Succession stalling economy, Mutsvangwa

via Succession stalling economy, Mutsvangwa 11 September 2014

OUTSPOKEN Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Christopher Mutsvangwa has lashed out at his ruling Zanu PF party for being preoccupied with President Robert Mugabe’s succession while the economy unravels.

Mutsvangwa, a veteran of Zimbabwe’s 1970s bush war against the Ian Smith settler regime who is well known for his forthrightness, said the government had a moral duty to fulfill its election promises it made last year.

Mutsvangwa told NewZimbabwe.com in an interview that it was critical for Zanu PF to “spend more time discussing economics than we spend on defining on who is going to be the next ruler within Zanu PF. After all, the president is there anyway”.

Mugabe’s succession issue has split Zanu PF in the middle with two factions, one led by Vice-President Joice Mujuru and the other by Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, battling to succeed the 90-year-old president.

Last month, Mutsvangwa launched a vitriolic attack on Mujuru casting doubts on her liberation war credentials in what analysts said was part of a fierce behind the scenes battle over the succession issue.

He suggested that stories of gallantry concerning Mujuru shooting down a Rhodesian helicopter during the war were all a hoax. He said the stories were all made up by Zanu PF to build up Mujuru’s political profile.

Mutsvangwa said Zanu PF was now so preoccupied with Mugabe’s succession issue at the expense of the economy which is in a free-fall.

“The most important thing facing Zimbabweans is their economy, how it can deliver prosperity to ordinary Zimbabweans,” Mutsvangwa said.

He said officials within Zanu PF “are pre-occupied with political gimmickry than any other issue which is of national importance”.

However, a political analyst, Takura Zhangazha, said contrary to Mutsvangwa’s assertions, it was critical for Zanu PF to resolve the Mugabe succession issue since it was closely tied to the economy.