“What Mutasa said is a factional position; Mutasa belongs to the Mujuru faction. There is no consensus yet on the succession issue in Zanu (PF),” said political analyst and Director of the Zimbabwe Democracy Institute, Pedzisai Ruhanya.
“These are hallucinations, typical of a factional ally. It is known that succession won’t be smooth in Zanu (PF); it will be murky and if people are not careful, there will be spilling of blood,” he said, adding that since its formation in 1963, the party has never had a history of smooth succession.
Ernest Mudzengi, another political analyst and director of the Media Centre, concurred with Mutasa, but said: “Zanu (PF)’s succession history has always been characterized by squabbles and it definitely won’t be smooth for Mugabe to be succeeded by any of his subordinates.”
Political analyst John Makumbe said Mutasa’s position was not the position of the party. “Zanu (PF) will not allow Mujuru to succeed Mugabe and that is why they are going to have a mini congress in December,” he said.
“Mutasa is trying to hoodwink the public into thinking that all is well in Zanu (PF). Mnangagwa is more senior than Mujuru, but sits at number 11 in the party’s hierarchy. So there will be a big fight to succeed Mugabe.”
Political analyst Gabriel Chaibva said Mutasa was a member of the presidium and therefore close to the goings on in the party.
Meanwhile, the party’s national spokesperson and politburo member, Rugare Gumbo has endorsed Mutasa’s claims that Mujuru will succeed Mugabe.
In an interview with The Zimbabwean Gumbo said: “What Mutasa said is in line with the party’s position and constitution of Zanu (PF).” Gumbo, like Mutasa, is believed to belong to the Mujuru faction.
Post published in: News