Army Generals tell Mugabe to put succession plan on the agenda

By Violet Gonda
16 November 2006

Zimbabwe’s top Army Generals appear to have joined the ZANU PF succession battle and reportedly confronted Robert Mugabe about his retirement plans. Freelance Journalist Gift Phiri wrote an article in the weekly Zimbabwean newspaper saying the commanders of the Joint Operation Command (JOC), met Mugabe during one of their regular briefings, ahead of the Zanu PF conference, and told him to put a clear succession plan on the table.

Phiri said; “They did not make it explicit that he must go but they said they were amenable to an idea of a retired or serving General taking over. But they also did emphasis that if there is a change of a civilian government then it must be ensured constitutionally.”

Analysts say this is a serious indictment of Robert Mugabe as the security forces have been generally quiet about the succession issue.

JOC is a think tank of army generals comprising the intelligence, the army, police, prisons and air force.

Mugabe has indicated in the past that he was willing to retire in 2008, saying he wanted to write his memoirs. But ZANU-PF secretary for information and publicity Nathan Shamuyarira has said that the ruling party intends to combine the presidential and parliamentary elections in 2010. This is seen by most people as an attempt to prolong Mugabe’s term of office.

The 82 year old leader has ruled Zimbabwe with an iron fist since independence 26 years ago. The growing uncertainty over the issue of finding a suitable person to succeed him is threatening to rip his party apart. According to Phiri this is the reason the top security officials met with Mugabe. The journalist said; “The Generals asked the president that to curb factionalism and infighting a clear succession plan had to be put in place.” Mugabe is also the Commander in Chief of the defence forces.

Phiri said sources from the military told him that during the meeting with the army generals Mugabe responded by ducking the questions and instead chose to discuss the infighting within his party and the dwindling support base.

The annual ZANU PF congress is expected to be held at Goromonzi High School in two weeks time, but it’s reported that the succession debate has so far not made it onto the provisional agenda of the conference.