He picks the Zanu (PF) national chairman, selects the two Vice Presidents and, by coin toss or rock-paper-scissors, he nominates 10 members of the central committee. The heads of parastatals are all appointees of the President and the security chiefs are his choice as well. That is certainly creating a centre for power.
Mujuru’s popularity within Zanu (PF) has Mugabe running scared. Even after she had been removed from her position as VP, the character assassination did not stop and ministers perceived to be her allies were sacked. What made her seem even more threatening was her silence in the face of abuse.
When Joice graduated with an actual doctorate, Grace replied by typing her own PhD certificate in Word Perfect. When Grace yelled and Joice remained mum, the First Lady seemed annoyed. ‘If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him’ – Sun Tzu.
In remaining silent, Mujuru gained the sympathy of Zanu (PF) supporters and, without any move on her part, what once looked like a robust party is now divided. ‘The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting’ – Sun Tzu.
Mugabe may have hoped for Mujuru to resign on her own volition. Or he knew that if she was expelled from the party much sooner, she would have taken with her the group of other party rejects, thereby lowering his influence in parliament. But with the MDC-T boycotting by elections, Mugabe must have expected to retake all the vacant parliamentary seats.
Mujuru’s expulsion now comes after dates for by elections have been announced. Other parliamentary positions have already been filled. Perhaps this was a deliberate stratagem by Mugabe, to ensure that his rivals did not get sufficient time to mobilise support for the June 10th polls.
Post published in: Analysis