HARARE - Retired army commander Solomon Mujurus faction within Zanu (PF) has decimated the Emmerson Mnangagwa group ahead of the partys congress pencilled in for December 20. Behind-the-scenes political skirmishes have claimed high-profile casualties, including Mnangagwa himself, Didymus Mutasa, Oppah Muchinguri and Obert Mpofu who all had high ambitions of posts in the partys presidium.
Some political observers are already predicting the beginning of the disintegration of Zanu (PF) along its regional and ethnic fault lines, with Mnangagwa clinging to waning support in the Midlands and Masvingo provinces.
This weekend sees the much-delayed elections for the war veterans association, where Mnangagwas acolytes Jabulani Sibanda and Joseph Chinotimba are expected to be routed by Mujurus faithful.
The current feeling among the war vets is that the incoming executive should be led by people from Zanus former military wing, ZANLA, as the last two had come from Zapus ZIPRA.
The present executive was elected in 2002 and the veterans flouted their own constitution by not having elections in 2005 and 2008.
There were a lot of constitutional violations and we hope to correct those anomalies at this conference. The constitution is clear that a leader should serve not more than two terms, but some leaders have already exceeded that, said retired Colonel Basten Beta, who is the leader of the congress organising committee.
The deputy chairperson of the Association, Chinotimba, confirmed that elections would take place, but said he had pleaded with his colleagues to put elections on hold until after the main Zanu (PF) congress.
We hear that there is an election on Saturday but we have asked the war veterans to postpone it until January next year, he said.
Post published in: News