Zanu (PF) infighting escalates to new heights

By Tichaona Sibanda
11 August 2006

In-fighting within the ruling Zanu (PF)) regime is now threatening to plunge the party into a political crisis not seen since the turmoil after the death of its former leader Herbert Chitepo.

A source in Harare told us Friday that public statements and conversations behind closed doors allege that a group led by former army general Solomon Mujuru is involved in a conspiracy to politically destroy strongman Emmerson Mnangagwa to ensure that he does not become the party’s presidential candidate when/if Mugabe steps down.

Mnangagwa who is still influential in the intelligence services is reportedly fighting back with a vengeance. He is said to have passed on a dossier of corruption against the Mujuru faction to his mentor Robert Mugabe. In turn the Mujuru faction are also wielding a damning report implicating him in a number of fraudulent activitives involving Zanu (PF) companies.

Former guerilla leader Herbert Chitepo was killed by a car bomb in March 1975 in Lusaka, Zambia in an assassination often blamed on the Rhodesian government at the time, but subsequently attributed to rivals within ZANU (PF). After that the infighting intensified and it resulted in a lot of purges that saw the deaths of freedom fighters and officials in political killings.

The Zimbabwe Independent reported Friday that the Mugabe succession war is being fought at various levels of the party. It said the arraignment of Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa for the alleged obstruction of the course of justice, efforts to charge State Security Minister Didymus Mutasa, whom the Mujuru camp reportedly now wants replaced with Mashonaland East provincial governor Ray Kaukonde, the Zupco corruption trial and events around Local Government Minister Ignatious Chombo and deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga were all part of the succession fight.

Bekithemba Mhlanga, a journalist and political commentator, said there was a fierce ‘proxy war’ being fought in Zanu (PF) and that the fear of Robert Mugabe by both sides was the only thing holding the party together.

‘It’s as good as having two Zanu (PF’s) now, but the only thing keeping the party going is Robert Mugabe,’ said Mhlanga.