Mugabe in dilemna

Analysts have warned that President Robert Mugabe and Zanu-PF cannot afford to have wholesale purges to former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa's allies saying doing so would be akin to scoring an own goal, especially when elections are looming large on the horizon.

This comes as the Zanu-PF National Disciplinary Committee (NDC) is set to hear and determine cases of more than 100 senior officials saidto have been backing Mnangagwa's bid to succeed Mugabe.

Among those facing the chop are ministers - Patrick Chinamasa, Kembo Mohadi, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, Josaya Hungwe, Chris Mushohwe, Chris Chingosho and Win Mllambo - whose hearing dates are yet to be announced.