Mugabe admits ‘messy’ jockeying for power within Zanu PF
By Lance Guma
01 November 2006

Robert Mugabe has been forced to admit there is fierce jockeying for power within Zanu PF and that this was creating a ‘messy’ situation and a lot of ‘disharmony,’ for the ruling party. He accused aspiring presidential candidates of waiting impatiently ‘like witches’ and that they wanted to see him go. He said there were 4 candidates waiting to throw their hats in the ring. State newspapers quoted Mugabe saying, ‘Even before the term of the president, they want the seat. I haven't completed my term, but you are already waiting by the door like a witch." The speech was made at the Catholic University in Harare.

Although Mugabe’s term expires in 2008 there is growing suspicion he wants to extend this to 2010. Zanu PF spokesman Nathan Shamuyarira has already talked about harmonising the presidential and parliamentary elections in 2010 and this is viewed by many as just a backdoor attempt to justify Mugabe hanging on for another 2 years. Mugabe rarely speaks about problems within his party and when he does it is usually when they have got out of hand. Factional fighting in the Masvingo province a few years ago stands out as one of those rare exceptions.

Sidney Masamvu the Southern African analyst for the International Crisis Group (ICG) says Mugabe’s jibe was aimed at the Mujuru camp who are thought to be pushing for his early departure. He says Mugabe has survived so far by playing the two factions against each other and portraying himself as the only unifying factor within Zanu PF. He says the statement underscores the fact that Mugabe was under siege from his own lieutenants in the party and was now hitting back.

Various theories have been bandied around on how Zanu PF is going to handle its succession issue. What is clear at the moment is that there are two powerful factions fighting for political space. Emerson Mnangagwa, the once powerful intelligence chief, and former army general Solomon Mujuru, are said to lead the two competing camps. Mujuru is said to have manoeuvred the ascendancy of his wife Joyce Mujuru to the Vice Presidency at the expense of Mnangagwa who for a long time seemed to enjoy close ties with Mugabe. Several corruption trials that have dominated headlines are also seen as part of the political jockeying that is taking place.