Mugabe defends Mnangagwa

By Tatenda Dewa |Harare Bureau|

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa has hinted he remains strong in the Zanu PF succession race despite a rival faction’s call on President Robert Mugabe to “cull” him.

Mandi Chimene, the Manicaland provincial minister believed to be a proxy of the Generation 40 (G40) camp fiercely opposed to Mnangagwa’s takeover from Mugabe, on Wednesday accused the vice president of being the godfather of war veterans who rebelled against the 92 year-old leader.

Speaking at a meeting of party supporters to which Mugabe was invited after veterans issued a communique denouncing the party leader as a “genocidal dictator”, Chimene directly accused Mnangagwa of running a factionalised parallel government and said he must be removed.

Mnangagwa maintained his cool at the meeting despite the public humiliation by Chimene, and told State journalists two days after, during a tour of a cattle-feeding project in Zvimba, Mugabe’s rural home area, that he was emboldened by the statements from his internal enemies.

The vice president, who the rebellious war vets prefer to take over from Mugabe, said the disparaging remarks by his foes had made him stronger.

“That (rivals’ statements) is what boosts me. If it doesn’t happen, I will lack the strength to work. In any case, is it (what they are saying about me) true?

“Anyway, that is what politics is all about. They accuse you, but you keep going, going strong as they bark. If they don’t do that, your strength dissipates,” said Mnangagwa.

Mnangagwa arrived at the Wednesday meeting that his rivals had arranged to counter the war vets meeting six days before together with Mugabe and sat to the right of the president, indicating his seniority over Phelekezela Mphoko, the other co-deputy linked to G40.

While Chimene ranted against Mnangagwa, Mugabe seemed to defend his deputy when he stood up to talk, accusing the dissident war veterans of using senior party leaders’ names to divide the party.

“Beware, because our enemies are plotting to divide us by abusing our names… If accused, it is also up to us to tell the people that the accusations are false,” he said, apparently referring to Mnangagwa.

Last Saturday, Mnangagwa offered the government-controlled media an interview in which he distanced himself from the war veterans who had met at Raylton Sports Club the previous Thursday and announced they would no longer be campaigning for Mugabe who they said was too old.

Mugabe hinted that he had met with senior party members before the Wednesday meeting, and there is speculation that Mnangagwa used the opportunity to regain Mugabe’s trust, even though it remains to be seen how the president will deal with his deputy’s rumoured presidential ambitions.

Critics say Mugabe has been nurturing factionalism in Zanu PF so as to maintain his foothold on power.

They say remaining in power would be difficult for Mugabe if the party unites, and Mugabe might be anxious to keep Mnangagwa as a faction leader to provide a turf challenge to the rival G40 even though he is aware of his junior’s presidential ambitions. Nehanda Radio