Zimbabwe: Solomon Mujuru leading resistance against Mugabe term extension
By Tererai Karimakwenda
04 January 2006

A movement within the ruling party opposed to extending Robert Mugabe’s term of office is said to be gaining support in more provinces across the country. And sources within the high ranks of ZANU-PF allege that it is the retired army general Solomon Mujuru who is behind this attempt to sway those provinces which had already supported Mugabe’s attempt to stay in power for another 2 years. Our correspondent Warren Moroka spoke to ZANU-PF provincial chefs who said they had been contacted by Mujuru himself and that meetings were taking place in different provinces aimed at garnering a majority within the party.

Urban areas like Harare which have always been opposition strongholds have been against Mugabe’s attempt to harmonise the presidential elections due in 2008 with the parliamentary polls scheduled for 2010. But according to Moroka, the wave against keeping Mugabe any longer has now extended to Mashonaland East, the Midlands, Manicaland and Matabeleland North and South provinces.

Mujuru’s wife Joyce is currently the vice president and believed to be a contender for the top spot once Mugabe, turning 83 this year, steps down. It is not clear whether this prospect is what is driving Mujuru to lobby against what some now refer to as “Mugabe 2010”. Moroka said the realisation that enough numbers could be organised and rallied against Mugabe has brought life to the campaign. And a coalition of religious, civic and political groups under the SAVE Zimbabwe banner has vowed to resist Mugabe as well.

The country has started another year without any sign that the political and economic crisis that has gripped Zimbabweans for 6 years now will be resolved soon. Observers say the country will keep deteriorating as long as Mugabe remains the head chef. So the possibility that top level officials have had enough is quite likely. The underground meetings described by Moroka are said to be countrywide. Only time will tell whether there is enough political will within the ruling party to go against a vicious tyrant like Robert Mugabe.