“Go now,” generals tell Mugabe as Zanu (PF) loses support

la of the Joint Operation Command (JOC), met Mugabe in one of their regular briefings ahead of the Zanu (PF) conference scheduled for Goromonzi High School in two weeks time.
They told him frankly that he should act now on his promise to step down in 2008 and anoint a successor in order to “to preserve his legacy” it was learnt this week. Sources said the commanders were particularly concerned to find out from Mugage himself whether he intends to remain Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces after March 2008.
“The JOC heads told the President that they wanted to preserve his legacy, and they were amenable to the idea of any serving or retired army general coming in as his successor. They also emphasised that any change of civilian government should be done constitutionally,” said a source close to the meeting.
The JOC comprises General Constantine Chiwenga, Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Phillip Valerio Sibanda, Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army, Air Marshall Perence Shiri of the Airforce, Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri and Happyton Bonyongwe, Director-General of the spy agency, Central Intelligence Organisation.
The generals have been largely silent on their preferred alternative to Mugabe, and did not propose any particular candidate during the meeting.
They told the president that the absence of a clear succession plan was fuelling apprehension. This could be quelled by the appointment of a popular candidate who could unite the warring factions within the ruling party that have resulted in its dwindling national support base in recent months.
Other sources said the generals’ feelings were shared by a number of senior Zanu (PF) officials who had clandestinely lobbied them to confront the 82-year-old leader and challenge him on whether he would back up his retirement words with deeds in the interest of peace.
However, top ruling party sources said the succession issue was not even on the provisional agenda.
Although Mugabe has permitted debate on the succession, he has at the same time moved swiftly to destroy politically anyone who has declared an ambition to succeed him. He recently castigated his cabinet colleagues for consulting n’angas (traditional medicine men) in an effort to gain favour.
He is also well known for saying one thing and doing another. He characteristically ducked the issues raised by the generals saying supporters should be urged to rally behind the ruling party.
There is a strong element with Zanu (PF) that wants him to extend his stay until 2010, thus synchronising the general and presidential elections every five years.
Analysts say the President no longer has the stamina nor the appeal to woo a restless and angry electorate, reeling from record inflation and unemployment.
According to the highly placed sources, it was pointed out to Mugabe in the meeting that his support base in former Zanu (PF) strongholds such as Masvingo, the Midlands and Manicaland had dwindled and that he could only bank on the Mashonaland vote.
Some analysts said the cabinet had also been weakened by divisions as powerful military and business factions tried to influence its economic decisions and jockey for favourable positions in the post-Mugabe era.