OBSERVERS have accused Zanu PF spokesperson, Christopher Mutsvangwa, of speaking with a forked tongue after he alleged that the late former President Robert Mugabe was removed from power because he wanted to establish a dynasty.
Mugabe was removed in a coup in November 2017 and was replaced by his long-time ally Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The then 93 years-old ruler was accused of surrounding himself with alleged criminals.
Addressing a press conference last Tuesday, Mutsvangwa said Mugabe was removed because he had decided to create a dynasty out of this country.
“He had turned his house and his household into a courthouse of intrigue against the constitution of Zimbabwe... turning it into a family dynasty, that’s the antithesis of the revolution,” he claimed.
Mutsvangwa later said any president who goes haywire will be removed.
Observers, however, argued that Mutsvangwa’s statements were now hanging over Mnangagwa like a sword of Damocles, and opined that his claims were an indirect attack on the incumbent leader.
“There was not a point at all whereby Mugabe anointed (former first lady) Grace to be his successor,” political analyst Reuben Mbofana said.
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“It was just an assumption that he was going to.”
Mugabe was alleged to have anointed former Defence minister, Sydney Sekeramayi, as his successor before he was ousted.
“At the same time, there was no dynasty,” Mbofana said.
“What dynasty? (Mugabe’s) children were nowhere near power.
“They were busy just getting drunk…and so forth in South Africa and Zimbabwe, buying everyone expensive whiskeys.”
He added: “That’s what they were doing during Mugabe’s time, and that’s what they are still doing today, just having fun and wild parties and so forth.
“They were never really interested in power.”
Mbofana said Mnangagwa, unlike Mugabe, has roped his family into the corridors of power with ministerial posts and other powerful positions.
“His son (David) is a deputy Finance minister, his nephew (Tongai) is a deputy minister (Tourism and Hospitality), and his wife (Auxillia) is now in the politburo,” he argued.
“His other son (Sean) is a major, or major general, or whatever, in the military.
“We see him running around protecting his father, and we know of other relatives that have been appointed.
“He actually has turned this into a tribesmen, or a clansman government, where nearly everyone comes from his hometown, rural village.”
Renowned former University of Zimbabwe lecturer Eldred Masunungure said Mutsvangwa’s statements were distorted to drive a political agenda.
“I don’t think Chris Mutsvangwa was being fair, and honest in his comparison, comparing Mnangagwa, and Mugabe as if there is any substantial or fundamental difference or any qualitative difference,” Masunungure said.
Another political analyst Jealousy Mawarire said Mnangagwa was guilty of the charges Mutsvangwa claimed resulted in Mugabe’s ouster.
“It’s not necessarily the fact that Mutsvangwa was worried about the dynasty, about state capture, and so forth but he was worried about what he is benefiting from that situation,” Mawarire said.
“That’s the reason why you find him attacking Mugabe in a situation which is worse than Mnangagwa is doing.
“Mugabe did not have his family, as in his children, in the cabinet or running the state department.
“Everything around the presidency is being done by the children and the wife...so it’s actually a worse situation.”
Mutsvangwa said Mnangagwa a constitutionalist, but Mawarire argued otherwise.
“He has not only violated the constitution in Zimbabwe, but he has also violated the constitution in his own party,” he alleged
Mnangagwa’s rule has been marred by allegations of state capture as well as cronyism.
The 82 year-old ruler has indicated his desire to step down in 2028 when his term of office is set to constitutionally expire despite a push to have him stay on till 2030.
