MUGABE FINDS DEEPER ZANU PF CRACKS, AS MUJURU TAKES AIM Own Correspondents HARARE PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe returned from his trip to China and found the chaos in his party having deepened. The News Leader has it on good authority that soon after arrival yesterday, Mugabe was given reports by his intelligence teams, indicating that the chaos has worsened, and that his deputy Joice Mujuru is pushing to take him on at the congress. Mugabe, our sources said, was presented with a picture that symbolises unrelenting push by the Mujuru faction, which remains determined to fight all the way and has heightened its campaigns to defy the Zanu PF leader. The Mujuru faction is entangled in a bitter fight, which has been hijacked by the Mugabe clique, now fighting in the corner of the Mnangagwa faction, to try and stop the Mujuru camp from taking over power at the December congress. He (Mugabe) received reports that painted a gloomy picture, a top source said. He was told about the increase in clandestine meetings involving different camps and the deepening of divisions within all the structures and provinces. The Mujuru faction, our sources say, has gone a gear up and started telling its supporters to brace for a situation that may require voting for a new party leader. At the same time, the Mujuru camp is said to have convinced the bulk of provinces to reject First Lady Grace Mugabes bid to emerge as a decisive factor in the succession battle. Impeccable sources privy to the plotting by the Mujuru faction say there is growing determination within the camp to aim at taking over the party leadership at their congress. Mai Mujuru is geared up and determined to challenge for the top position, a source said. To his shock, Mugabe was yesterday briefed about the campaign for the presidency by the Mujuru camp, in various forms in the provinces and party structures. The News Leader revealed recently that Mujuru had used a private meeting to advise Mugabe to step down, in that way, revealing her willingness to take over as leader of Zanu PF. The Mujuru camp has been sending a message to its supporters, of saying they must be ready to vote for all top positions, including that of party president. On his part, and which is his trademark, Mugabe has been sending mixed signals. He claimed at the partys Womens League congress that all leaders would step down at the congress. However, that claim has not been consistent with very clear and desperate measures Mugabe has been employing to protect his position and collaborate with the Mnangagwa faction to block the Mujuru camps path towards sweeping off top positions. According to another source, there is a high possibility for all the positions, including that of Mugabes, being opened for contest. Mai Mujuru is determined to contest for the top position if there will be opening of all positions to be up for grabs, the source said. On the other hand, the Mnangagwa faction is also working hard on the ground, to prepare for a bitter battle against its rival camp in a bid for top positions, save for that of president - which they are resolved should be retained by Mugabe. Mugabe seems to be handling a very delicate situation because, he may end up getting involved in a contest with Mujuru, if he pushes for the opening of all top positions for elections - which is provided for in the Zanu PF constitution. Zanu PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo said the party has yet to draw up the agenda for the congress. We will come up with the programme and agenda at the right time. That is how it will be established how elections for positions will be done, Gumbo said. He however tried to play down the worsening chaos in the party, claiming it was under control.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 07:27:03 +0000
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