By Tichaona Sibanda
Major-General Douglas Nyikayaramba, the top army commander who infamously proclaimed two years ago that the army would die to make sure Robert Mugabe remains in power, wants to contest the parliamentary elections for ZANU PF in Uzumba, Mashonaland East province.
Nyikayaramba, the only serving soldier who is not a service chief but still on the EU sanctions list, has been seen around Uzumba campaigning wearing military fatigues.
A source told SW Radio Africa that Nyikayaramba, who has also declared that Mugabe will only leave office when he dies, is challenging the sitting ZANU PF MP, Simba Mudarikwa.
Mudarikwa is reportedly linked to Vice-President Joice Mujuru’s faction while Nyikayaramba belongs to Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa’s camp. Nyikayaramba has been de-campaigning Mudarikwa, using contents from a leaked US diplomatic cable detailing the ZANU PF MP’s meeting with Charles Ray, the former US ambassador to Zimbabwe.
Mudarikwa is quoted in the leaked cable telling Ray new leadership was essential in ZANU PF and would emerge when some of the old-timers, including President Mugabe, left the scene. The cable, dispatched to Washington on February 10 2010, said Mudarikwa offered his observations on various topics, including the state of ZANU PF, indigenization and elections.
Mudarikwa said that Mujuru or Simon Khaya Moyo, former ambassador to South Africa and now ZANU PF national chairman, were possible successors, although Mujuru’s fear of President Mugabe was affecting her ability to lead.
It is believed Nyikayaramba’s campaign strategy borders around the leaked cable, briefing people who attend his meetings that Mudarikwa was not a trusted cadre. But the soldier’s fight to dethrone Mudarikwa may be curtailed by new regulations governing primary elections being mulled over by ZANU PF.
Our source said ZANU PF is considering adopting a very controversial rule that only allows party officials who hold positions in the provincial executives, the central committee and the politburo to contest party primaries. SW Radio Africa
