Zanu-PF war turns sinister

As Zanu-PF's ugly tribal, factional and succession wars continue to escalate, angry war veterans have threatened to beat up ruling party supporters who are planning to denounce Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, upon President Robert Mugabe's expected return to the country tomorrow, from his month-long holiday in the Far East.

This comes as the Zanu-PF faction going by the moniker G40, and which is rabidly opposed to Mnangagwa succeeding Mugabe, is said to be planning to transport thousands of party supporters to the airport tomorrow.

Mugabe is expected to fly back home today ending his month-long annual vacation, amid reports that rival Zanu-PF factions were plotting to dress each other down when they converge at Harare International Airport to welcome him.

Zanu-PF Harare provincial commissar, Shadreck Mashayamombe, yesterday confirmed plans for Mugabe's "massive welcome rally" at the airport this afternoon, but denied reports that they were planning to use the occasion to embarrass Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa over his alleged growing ambitions to succeed Mugabe.

Mashayamombe denied claims they wanted to demonstrate against Mnangagwa, who is said to be in India, saying that was not how the party operates.