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Mugabe's Zanu-PF challengers told to wait
25 May 2012 at 05:30hrs | Views
President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party on Thursday told its members harbouring presidential ambitions to wait until 2014 to express their interest.
The instruction came a week after Zanu-PF founding member and former Defence Minister, Enos Nkala, allegedly told journalists that the 88-year-old leader had told him he was tired and wanted to retire.
But Mr Nkala is now backtracking saying his statements were taken out of context by journalists itching for a "big story."
Zanu-PF spokesman Mr Rugare Gumbo said President Mugabe's opponents from within the party must wait until the 2014 elective congress to throw their hats into the ring.
"Let us focus on strengthening the party rather than destabilise it, which is the position of the politburo (Zanu-PF secretariat)," he told the state owned Herald newspaper.
"If there is anyone who is interested in the leadership of the party, they should wait for the party's congress in 2014, where they should express their interests."
President Mugabe's succession has remained a contentious issue in his party amid reports of factions battling to position themselves in case he decides to leave office.
Mr Gumbo admitted that there were people eyeing the Zanu-PF's leader post but advised them to be patient.
"They should mobilise support following laid-down party procedures rather than threatening people," he said. "That is not democracy and it is retrogressive to the party."
"We have the presidency where we have President Mugabe as the first secretary of the party and Vice Presidents Joice Mujuru and John Nkomo as second secretaries.
"Any other person claiming to lead the party outside that hierarchy is just a destabilising force."
Last month, Ms Mujuru and Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa who were reported to harbour presidential ambitions were forced to issue out statements saying they will not challenge the veteran ruler as long as he was still in power.
Ms Mujuru described President Mugabe who is reportedly battling against ill health as a "gift to the nation."
Mr Mnangagwa also dismissed reports by Britain's Telegraph newspaper that he had reached a secret pact with the long serving ruler to take over the reins when he steps down due to ill health.
The two reportedly lead two Zanu-PF factions angling to take over from President Mugabe when he decides to retire or in the event of his death.
Ms Mujuru whose late husband, the retired General Solomon Mujuru was considered a powerful power broker in Zanu-PF is seen as one of the leading contenders for the job.
She has been in President Mugabe's cabinet since independence in 1980
The instruction came a week after Zanu-PF founding member and former Defence Minister, Enos Nkala, allegedly told journalists that the 88-year-old leader had told him he was tired and wanted to retire.
But Mr Nkala is now backtracking saying his statements were taken out of context by journalists itching for a "big story."
Zanu-PF spokesman Mr Rugare Gumbo said President Mugabe's opponents from within the party must wait until the 2014 elective congress to throw their hats into the ring.
"Let us focus on strengthening the party rather than destabilise it, which is the position of the politburo (Zanu-PF secretariat)," he told the state owned Herald newspaper.
"If there is anyone who is interested in the leadership of the party, they should wait for the party's congress in 2014, where they should express their interests."
President Mugabe's succession has remained a contentious issue in his party amid reports of factions battling to position themselves in case he decides to leave office.
Mr Gumbo admitted that there were people eyeing the Zanu-PF's leader post but advised them to be patient.
"They should mobilise support following laid-down party procedures rather than threatening people," he said. "That is not democracy and it is retrogressive to the party."
"We have the presidency where we have President Mugabe as the first secretary of the party and Vice Presidents Joice Mujuru and John Nkomo as second secretaries.
"Any other person claiming to lead the party outside that hierarchy is just a destabilising force."
Last month, Ms Mujuru and Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa who were reported to harbour presidential ambitions were forced to issue out statements saying they will not challenge the veteran ruler as long as he was still in power.
Ms Mujuru described President Mugabe who is reportedly battling against ill health as a "gift to the nation."
Mr Mnangagwa also dismissed reports by Britain's Telegraph newspaper that he had reached a secret pact with the long serving ruler to take over the reins when he steps down due to ill health.
The two reportedly lead two Zanu-PF factions angling to take over from President Mugabe when he decides to retire or in the event of his death.
Ms Mujuru whose late husband, the retired General Solomon Mujuru was considered a powerful power broker in Zanu-PF is seen as one of the leading contenders for the job.
She has been in President Mugabe's cabinet since independence in 1980
Source - nation
