Ugly fights rock Zanu PF

via Ugly fights rock Zanu PF – DailyNews Live by Fungi Kwaramba  5 JUNE 2014

Ugly factional fights in Zanu PF have exploded into open warfare particularly in Mashonaland Central province where party officials are engaged in fierce battles that have resulted in alleged assassination plots while rivals are getting each other arrested.

With President Robert Mugabe, 90, tiring — hawks in the ruling party are at each other’s throats, ignoring a bleeding economy  teetering on the brink of collapse.

Analysts have warned the economy could go into free fall if Zanu PF does not  resolve the escalating succession battles.

And as preparations for the crucial elective congress gather pace — the battles for dominance are spilling into control of gold mines in Mashonaland Central amid allegations of damning love scandals involving top party officials.

A minister belonging to Vice President Joice Mujuru’s faction yesterday confirmed to the Daily News that there is war in the province, which the vice president swept in last year’s divisive provincial elections.

Mujuru and Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa reportedly lead the two major factions that are fighting to succeed Mugabe should he retire but the two have denied leading political camps in the past.

Mugabe has in the past dismissed them as standing no chance of succeeding him saying both are not good enough.

A youth league executive from the Mnangagwa camp, who claims that hardliners in Mujuru’s camp want his head, told the Daily News yesterday that there is a hit list of people who must be jailed or incapacitated to derail their chances of participating in the critical congress.

“There is a hit list (names supplied) who should either be arrested or suspended before the youth and women’s conferences,” said the source.

Yesterday, Zanu PF was locked in a politburo meeting to thrash out rules and regulations for participating in the litmus congress — as Mugabe moves to avert an all out war between rivals.

Several gold panners, who have been recently arrested said they were opposed to Mujuru’s ascendency to the throne and claim this is the reason why they were being arrested.

They warned that they would soon hit back to protect their territories.