But Mugabe stays mum on the subject. Last year he simply said dealing with succession now would be premature and could trigger a break-up of his party. He hinted that his solution would be a surprise. Who knows, perhaps, after two years of tea every Monday with Prime Minister Tsvangirai, he may have grown comfortable with his arch-rival to the point of effectively handing over the reigns to the MDC leader.
Recently a Zanu (PF) strategist wondered loudly what it is that Mugabe and Tsvangirai discuss in those Monday meetings. This is not a far-fetched scenario, only last week Tsvangirai married the daughter of a senior Zanu (PF) official, and on a number of occasions Mugabe has publicly defended Tsvangirai.
The way Mugabe would effectively hand over power to Tsvangirai would be through allowing a smooth passage of electoral reforms including a new constitution, and having elections at the right time in the context of peace and non-violence as he indicated in his Independence day message. Mugabe himself has said, and we all agree, that in Zanu (PF) there is no leader who can emerge to defeat Tsvangirai in free and fair elections.
In the meantime, as part of salvaging his tattered legacy, Mugabe would also prepare Zanu (PF) for a long, peaceful life as political opposition. Of course the securocrats, who themselves want the whole cake to themselves, may already be aware of this possibility, and are sure to do everything in their power to thwart the plan. – Dewa Mavhinga, Regional Coordinator, Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
Post published in: News