News / National
Mnangagwa supporters worried -Mutodi
22 Feb 2017 at 07:49hrs | Views
Controversial Zanu PF youth member Energy Mutodi has claimed that the Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa's supporters who are bidding for him to succeed President Mugabe ahead of the make or break harmonized elections in 2018 are increasingly getting worried especially after First Lady Grace Mugabe's Buhera rally where the powerful Women's League boss summarily confirmed that there will be no successor as long as her husband lived.
Through his long winding article Mutodi said as if that was not enough, President Mugabe himself put the final nail to the coffin when he ruled out in an interview with the ZBC last Friday, the possibility of any of his deputies succeeding him in the near future.
"The veteran leader has been quoted in the state media saying he was convinced Zimbabweans see no better leader than him despite his old age and long service.
Choreographically, his wife Grace, in a rally that looked like a spectacular dummy towards the presidency but in fact a fire guard to her husband's life presidency ambition, dropped a bombshell when she said that even a dead Mugabe would win elections in Zimbabwe," Mutodi said.
"The statements have thrown members of both factions angling to succeed the president into panic mode as they do not only reveal that the Mugabes believe Zimbabweans are obsessed with their rule inspite of the economic hardships but also that they are prepared for another Mugabe to take over whenever the incumbent leaves. It is true that both factions are in a quandary and really do not know what to do with Mugabe after this declaration."
He said the developments have hit hardest on the Team Lacoste faction that has been expecting Vice President Mnangagwa take over power ahead of the 2018 elections in a Tony Blair and Gordon Brown hand-over take over style.
Mutodi said what makes the situation even more heart-breaking is that the President has seen no substance in his long-time lieutenant who has fought tooth and nail to secure his victory in previous elections.
"It is now clear that Mugabe will not reward Mnangagwa with the top job for his loyalty and hard work. In fact, Mnangagwa will have to fight his own way to the top with his most likely rival being his own boss' wife, Grace. From the way she has conducted her rallies and also considering how she has dished out goodies to poor party followers who like every other citizens, have been impoverished by her husband's populist policies, Grace looks confident enough to fit in her husband's shoes," Mutodi said.
"Grace knows the risk that lies ahead should her husband leaves her without any powerful post that can enable her to protect her wealth. The presidency would be the most ideal post for her and should that prove impossible the second option would be to have someone whom she is able to control. The later option therefore opens up chance for Gideon Gono, Mugabe's former personal banker and family friend. The fact that the First Lady indicated that those who have been with her husband since 1980 must go when he leaves show that she is looking for someone other than the war veterans whom she can hand hold into the top office and puppeteer thereafter should she fail to get enough support to stand for the presidency on her own."
He said for Jonathan Moyo and Saviour Kasukuwere who have been trying to use her as a stepping stone to the top, the Gono factor is a clear threat.
"If Gono emerges as the winner after all the war, no one knows who he will retain and who he will throw away. The trio of Chipanga, Saviour and Jonathan prefers the First Lady herself to take over from her husband so that they may haunt her out soon after, a thing they may not be able to do with Gideon Gono. An astute banker himself, Gono became a de-facto Prime Minister during the period 2003 and 2009 when the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe that he led as Govenor implemented quasi-fiscal programs that allowed the Mugabe regime survive west-imposed sanctions throughout the hyper-inflationary period," he said.
"It is during this period that Gono won the favor of Mugabe as he would be the anger-man in providing the much-needed foreign currency to run government. When Gono left the apex bank, Mugabe tried to invite him into cabinet through a senatorial appointment in October 2014 but big-wigs opposed to him reportedly blocked the move. Over the period he has been out of limelight, Gono may have worked his magic and convinced Mugabe that he is worth consideration as a successor."
Mutodi said however, whether this speculation around Gono be true or false, a shattering reality is that Mugabe is there to stay and is like before, creating side shows that leave him safe in his position.
"Responding to calls by South African opposition leader Julius Malema for him step down for another ZANU PF comrade, Mugabe said that only the central committee and other party structures would re-call him; knowing for certain that non in those structures was courageous enough to suggest his departure.
Party members who speak out on the need for him to retire have been hounded out of the party while the war veterans who helped him rise to power have also been expelled allegedly for supporting Mnangagwa to take over. Meanwhile, time is running out for Mnangagwa," he said.
"If Mugabe insists on running again for office in 2018 when he would be 94, Mnangagwa will be too old to stand for office in 2023 as he would be nearing 80 years. The Vice President has enormous support that is now calling upon him to act responsibly. Like vultures waiting upon the prey-killer to do its thing, they call, "Crocodile crocodile, the zebras are now in deep waters. "Now is the time to drag them down the river and feast. "For if we remain calm, they will cross over the banks and devour our pastures.."
Ngwena (crocodile) is Mnangagwa's nick name.
Through his long winding article Mutodi said as if that was not enough, President Mugabe himself put the final nail to the coffin when he ruled out in an interview with the ZBC last Friday, the possibility of any of his deputies succeeding him in the near future.
"The veteran leader has been quoted in the state media saying he was convinced Zimbabweans see no better leader than him despite his old age and long service.
Choreographically, his wife Grace, in a rally that looked like a spectacular dummy towards the presidency but in fact a fire guard to her husband's life presidency ambition, dropped a bombshell when she said that even a dead Mugabe would win elections in Zimbabwe," Mutodi said.
"The statements have thrown members of both factions angling to succeed the president into panic mode as they do not only reveal that the Mugabes believe Zimbabweans are obsessed with their rule inspite of the economic hardships but also that they are prepared for another Mugabe to take over whenever the incumbent leaves. It is true that both factions are in a quandary and really do not know what to do with Mugabe after this declaration."
He said the developments have hit hardest on the Team Lacoste faction that has been expecting Vice President Mnangagwa take over power ahead of the 2018 elections in a Tony Blair and Gordon Brown hand-over take over style.
Mutodi said what makes the situation even more heart-breaking is that the President has seen no substance in his long-time lieutenant who has fought tooth and nail to secure his victory in previous elections.
"It is now clear that Mugabe will not reward Mnangagwa with the top job for his loyalty and hard work. In fact, Mnangagwa will have to fight his own way to the top with his most likely rival being his own boss' wife, Grace. From the way she has conducted her rallies and also considering how she has dished out goodies to poor party followers who like every other citizens, have been impoverished by her husband's populist policies, Grace looks confident enough to fit in her husband's shoes," Mutodi said.
"Grace knows the risk that lies ahead should her husband leaves her without any powerful post that can enable her to protect her wealth. The presidency would be the most ideal post for her and should that prove impossible the second option would be to have someone whom she is able to control. The later option therefore opens up chance for Gideon Gono, Mugabe's former personal banker and family friend. The fact that the First Lady indicated that those who have been with her husband since 1980 must go when he leaves show that she is looking for someone other than the war veterans whom she can hand hold into the top office and puppeteer thereafter should she fail to get enough support to stand for the presidency on her own."
He said for Jonathan Moyo and Saviour Kasukuwere who have been trying to use her as a stepping stone to the top, the Gono factor is a clear threat.
"If Gono emerges as the winner after all the war, no one knows who he will retain and who he will throw away. The trio of Chipanga, Saviour and Jonathan prefers the First Lady herself to take over from her husband so that they may haunt her out soon after, a thing they may not be able to do with Gideon Gono. An astute banker himself, Gono became a de-facto Prime Minister during the period 2003 and 2009 when the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe that he led as Govenor implemented quasi-fiscal programs that allowed the Mugabe regime survive west-imposed sanctions throughout the hyper-inflationary period," he said.
"It is during this period that Gono won the favor of Mugabe as he would be the anger-man in providing the much-needed foreign currency to run government. When Gono left the apex bank, Mugabe tried to invite him into cabinet through a senatorial appointment in October 2014 but big-wigs opposed to him reportedly blocked the move. Over the period he has been out of limelight, Gono may have worked his magic and convinced Mugabe that he is worth consideration as a successor."
Mutodi said however, whether this speculation around Gono be true or false, a shattering reality is that Mugabe is there to stay and is like before, creating side shows that leave him safe in his position.
"Responding to calls by South African opposition leader Julius Malema for him step down for another ZANU PF comrade, Mugabe said that only the central committee and other party structures would re-call him; knowing for certain that non in those structures was courageous enough to suggest his departure.
Party members who speak out on the need for him to retire have been hounded out of the party while the war veterans who helped him rise to power have also been expelled allegedly for supporting Mnangagwa to take over. Meanwhile, time is running out for Mnangagwa," he said.
"If Mugabe insists on running again for office in 2018 when he would be 94, Mnangagwa will be too old to stand for office in 2023 as he would be nearing 80 years. The Vice President has enormous support that is now calling upon him to act responsibly. Like vultures waiting upon the prey-killer to do its thing, they call, "Crocodile crocodile, the zebras are now in deep waters. "Now is the time to drag them down the river and feast. "For if we remain calm, they will cross over the banks and devour our pastures.."
Ngwena (crocodile) is Mnangagwa's nick name.
Source - Byo24News
