Kasukuwere takes aim at Mnangagwa

Politics
As the faction-riddled Zanu PF embarks on a restructuring exercise meant to strengthen itself after a gruesome purge of suspected renegades, fresh camps are emerging, rendering the rebuilding exercise futile.

As the faction-riddled Zanu PF embarks on a restructuring exercise meant to strengthen itself after a gruesome purge of suspected renegades, fresh camps are emerging, rendering the rebuilding exercise futile.

XOLISANI NCUBE

Results from Mashonaland East and the aftermath of the recent provincial elections suggest deep-rooted factional wars within the party as two distinctive camps fight against each other in a bid to control the province.

Zanu PF political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere is said to be getting bolder by the day and building a strong political base. A faction is reportedly growing around him amid indications that the grouping is readying itself to challenge Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa for the top post when ageing President Robert Mugabe steps down.

Although the party does not confirm the existence of the wars, insiders told The Standard last week that the factional fights were growing bigger and could soon explode into the public domain.

Mashonaland East winning provincial chair, Joel Biggie Matiza is linked to the Mnangagwa camp while top contender, Edgar Mbwembwe was linked to a group of Young Turks allegedly led by Kasukuwere.

The ambitious gang of youthful politicians wanted Mbwembwe to land the chairman’s post in a bid to control Mashonaland East, a province full of the so called Mujuru cabal, but the battle was lost by a wide margin.

During the primary polls, the two leading camps were sponsoring candidates to contest against each other.

In Mbire — Mashonaland Central — supporters of Mnangagwa are said to have sponsored Innocent Hamandishe, while Kasukuwere allegedly backed the winning candidate, Douglas Karoro.

Analysts have said Mashonaland East will now be a battleground between Mnangagwa and the G40 as the Chikomba East legislator has refused to accept defeat.

In Marondera Central, the Mnangagwa faction was said to have sponsored Cleopas Kundiona, but Lawrence Katsiru, a close ally of Kasukuwere won the bid to represent the party for the seat which fell vacant following the ouster of Ray Kaukonde.

“Factionalism will never end in Zanu PF, even if you remove Mujuru and everyone linked to her. For as long as there is room for party members to contest against each other, factions will emerge and now the challenge for Mugabe is that he is no longer too sure who will succeed him,” said University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer Eldred Masunungure.

“The issue is not about which camp wants to rule, but it is about positioning themselves to succeed Mugabe hence you are seeing this jostling going unabated. As long as it remains unclear on who will take over from Mugabe, everyone thinks they have a chance and they will group themselves in small units strategising.”

Currently, Mnangagwa is the favourite to take over from 91-year-old Mugabe, but former Information minister Jonathan Moyo now heading the Higher Education portfolio recently told the BBC Hardtalk show that the VP was not a guaranteed successor to Mugabe.

In Harare East, there was bitter war between the Zanu PF factions over who should be the MP for the area which had fallen vacant following the recall of 21 MPs by the MDC-T from Parliament.

Factional wars also manifested themselves in the appointment of provincial chairmen. In Harare, Goodwills Masimirembwa, who was linked the Mnangagwa camp, was ousted and Charles Tavengwa, once a strong ally of the Mujuru camp, was appointed to act pending elections.

In Mashonaland West, Home Affairs deputy minister Ziyambi Ziyambi was kicked out on allegations of undermining First Lady Grace Mugabe. But insiders said he was punished because of his links to Mnangagwa.

Hurungwe West MP Keith Guzha is now the acting Mashonaland West chairperson.

Another political analyst Pedzisai Ruhanya said the re-emergence of factions in Zanu PF after the dismantling of the Mujuru camp showed that the contestation for the top job was the key factor. He said Mugabe should deal with the issue of his successor to reduce infighting within the party.

“What is now clear is that people are no longer interested in Zanu PF as a party, but what they will be in the post-Mugabe era. No wonder you are seeing this increased infighting and factionalism. When the succession issue is closed, factionalism will be reduced although there is no party without camps,” Ruhanya said.

“But knowing Mnangagwa, he is a sly operator. At times he acts as if he has lost the battle when he knows that the war is far from over.”

But Kasukuwere said the provincial polls were an internal democracy mechanism where every legitimate member was eligible to contest.

“It’s nonsense for people to say Cde Mbwembwe, a legitimate member of Zanu PF, contested because he had been influenced by anyone,” Kasukuwere said.

“Why should he not wish to be voted for? We all belong to Zanu PF led by President Mugabe and I will not dignify nonsense by responding to a question that I have a faction. It’s rubbish.”

Kasukuwere said during the restructuring exercise, people were voting for leaders based on their wishes, insisting no one influenced the process.

The provincial structures are critical when it comes to determining who should take over from Mugabe as it is the people in the provincial structures who make the Electoral College for the Zanu PF polls — hence whoever controls them, has leverage over their opponent.