Mnangagwa ally faces Zanu-PF exit

The Zanu-PF enemies of vocal businessman-turned-politician, Energy Mutodi, moved closer to kicking him out of the warring ruling party - after its Mashonaland East executive held a disciplinary hearing in the wake of his recent statements on the former liberation movement's burning succession riddle.

The outspoken Mutodi, a self-confessed supporter of Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, has been critical of President Robert Mugabe's unwillingness to groom a successor - blaming the 93-year-old for allegedly fuelling Zanu-PF's ugly tribal, factional and succession wars.

"The hearing has ended and there is no ruling yet.

They said they will advise me," Mutodi told the Daily News yesterday, adding the panel that had presided over his case appeared clueless about the law.

Mutodi was slapped with a litany of charges by his Zanu-PF comrades in February, weeks after images of him with Mnangagwa holding a coffee mug were made public.

Since those images surfaced, where Mnangagwa was seen holding the coffee mug inscribed with the words "I Am The Boss", the VP's party foes have gone to town about the issue, interpreting it as his open statement that he harbours unbridled presidential ambitions.

Matters were not helped when Mutodi seemingly stoked the raging fires further, when he implored Zanu-PF to hold a special congress to choose Mugabe's successor.

It was in the wake of these statements that the Mashonaland East Zanu-PF executive summoned him to appear before a disciplinary hearing, to answer myriad charges.

"The hearing is to consider and discuss disciplinary allegations of misconduct charges that include undermining the authority and powers of the national people's conference to declare the president of the party elected at the congress as the State presidential candidate of the party, as outlined in the Zanu-PF constitution of 2014, Article 6 on membership section 33 (3).

"If you are found guilty of the allegations . . . then we may recommend disciplinary sanctions, including suspension and cancellation of your Zanu-PF membership," read the letter which contained the charges which Mutodi was answering to yesterday in Marondera.

The ruling party is deeply divided mainly over its unresolved succession riddle, which has split the former liberation movement right through the middle — with the Team Lacoste faction rallying behind Mnangagwa's mooted presidential aspirations, and the Generation 40 (G40) group rabidly opposed to the Midlands godfather succeeding Mugabe.

In January, Mutodi threw the cat among the pigeons when he implored Zanu-PF to hold an extra-ordinary congress to choose Mugabe's successor.

He claimed then that Mugabe had become so unpopular in Zanu-PF that "99 percent" of the party's members now wanted him to resign before the eagerly-anticipated 2018 national elections, as there was allegedly no way that the nonagenarian could win elections against the popular Tsvangirai.

"Mugabe must retire. What we must be discussing now is how we share power in Zanu-PF post-Mugabe.

"It's up to Mugabe himself to be really thankful to his loyalists who have helped him to remain in power for this long and not the opportunists who praise him during the day and denigrate him during the night," Mutodi said.

This week Mutodi, while welcoming Mugabe's hint that Zanu-PF could hold a special congress if he felt he was no longer able to continue, said it was unimaginable that anyone would want the nonagenarian to stand in the 2018 elections.

"Since he (Mugabe) has said he does not want to impose anyone on the people, the elective extra-ordinary congress is the only way to go.

"We cannot fathom the fact that some amongst us are still calling for him to stand in 2018. Surely when do they want him to rest? A good leader cannot plan to rest in his grave. A good leader earns respect by allowing others to lead while he takes rest.

"A bad leader, however, thinks that no one is better than himself. When Sir Alex Ferguson left Manchester United with the best premier league record, he was not too old to lead but he realised that he needed to rest and give others a chance," Mutodi told the Daily News.

"Nelson Mandela was also not too old to lead when he retired for (Thabo) Mbeki. The same can be said about Sam Nujoma, Julius Nyerere, (Ian) Khama and even (Eduardo) Dos Santos of Angola who will not seek re-election in 2018," he added.









EU pour $5 million to anti-Mugabe organisations
The $5 million European Union (EU) support to Zimbabwe civil society is not meant to influence next year's harmonised elections, the EU Delegation in Harare has said.

This comes after government said it was is alarmed that EU may seek to interfere in its national elections next year, presidential spokesman George Charamba said, echoing concerns raised in previous elections.

The top government official accused Brussels of trying to manipulate domestic opposition and civil society groups to fan popular angst aimed at fomenting instability in the labour market, weaken voter trust in mainstream government under President Robert Mugabe and breed divisions within the country.

Charamba also pointed to EU support for anti-government parties in Zimbabwe, saying " . . . the beast is in heat again . . . we are slowly inching towards elections and the Westerners are back with their mischief, except they don't know we are watching."

The EU denied all accusations of manipulation and interference intended to weaken the Zimbabwe government.

The EU said the funding is laid out in the 11th European Development Fund, National Indicative Programme (NIP) (2014–2020) programmed signed between the EU Delegation in Zimbabwe and government. In a statement on micro blogging site, Twitter, the EU said government acceded to the programme.

"We are aware, because we agreed this project with #Zim govt!" the tweet read.

"All public — laid out in the NIP that defines cooperation between EU and govt."

Under the deal, head of EU Delegation Philippe Van Damme represented the European Commission while the government was represented by Finance ministry permanent secretary Willard Manungo.

"In line with the revised Cotonou Agreement and its Annex IV, an indicative amount of EUR 6 million is set aside to support civil society organisations.

"Additionally, further funding to civil society may be allocated under the three focal sectors in order to reach five percent target of the total NIP allocation in support to civil society organisations," the document reads under measures in favour of civil society.

In its call for applications for funding, the EU said it was calling for proposals to "promote democratic participation, good governance and accountability as well as dialogue amongst the different stakeholders in the country."

"The call is launched in the framework of the 11th EDF NIP, signed between the EU and the government of Zimbabwe on February 16 2015, which marked the resumption of full development cooperation between Zimbabwe and the EU.

"The government of Zimbabwe and the EU have agreed to have joint regular dialogue with civil society and the Parliament on the implementation of the 11th EDF NIP," the EU statement read.

"The first component is directed at civil society organisations (CSOs) that seek to enhance the role of civil society in the promotion of transparency, good governance and accountability to meaningfully participate in policy dialogue. CSOs that furthermore address gender equality and the rights of marginalised groups are particularly encouraged to apply. For this component, the EU provides EUR3,5 million ($3 720 500).

"The second specific objective for which proposals are invited is to strengthen civil society's watchdog role in the implementation of the NIP focal sectors of governance and institution building, health and agriculture-based economic development for improved, accountable and effective development outcomes as well as sustainability. For this objective, the EU provides EUR 1,5 million ($1 594 500)."