Zanu-PF feud threatens Mugabe's AU, Sadc reign

Analysts have expressed fears that President Robert Mugabe might not be able to fully discharge his continental duties as chairmanship of the African Union (AU) and Sadc when the bodies separately meet next week at a time his Zanu-PF party is in turmoil.

Mugabe, who is currently on leave, chairs the AU and Sadc meetings when the continental bodies are also battling political problems in Lesotho, Mozambique, South Sudan and the Boko Haram in Nigeria.

Political analyst Charles Mangongera said Mugabe's reign in Sadc and the AU will be seriously affected by domestic problems.

While Sadc and AU have their own established structures to deal with problems, the fact that Mugabe is involved in his own fights at home will affect his leadership at that level where in the past we have noticed that the chair plays a critical role in solving problems, Mangongera said.

He added It is a paradox that this man (Mugabe), who is failing to keep peace in his own party, is expected to deal with a myriad of troubles in the region and continent.

Mugabe has since December been trying to consolidate his hold on power in Zanu-PF after it held a divisive congress that left the party on the verge of splitting after several stalwarts were dumped in an unprocedural manner.