If the power failure had occurred in the middle of Bona’s wedding, within seconds, there would have been six generators humming like a choir of baritones and the Zesa boss might have been asked to seek alternative employment. But obviously this was a meeting that even the big boss was keen to avoid.
Prior to the power outage – genuine or orchestrated – the president had postponed the meeting to enable himself to deal with other ‘earlier scheduled programmes’ – if we are to believe the party spokesman, Rugare Gumbo.
There was further speculation after Mugabe allowed his deputy, Joice, to chair the politburo meeting. Giving Mujuru the chair was viewed by some as a show of support by Mugabe.
Twenty-four hours later, Joice, unimpeached by the politburo, headed off to Dotito, where she danced in celebration of her recent graduation. The VP’s graduation party was well attended, with several members of the same politburo which Grace was counting on to assist in toppling Mujuru. Robert Mugabe, torn between wife and lieutenant, did not attend. Curiously, Didymus Mutasa – the Gamatox chap – was absent. Even more puzzling – Mutasa was in Nyanga, delivering an address on behalf of Grace – remarkable! after all her ‘down with Gamatox’ chants.
Post published in: Analysis
Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown is hitting Mugabe where it really hurts – right at the core centre of Zanu PF itself and the party is split right down the middle. When party grandees like the late Enos Nkala and Nathan Shamuyarira are forced to live in abject poverty it really send the message home to all Zanu PF members that the economic hardship povo have been crying about all these years is real and that being a loyalty Zanu PF member counted for nothing if poverty came knocking at your door. The only thing pov-erty respected is the money in one’s pocket or bank account.
The economic meltdown has meant the national cake was shrinking and the fight for the little wealth available was bound to intensify especially since these Zanu PF members have developed huge appetite and they are used to having little and sharing that little.
So the fighting in Zanu PF was as inevitable as the economic meltdown itself was inevitable given the rampant corruption. But now that it has started in earnest even Mugabe himself is scared of the fall out that will follow this dumping of the Mujuru faction.
When Margaret Dongo broke away and stood as an independent candidate in the 1995 elections, for example, the fallout was a big embarrassment for Mugabe and Zanu PF. Zanu PF rigged the vote in favour of the party’s candidate but because Ms Dongo had inside information on how the party functioned she successful challenged the result. The Zanu PF candidate lost the rerun. This time the party is dumping a lot more than one individual but hundreds of thousands.
The timing could not have been worse; most of the dumped members will be move from a lifestyle of luxury, worrying about putting on too much weight, to a life of unparalleled poverty where starvation is one’s constant companion and greatest worry. Of course their extreme suffering will inflame anger and bitterness of the dumped members.
Mugabe is right to worry about this dog-eat-dog fight; he knows that this time he may well have planted the seed of the party’s own final destruction.
Couldn’t be written any better. Reading this post reminds me of my old room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for such a knowledgeable post.
Thanks for such a knowledgeable post.