Mnangagwa gives Grace wide berth

Politics
VICE-President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been conspicuous by his absence from First Lady Grace Mugabe’s on-going countrywide rallies.

VICE-President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been conspicuous by his absence from First Lady Grace Mugabe’s on-going countrywide rallies.

BY OBEY MANAYITI

Mnangagwa remains a frontrunner to take over from President Robert Mugabe, but has been joined in the power scrap by Grace, who is reportedly backed by a group of Young Turks, also known as the Generation 40 (G40) faction.

Grace has vehemently denied allegations she is eyeing her 91-year-old husband’s throne or any links to a faction. She was in Chimanimani and Rushinga recently where she issued stern warnings to party officials that were fanning factionalism.

While VP Phelekezela Mphoko has become a permanent feature at Grace’s rallies, Mnangagwa has kept himself busy with his government work, attending Parliament, meeting diplomats and seemingly pushing a teetering reform agenda, an indication he is laying the groundwork for his own administration and ignoring the rantings of his apparent rival. Mphoko, who has been linked to the G40 group, even travelled by road as Grace was flown in a State helicopter and escorted by military helicopters to her rallies.

The VP has also been the one carrying the junior responsibility of introducing Grace to her audiences.

Suspected Mnangagwa allies have also been absenting themselves from the gatherings where Grace has taken to talking with both party and government authority, often threatening her perceived factional enemies.

Political analyst and University of Zimbabwe lecturer Eldred Masunungure said Grace’s rantings at her rallies and Mnangagwa’s absenteeism could be interpreted differently.

“This is part of concerted efforts to remove potential contenders for the presidency,” Masunungure said.

“Maybe she is trying to ring-fence the president. She might not be interested [in the presidency], but trying to push away those who might have an interest in the post.”

Masunungure added that Grace might not “be ripe for the top job” considering that she was serving her first term in a not-so-powerful position in Zanu PF as Women’s League chairperson.

“It’s clearly an onslaught whether to prepare her for power or just deterring contenders. It’s not yet clear, but by December, the signals will be clear,” Masunungure said.

On why Mnangagwa was not attending the rallies, the UZ political scientist said it might be because he was the busier of the two VPs, or it could be an internal arrangement where Mphoko would focus more on party issues, while Mnangagwa looked at government and State business.

“Perhaps it is division of labour where Mphoko will concentrate on party business, while Mnangagwa keeps his eye on State and government business. Mnangagwa might also have made a deliberate move to stick to government business,” he suggested.

Research and Advocacy Unit chair-person Lloyd Sachikonye agreed with Masunungure.

Political analyst Takura Zha-ngazha said it was apparent that Zanu PF’s succession battles were now at their peak, with key players being Grace and Mnangagwa.

He said Grace was getting into overdrive to consolidate power ahead of other contenders.

“The First Lady, in her recent and future rallies, is seeking to address the issue of her own national popular legitimacy,” Zhangazha said.

“Meeting thousands of Zanu PF supporters is a sure sign to those that would oppose her ambitions or, at least, her ‘kingmaker’ role, that she is now unassailable,” he said.

Some Zanu PF insiders told The Standard that Mnangagwa might not be interested in the current wave of politicking in the midst of more factionalism following the events of last year that resulted in the expulsion of former Vice-President Joice Mujuru.

“Mnangagwa attended the Kadoma rally where the First Lady embarrassed him together with Mphoko when she disclosed the two VPs got instructions from her,” a senior official who refused to be named said.

“At the rally were T-shirts imprinted with messages that he might not have liked and that explains why his close allies were not attending as well.

“Mnangagwa’s group is always being attacked so much that it is in their interest to avoid attending the rallies to avoid confrontation for now.”

Another insider said: “Anyway, Mnangagwa is the one running the country. He has better issues to attend to than moving around where people will be subjected to all those insults.”

Another Mnangagwa ally said the snub was strategic.

“It’s better this way because constant attacks on some officials will build tensions, especially as we head for the annual conference,” the ally said.

Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya-Moyo could not be reached for comment yesterday.