after Mugabe himself is in the grave.
That we will never allow to happen. Nor will we allow any others, in no matter which party, who have blood on their hands.
We as a nation have suffered much, much more than enough.
tiri ku buya Gushungo family…you will live out your days with hard labour in Chikarubi
Correct, the Mugabe family is scared to death as is Robert – reminds me of Churchills famous quote :-
“Dictators ride to and fro on tigers from which they dare not dismount. And the tigers are getting hungry.”
From – While England Slept, 1938 – with the tigers being the Zimbabwe people of course !
“If anything were to happen to him, given the current factional fights, there will be chaos in both the party and government. Talking about a succession plan does not mean people do not want the President. It is in his best interests.”
If Zimbabwe is not in a chaotic situation then Bob Matibile (aka Mugabe) is Winston Churchill.
Zimbabweans live in terror hence the silent exodus. BOB KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT’S COMING TO HIM AND IT IS OVER DUE.
SO SH-T–G HIM SELF IS NORMAL AS AN EVIL DICTATOR THE SCOPE OF PUNISH IS VERY FAMILIAR TO HIM.
SO BOB IT’S COMING SOONER THAN YOU THINK.
The whole of zanupf need to be scared! Their time is coming fast, and yet they refuse to see it.
“There are none so blind as those who will not see!”
A “leader” who knows not were he is taking his people and who should take over after him is no leader at all. The lead scout who always talks about were you are coming from probably does not know where to to. The heir who squanders an inheritance is a fool. A “leader” who ascribes to external forces tragedies that can be explained by his own incompetency is just an idiot. A “leader” who rejoices whilst his people are starving is just irresponsible. Talk of succeeding such a leader is folly. The truth is Zim has not had a leader since 1975, perhaps since 1965. Father Zimbabwe, Dr Nkomo, was probably the closest we ever got but the throne was always occupied by those who should just be cleaning it. The point here is Zim does not need a succession, it needs an overhaul, a transformation and a new direction. We need new people and a new way of doing things. We need to put real leaders in charge and stop worshiping position holders as messiahs. Getting rid of ZanuPF is the starting point.
The Communist party in China has a very clear succession system. It works neatly, and there are no disputes. I don’t know why Zanu PF has had no plan up to this far.
Because they are ALL opportunists who have no clue what leading a society entails.
Because we don’t follow the Chinese
makes you think colonialism was not so bad after all!
All this diatribe about succession, ” ruling from the grave “, corruption, Zezurus, Karangas, People first, ZANU, Blah, Blah Blah.
Isn’t that wretched country ” governed by the people, for the people ” and according to the “one man one vote ” concept?
Zimbabwe needs a solution much like what happened in Ghana.