Those not yet implicated were sanctimoniously screaming for strong action against the guilty, with Attorney General Johannes Tomana, a party sycophant, reportedly saying he was investigating the perpetrators of the leaks and would bring legal charges against them.
One of the implicated officials, political opportunist and Zanu gadfly, Jonathan Moyo, wrote a lengthy diatribe in a futile effort to justify what he had done. In the process, he ended up not only contradicting himself but creating a smokescreen of ludicrous excuses.
However, the Politburo meeting ended with a whimper. An insider report suggested that the aging party leader, Robert Mugabe, said he would “personally deal” with the offending members in his own time.
This shows how decadent and old-fashioned Zanu has become. They still use the word Politburo which they borrowed from the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War. The Russians abandoned this term over 20 years ago.
Nevertheless, the issue threatens to irreparably destroy whatever is left of Zanu. Mugabe’s action in postponing discussion is indicative of the political fragility of his party. I believe there is yet another more compelling reason why he tabled the WikiLeaks issue.
The bulk of the WikiLeaks revelations were focused on removing Mugabe from office. If he had pushed the guilty up against the wall, they and many other Politburo members may have gained sufficient courage to change the topic to Mugabe’s exit and successor.
He has so far successfully restricted any debate on his exit and successor. The truth is, Mugabe is just trying to save his skin. He now knows that even his closest friends and colleagues have joined the Mugabe-must-go band wagon. Far from saving ZANU as he claims, Mugabe is scared stiff of the barrage of criminal and civil lawsuits he will face once he steps down.
He is also acutely aware that, once he steps down from office, he will not have the heavy security he enjoys now. He also knows there are thousands of people waiting for a chance to take a stab at him.
Zanu is under pressure to come up with a successor as soon as possible. Mugabe will be 88 or 89 years old by the time Zimbabweans go for elections in 2012 or 2013. What happens if he should die while campaigning? Or minutes after he has successfully rigged the elections?
What is making party members apprehensive and impatient is that Mugabe is not giving them time to groom his successor.
One vice president, Joyce Mujuru, is apparently in good health. But the other, John Nkomo, is not. Waiting impatiently in the shadows is Emerson Mnangagwa.
A potential clash in the leadership struggle here may emerge. Mujuru could claim that she must be the successor by virtue of her being the vice president. On the other hand, Mnangagwa may bulldoze his way to the presidency by claiming he is the anointed successor to Mugabe and that he was not implicated in the WikiLeaks revelations—as Mujuru was.
But neither has a chance of winning free and fair elections.
Former Member of Parliament Margaret Dongo was very perceptive when she said a few years ago that Zanu men were all Mugabe’s “wives”.
Post published in: Opinions & Analysis