A source privy to the discussion told The Zimbabwean: “Mugabe told the PM that he wants a fair game at all costs. He openly told the PM that the presidential election could go either way, but he doesn’t mind a loss and is ready to accept whatever the result.”
“He (Mugabe) also admitted that he was concerned that hardliners in his party were complicating his push for credible elections, saying they were failing to accept the reality that Zimbabwe can no longer afford disputed election results,” added the highly placed source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
As principals to the Global Political Agreement, Tsvangirai, the President of the MDC-T, Mugabe and the leader of the smaller MDC now led by Welshman Ncube meet on Mondays to discuss government business.
“Mugabe and Tsvangirai talk regularly on matters regarding their parties, and sometimes very frankly. They share jokes on the challenges they face within their parties,” added the source.
A senior Zanu (PF) member told The Zimbabwean that Mugabe, who has repeatedly called for peace and harmony. Preferred his immediate junior, Joice Mujuru, whom he considers appropriate for his push towards a legitimate plebiscite.
Mujuru, the first national Vice President, is said to lead a faction considered to be reformist and soft, as opposed to the other main camp reportedly headed by hardline Secretary for Legal Affairs and Defence Minister, Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The security chiefs, who show open allegiance to Mugabe, are rumoured to support Mnangagwa, who observers say is eyeing the party presidency when Mugabe, at the helm since 1980, leaves.
“Mugabe is not coming out in the open about who his preferred successor is, but it is clear that he wants the VP closer to him as elections approach. He cannot come out in the open because that would cause mayhem in the party,” said the source.
“The Mujuru faction is regaining ground in areas where the Mnangagwa group had made significant inroads. That is not by coincidence, but a process managed from behind the curtains,” he added.
The Mnangagwa faction last year managed to place its own sympathisers in almost all top district structure positions, but that was overturned when the District Coordinating Committees were dissolved on the allegation that they were causing intra-party rifts amid allegations of vote buying.
Currently, provincial leaders said to align with Mnangagwa are reported to be under fire, particularly in Masvingo, Manicaland and Bulawayo.
No comment could be obtained from presidential spokesman, George Charamba, whose phone went unanswered, but Zanu (PF) Secretary for Information and Publicity, Rugare Gumbo, implied that Mugabe’s call for fair polls was a response to international pressure.
“You will remember that in 2008, Zanu (PF) was condemned by the international community and MDC for causing violence. We don’t want to keep on being condemned and we intend to show the world that we are ready for peace and credible elections. We will not use violence,” he said.
Tsvangirai’s spokesperson, Luke Tamborinyoka, told The Zimbabwean he was not aware of the meeting in which Mugabe voiced his wish for free polls.
“I know that the principals meet every Monday, but I don’t have information relating to the meeting you are referring to,” he said.
University of Zimbabwe political science professor, Eldred Masunungure, said Mugabe could be working to leave an acceptable legacy through a credible poll.
“Mugabe could be aware of the blemishes on his image as a politician due to past excesses and has thus embarked on a legacy building programme. He wants to be remembered for the good he leaves behind, rather than the bad, and fair elections provide a platform for that,” he said.
Mugabe’s apparent “mellowing” made him prefer soft reformists and pragmatists like Mujuru, but predicted that the hard core would still fight to have its way, he said.
“He (Mugabe) seems to be mellowing and, inevitably, that makes him seek solace in softliners. But that is creating a problem because it is intensifying intra-party jostling for his position and the hardliners will for some time fight viciously to gain substantial ground”.
“This is part of the overall succession game. The softliners and the hardliners will keep on battling and that is to be expected in any political organisation. I see the hardliners’ resistance to Mugabe’s free poll call intensifying but their era is coming to a close,” added Masunungure.
He said by clandestinely positioning the reformists, Mugabe was seeking a soft landing for himself and his family – but forecast that the president would delay filling key party posts until after the elections.
The party currently has no Second Vice President following the death of John Nkomo in January this year, while a couple of politburo positions have also been made vacant through death.
Post published in: News