Zimbabwe: Mujuru takes control

via Zimbabwe: Mujuru takes control  Mail & Guardian 08 NOV 2013 by Takudzwa Munyaka

The vice-president’s faction now dominates, but opponents are saying the polls were irregular.

Vice-President Joice Mujuru has strengthened her grip on Zanu-PF after members aligned to her faction controversially won elections in Midlands, considered to be her rival Emmerson Mnangagwa’s strongholds.

Although elections in eight provinces: Harare, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central, Masvingo, Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South, are yet to take place, Mujuru’s win in the two provinces placed her firmly on course to dominate the majority of provincial structures, putting her in the lead to succeed President Robert Mugabe when he leaves office.

Zanu-PF will hold its elective congress in December next year and the provincial executives who are being elected will play a crucial role in nominating candidates for the party president, two vice-presidents, national chairperson and secretary for administration, among other positions.

The Mujuru faction already dominates the Zanu-PF presidium, which comprises Mugabe, Mujuru and her key allies – national chairperson Simon Khaya Moyo and secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa.

It also dominates the Zanu-PF ­politburo, the party’s highest decision-making body outside of congress, as well as Zimbabwe’s Cabinet. Both the Cabinet and politburo are influential in shaping and directing the party and country.

The Mujuru faction is expected to win control of all the Mashonaland provinces, which are her traditional strongholds, where she and Zanu-PF political commissar Webster Shamu are expected to use their influence to the group’s advantage.