By Brian Chitemba
The return of Philip Chiyangwa to the helm of the Affirmative Action Group (AAG) has been linked to the muffled Zanu PF succession debate with young turks led by Indigenisation minister Saviour Kasukuwere cultivating the empowerment lobby as their power base.
Some Zanu PF politburo members told the Zimbabwe Independent this week that the ouster of Supa Mandiwanzira was part of Zanu PF’s complicated succession matrix.
Chiyangwa, who was re-admitted into Zanu PF as an ordinary member in Mashonaland West, is reportedly working closely with the ambitious Kasukuwere in the succession race.
Kasukuwere is reportedly spearheading a third force in the battle to succeed Mugabe. For over a decade, Vice-President Joice Mujuru and Defence minister Emmerson Mnangagwa have been at the forefront of the succession race, and it was only recently that the military and its chief General Constantine Chiwenga displayed a deep interest in the succession debate.
“The young, rich and ambitious politicians in Zanu PF led by Kasukuwere want to build their political empire using the AAG and the indigenisation programme. They calculate that the indigenisation policy could give them a leap over other factions and that is why there is drama at the AAG. It’s all about the Zanu PF succession race,” said a senior Zanu PF official.
Kasukuwere, who is the driving force behind the controversial indigenisation policy, was exposed by WikiLeaks as one of the young turks who wants Mugabe to step down. Kasukuwere reportedly told former US ambassador to Zimbabwe Tom McDonald in November 2000 that Zanu PF required urgent leadership renewal.
Among those also reportedly working with Kasukuwere is fellow politburo member Tendai Savanhu. Savanhu, who is the AAG’s founding secretary-general, has been tasked by Chiyangwa to investigate corruption allegations levelled against the ousted AAG executive led by Mandiwanzira.
Kasukuwere is also working closely with party youths and women in a bid to bolster his faction. “If anyone wants to be nominated for the presidency, there is need to capture the youths and women. They are a critical constituency,” said the Zanu PF official.
Kasukuwere has tolerated the random grabbing of buildings belonging to whites and Indian-born businessmen by the youths in Bulawayo.
Chiyangwa has also been visible in Bulawayo where he recently donated US$500 for a patient at a local hospital. He was accompanied by Zanu PF Bulawayo youth chairman Butho Gatsi, a move that sparked anger among provincial leaders who wanted Chiyangwa to brief them on his visit.
Repeated efforts to get comment from Kasukuwere and Chiyangwa were unsuccessful. Zanu PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo declined to comment on the issue. Zimbabwe Independent
