Zanu PF infighting to get worse

By Tichaona Sibanda

A Harare based journalist has said that President Robert Mugabe has no interest in appointing anyone to succeed him in ZANU PF and the party’s elective congress in December ‘will come and pass as a damp squib’.

Itai Dzamara, editor of the online newspaper The News Leader, said people should not expect any dramatic events at the congress, except to witness the elevation of national chairman Simon Khaya-Moyo to the position of second Vice-President.

Speaking on our weekly program The Hidden Story, Dzamara said that Mugabe must have resolved to die in office, hence his reluctance in dealing with the succession battles in ZANU PF.

As a result of this the infighting in the party will continue unabated and could become much worse in the coming months.

‘Nobody is going to force him to come out clean on the issue of succession in December. He thrives on seeing factions at each other’s throats as has been happening lately,’ explained Dzamara.

In the last month alone, fierce infighting in the party has seen two ZANU PF MPs trading blows in KweKwe, while another MP linked to Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa’s faction blamed other officials in the ruling party of fanning divisions, saying they should be bashed.

It is believed the statement was directed towards the party’s secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa, who has made it his trademark to denounce Mnangagwa at any given opportunity.

Even the state media has uncharacteristically lamented the factionalism in ZANU PF, over the deeply divisive succession debate.

The two distinct factions led by Vice President Joice Mujuru and Mnangagwa, are involved in a bitter turf war to replace President Mugabe should he ever step down, or when he dies.

Dzamara said should anything happen to Mugabe before the succession battle is resolved, the new constitution of the country is clear that Mujuru will take over as President of Zimbabwe and leader of ZANU PF.

‘Once she takes over power, Mujuru will use her influence to make changes to the politburo to ensure she remains with loyalists who will keep her as leader of ZANU PF and the country.

‘I believe this is another reason Mugabe is not in a hurry to anoint anyone because he knows the constitution is clear on who will succeed him once he’s not on the throne,’ added Dzamara. SW Radio Africa