This article has just appeared in The Zimbabwe Mail
HARARE – The Zimbabwe Mail can reveal that a document is circulating and fliers distributed this morning amongst Zanu PF delegates to the party’s congress urging members “to reclaim their party from the presedium”.
(Readers please note, The Zimbabwe Mail has moles embedded in the centre of Zanu PF power battles and we will keep you informed of any developments as Zanu PF faces inevitable disintegration irrespective of Robert Mugabe’s message of defiance.)
The document, believed to be a summary of Jonathan Moyo’s authored plan for a Zanu PF break-away plan and its colourful fliers which have been distributed openly by a group of party rebels led by former Chairman of Zanu PF Harare province, Hubert Nyanhongo are all urging party members to “to do whatever possible to reclaim their party from unelected leaders”. They are written in English, Shona and Ndebele languages.
Last night our reporter witnessed a Nissan 4×4 pick up truck off-loading defiant banners, fliers and placards at the Kopje Plazza, the NETONE building and they where taken into the basement by people believed to be aligned to Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The reporter was told of hidden weapons and communication gadgets in the basement on that building.
Unconfirmed reports said in the last 48 hours some of the ring leaders have been seized by the intelligence forces and scores of party supporters have since fled into neighbouring South Africa as the battle reaches fever peach.
We’re also told that last night a man died in a fist-fight at the Zanu PF Harare District offices near Fourth Street bus station and scores were injured as things got out of control in a pre-congress briefing.
Sources said, South African President Jacob Zuma has kept a close touch with his Zimbabwean counter-part with reports that President Mugabe has sounded a security scare alert as the battle ground moves into the control of security forces.
President Jabob Zuma in turn has informed other SADC leaders of the challenges facing Zimbabwe and on his visit to Zambia he has briefed the Zambian President of the need to set-up his army ready to assist if there is an urgent need.
Today, Botswana President Ian Khama, a former Army commander himself, will tour army bases in the Chobe District which is situated around the Zimbabwe-Botswana border, and our source revealed that this is part of the latest SADC security alert plan as they fear Zimbabwe could degenerate into a civil conflict.
We can reveal that the
Southern African Development Community (SADC) Executive Secretary Tomaz Salomao was tasked by SADC leader to meet President Mugabe early this week in order to get some feedback and the Zimbabwean President raised the security concern which has since been communicated to the region’s Defence Ministers.
A battle over who will eventually succeed 85-year-old President Robert Mugabe as party leader threatens the future of his long-ruling ZANU-PF but analysts say an immediate split is unlikely at a congress this week.
By balancing competing factions and through a political patronage system, Mugabe has kept a tight grip on ZANU-PF since becoming party leader in the mid 1970s and spearheaded a guerrilla war against white minority rule.
But as Mugabe heads into the twilight of a political career spanning over half a century, his lieutenants have stepped up an internal fight for prime positions to take over the party when Mugabe retires. He has not given a date.
Rival factions have been jostling for posts in ZANU-PF’s “presidium” leadership before a five-yearly party congress opening in Harare on Friday, widening cracks within ranks already torn over personalities, ethnic and regional issues.
“These fights are going to go on until Mugabe goes, and when he goes ZANU-PF is in danger of disintegration,” said Eldred Masunungure, a leading political analyst.
“There is no consensus candidate on who should succeed Mugabe, and Mugabe himself has apparently created that crisis to remain in power,” Masunungure told Reuters.
But whoever eventually wins the battle to succeed Mugabe — whenever his position becomes vacant — will have a huge task to reorganise a party which many critics say just managed to hang onto power last year through violence against the opposition.
TERMINAL DECLINE?
A post-election standoff with the rival Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) forced Mugabe to sign a power-sharing deal with its leader Morgan Tsvangirai. Since then the new government has struggled to rebuild the shattered economy and attract much-needed aid funds.
“All the fighting that is going on in ZANU-PF is not going to help them at the next elections against the MDC,” said Lovemore Madhuku, chairman of political pressure group National Constitutional Assembly.
“What is emerging is a weak and divided party, a party probably in terminal decline,” he said.
The two-day congress will endorse Mugabe as party head for five years, and confirm a new policy-making central committee.
A faction led by former army General Solomon Mujuru has gained an upper hand in the succession battle as Mujuru’s wife, Joice Mujuru, 54, has been nominated by most of ZANU-PF’s provincial executives to remain as vice-president to Mugabe.
This makes Joice Mujuru, for now, the front runner to succeed Mugabe as ZANU-PF leader if he steps down, ahead of rival faction leader Emmerson Mnangagwa, who local media has for long touted as a favourite to takeover from Mugabe.
The congress will also confirm John Nkomo, 75, current party chairman to become the second ZANU-PF vice president, replacing veteran politician Joseph Msika who died aged 86 this year.
Zimbabwe’s ambassador to South Africa, Simon Khaya Moyo, 64, has been earmarked to fill Nkomo’s party chairman post.
The issue of Mugabe’s successor has divided ZANU-PF along ethnic lines, with Mnangagwa’s faction charging that Mujuru’s group seeks to preserve the party presidency for another member of Mugabe’s Zezuru ethnic group.
“The problem of tribalism or ethnic tensions has been swept under the carpet in ZANU-PF for a long time, but I think this is going to be a real issue if some things appear so obvious,” said Masunungure.
Mugabe has flatly refused to discuss his retirement plans, but analysts say he is unlikely to contest the next presidential poll — expected in the next two years or in 2013 if the current unity government runs a full term.
He will be heading towards his 90th birthday by then, and may not get his party support to continue in power.
Please ZANU PF do not elevate Mnangagwa, this man is very cruel. Mugabe is not Zezuru, he is Malawian. His tribal Malawi name is Matibili. The issue of tribal supremacy is very bad for national development. It (tribal supremacy) is coming up because Mugabe never developed areas where he saw opposition and Mateleland region is a victim. ZANU should see sense that a person who is 100 years old cannot be fit to be a national president. Mnangagwa again is also old at 64 years. ZANU PF youth does not have any future, this is brutality. Our children have known only one president of Zimbabwe. There is someone (not necessarily Morgan) who can do the job better. If the oldman clings up there it does not give others a chance. Let us move with the moving times.
MUGABE IS THE GLUE THAT IS HOLDING ZANU PF. IF HE GOES THAT IS THE END OF ZANU PF. THEY HAVE A LOT OF WANNABES WHO WILL WANT TO BE THE KINGPIN. MUNANGAGWA. SOLOMON MUJURU. OPAH. AND I AM SURE ZAPU HAS ITS OWN CANDIDATE.
LEST ASK THEIR SPOES MAN. ABEL WILL THIS HAPPEN OR IS IT JUST CHEAP TALK??? YOU SEEM TO FORETELL THE FUTURE, EVEN THOUGH DURING THE JUNE 2008 ELECTION YOUR DID NOT SEE ZANU LOSING CERTAIN MINISTRIES TO THE MDC. WHICH EVER WAY YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IT, ZANU IS NOW DIVIDED.
OR DO YOU KNOW BETTER???
I would love this to be true but something tells me this is all fibs. Anyway, thanks for cheering me up!
zanu yawora mugabe should return home in Malawi, we don’t need that foreigner, he has caused more harm than good in Zimbabwe. Its time he goes.
This writer is really seeking to entertain readers before the ZANU PF Congress. It is common knowledge that writers try to entertain their readership bases with such stories towards each and every ZANU PF Congress or Conference, Politburo meeting or even Central Committee meeting.
Anyway like the other reader has said, interesting fiction story
All being equal, I certainly hope that the MDC are being watchful and have a plan of their own to move in for the kill once ZPF loses any control of itself. I have always maintained, and all hopeful Zimbabweans rest assured that, the destruction of ZPF is one that will happen from within its own ranks…it will self destruct!!
Politics dzeZANU dzochitapira zvino!Nyanhongo distributingg defiant banners,Nyabadza resigning and more to come!It is a party that has always survived on vote inimidation and election violence and fraud and they had no alternative strategy and the world is crumbling around them.The party is full of murderers like Jonathan,Emmerson,Mudidimus,Chihuri,Chiwenga,Chombo etc.Infact if this evil party were to disintergrate the whole country will celebrate.You can still elections and fool some pple some time but you cant steal and fool all the pple all the time.Zvino vana Mutasa vachafa vasina kumbotonga.Hehehede!At least Morgan teaboy akatomboitawo PM
I am not persuaded to believe that this story is anything but fake. Why would we trust “moles” to report anything factual? The bit about SADC planning some military rescue mission on Zimbabwe is the most fictitious. What about the ZANU delegates running to South Aftrica? And the winner ………”The reporter was told of hidden weapons and communication gadgets in the basement on that building.”
I would love to hear stories of planes crushing into Shake Shake building during a poliburo meeting and ridding us of our terrorist organization but please this is the worst comedy after the Cain Nkala murder script!
Abel, Abel, Abel !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Mat,uzvi Adona !!!!!!!!!!
Mugabe shall fake sickness and he will be flown to Malaysia, the congress will be postponed. It will help to buy time on the part of ZANU PF and it will divert attention on serious negotiations taking place. Mugabe is not finished on top political projects, a rumour will be created by CIO and then the medie will go to town.
Fibs or no fibs, I like this story. What else can one do but hope for chaos in Zanu pf, maybe that way, we can safely sing good riddance of bad rubbish…….
IT DOES MAKE SENSE THOUGH. WHY ELSE WOULD MUGABE BE STILL IN CHARGE IF THEY WAS AN ODER TO FOLLOW ON LEADERSHIP???? IF THE OLD MAN DIES ZANU WILL NEVER BE THE SAME. THIS STORY MAY NOT BE TRUE BUT ZANU HAS CRACKS AS WE SPEAK. MUGABE IS THE BLUE THAT HOLD ZANU PF TOGETHER. IF HE GOES ZANU GOES WITH HIM
Charles Jana,that is the thinking that i have been talking about.Analyse yo enemy’s weaknesses and then pounce,opportunities are always there for men to take.If this is true,then this is the only chance any real opposition can grab and make a kill.
So SADC gets ready coz of fighting for power yet families were destroyed, people chopped off limbs, women raped etc, millions displaced, and SADC looked on. Now there is inhouse fighting in Zanu they show interest, to hell with sadc.
Mugabe join MDC,and become and ordinary member, the people of Zimbabwe voted you out last year. What makes you believe ZANU still needs you. No one likes you anymore. Chiyenda Mugabe
ZANU (PF) Must Unite to Survive. The sad truth is that we find ourselves in this situation precisely because we have avoided addressing the long-term problems for so long we have agruably left it too late to salvage anything from the consequences.
When chickens come to the roost……………………….
Abero and his brother Mukoma Pedzie where are you, tell us as the Kirsk seems to be getting on to the ocean floor bed!
As much as i hate zanu this sounds like a made up story, the same dirty tricks played by herald on mdc