Minister admits to serious divisions over Mugabe leadership

By Lance Guma
07 May 2007

State Security Minister Didymus Mutasa openly admitted for the first time that there are serious divisions within Zanu PF over who will succeed Mugabe. He however tried to paper over these divisions by saying they had been resolved and party members will now back Robert Mugabe for another 6-year term. A report in the government owned Sunday Mail quotes him saying the succession issue is now off the agenda for the next 6 years and that both factions in the party had ‘closed ranks’ and are now behind Mugabe.

Mutasa indirectly admitted the country was in crisis and says Mugabe cannot run away from a ‘burning house.’ The Minister is however seen as part of a small group of Mugabe lieutenants who are trying to rally their colleagues around Mugabe’s dwindling popularity. Political analyst Gorden Moyo who heads Bulawayo Agenda says Zanu PF is akin to a cattle kraal full of cows, crocodiles, hyenas and sheep. ‘One day they are going to eat each other,’ he said. Moyo says the show of unity Mutasa is trying to bring out is non-existent and that most Zanu PF members were just biding their time and waiting for the right moment to strike.

Zanu PF split into two factions over the choice of Joyce Mujuru as Vice President. Rural Housing Minister Emerson Mnangagwa for a long time seemed the heir apparent until former army General Solomon Mujuru reportedly propelled his wife to the position. This is believed to have heightened tensions between the so-called Mnangagwa and Mujuru camps who have been fighting a war of attrition in the media. Mugabe’s attempts at extending his term in office have also added another third faction to the party and is composed of people backing his continued stay in power.