via Analysts blame Mugabe for Zanu PF infighting November 19, 2013 by John Nyashanu NewsDay
POLITICAL analysts have described the fierce fighting within the Zanu PF top brass as a deliberate manoeuver by President Robert Mugabe to extend his stay in power by portraying himself as the party’s sole unifying force.
The analysts said Mugabe was deliberately letting the factional fights play out in the open so that the party’s grassroots structures would plead with him to stay on and save the ruling party from disintegrating.
Bulawayo-based analyst Dumisani Nkomo said: “It’s all political arithmetic at play. Mugabe always appears not in control when in reality he would be absolutely in charge.
The reality of the situation is that he doesn’t want any of the factions to be too strong, hence his statement as articulated by (Presidential spokesperson George) Charamba.”
The internal party fights shot to the roof last week after Charamba announced that the Zanu PF politburo was yet to receive provincial election results for Mashonaland Central although party spokesperson Rugare Gumbo had earlier announced them.
Charamba and Gumbo last week issued contradictory statements over the provincial elections in Mashonaland Central that were won by Luke Mushore who beat former chairman Dickson Mafios.
Charamba claimed Mugabe had instructed him to convey a message that the politburo would decide on the fate of the disputed elections after receiving a report from the presiding officer, Francis Nhema.
Party secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa also accused Charamba of overstepping his mandate.
But Media, Information and Broadcasting minister and Zanu PF politburo member Jonathan Moyo defended Charamba saying: “There can be no executive authority in Zanu PF higher than the party president and first secretary (Mugabe). Any suggestion or claim to the contrary is mischievous to the extreme.”
Moyo added: “It is only when the politburo has been favoured with both the results and the accompanying report that it will then be in a position to study both before taking a decision. This is the official position as directed by the president and it has not changed.”
Charamba on Sunday insisted he was simply a “messenger” working under instruction from his boss. “I am a medium and my role is to transmit messages and as a medium, I never seek to be the message,” Charamba said. “Consequently, my role began and ended with the instruction from the President which I believe I delivered to all the concerned.”
So deep-rooted were the party divisions that senior government officials were allegedly snubbing events where colleagues from the opposing faction would be in attendance.
Another political analyst Ernest Mudzengi said the latest impasse in Zanu PF was likely to work against Vice-President Joice Mujuru’s faction, perceived to be gaining ground against her rival, Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa.
“This fight may be to Mujuru’s disadvantage. They may now be mistrusted by Mugabe and he may attempt to weaken them. He has the ability to do that. What Charamba did was simply to articulate the position of the President,” Mudzengi said.
Commenting on the alleged snubbing of events by government officials from opposing factions, political commentator Takura Zhangazha said Mugabe had to act with speed to avoid a crisis in governance.
“It’s indicative of succession battles and Mugabe has to deal with this issue candidly and transparently to avoid problems within central government. Divisions are exploding to these levels because, according to the new constitution, should Mugabe leave office between now and 2018, a successor would have to come from within Zanu PF and so a lot is at stake here,” he said.
Meanwhile, Zanu PF national chairman, Simon Khaya Moyo yesterday said the provincial elections set for this weekend had been postponed.
He said the Politburo will meet on November 23 to decide on the new election date.
COMMENTS
THE MUMMY IS STILL ALIVE ?
NNUTANA NDIYE UNOZIBA! NYOKA INGAZWALA NNU BAKAMATJINYIWA!
Mugabe has completely lost sight of his responsibilities to the Zimbabwean people.
The buck ends with Mugabe. However, Zanu as an organisation has failed itself by not setting clear policies on succession. Either Mugabe is capitalising on that or finds himself entangled in a web of disorientation. It is not his fault as most of his colleagues “in this game” fear not what the party constitution spells but will do everything to prevent a rift with the strongman.
A calendar check tells us Mugabe is old, at his age, it is not uncommon that he can be called home peacefully in his sleep. An issue that is sending panic buttons in Zanu Pf structures. Not because they are power hungary but in the event that the old man unfortunately departs from us, their planning deficiency will be exposed. Having an outright replacement for Mugabe known would be healthy both for the party and its supporters.
Finally, the ball is in Mugabe’s court. Its up to him to choose his succesor. Help create acceptance to his appointed cadre. Isn’t it that he also came to Zanla forces clinging on the late Mujuru’s back. The day we rest him at Warren Hills, he will know he ran his course and the button has been handed over to someone he trust and will protect his legacy no matter what legacy he leaves behind.
The faction that wins will be the one best at rigging, and this will thus given them the credentials that prove they are best placed to keep ZPF in power through its usual modus operandi
I agree w e analyst who said Mugabe is behind all this. That man loves power and surely he wants to portray himself as e glue that keeps zpf together. He is also pulling a wool over e eyes of e international community that his over stay is gud for e country to solve factional disputes in his fractured party otherwise if he is to step down it may cause chaos and instability in e country. Its either all zpf leaders are playing into mugabe’s hands or are part of e shenanigans bt obvious there are others like proff who is seeing a window of opportunity to scale to e top