Mugabe faces internal revolt

enior party officials close to Mugabe told The Zimbabwean that the ageing dictator fears that a new opposition government or a reformed Zanu (PF) government could hand him over to international courts for genocide and crimes against humanity as part of a deal with Western countries.
Since the execution of former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein by hanging, the Zimbabwean strongman has been gripped with paranoia, believing he could die with a noose around his neck.
The meeting, chaired by Retired General Solomon Mujuru, resolved that Mugabe should not be the party candidate for the 2008 elections and that the party would no longer hold its annual conference in Bindura at the end of the year but would call an extra-ordinary congress in Harare to elect new leaders.
The Harare meeting took place after war veterans based in rural areas were dragooned into staging a ‘solidarity’ march in Harare which endorsed Mugabe as the candidate for 2008. But formal party structures have not endorsed him.
He has instead relied on parallel and informal structures such as former war collaborators, youth militia, chiefs and some mayors to endorse him.
An official who attended the meeting said: “At the extra-ordinary congress, plans are afoot to ensure that there is leadership renewal and Simba Makoni is emerging as the only one in Zanu (PF) who is a bit clean and has the silent support of many. If Makoni makes it to the top, his handlers are advising him to form a government of national unity with the opposition immediately after the elections.”
Party infighting extends to the economic sector where considerable animosity exists as various leaders make their fortunes by diverting scarce commodities to the lucrative black market.
Said one senior Zanu (PF) official: “Almost all government ministers and senior officials grabbed farms with thousands of beef cattle on them. But they are selling beef on the black market and defying Mugabe in the process. Where is the beef if they are in agreement with Mugabe’s beef policies?”
While Harare and Bulawayo taxis are charging between $75 000 to $100 000 per kilometre, Joyce Mujuru’s City Cab Taxis are charging $105 000 per kilometre and an extra $300 000 ‘for starting the car’.
The fleet of taxis get their fuel at $60 000 a litre while other companies source their fuel at about $500 000 a litre.