Mnangagwa speaks on Mugabe's successor

Emmerson Mnangagwa, the Justice minister, has said succession in the ruling party is a matter that will be handled by Zanu-PF elders at the appropriate time.

In an exclusive interview with ZiFM Stereo last week, Mnangagwa - reportedly locked in a succession duel with vice president Joice Mujuru - denied that he led a faction vying to succeed 90-year-old President Robert Mugabe.

The Chirimhanzu-Zibagwe lawmaker also defended Mujuru, saying nobody has ever heard her saying she led a faction.

Mnangagwa said the purported factional fights in his Zanu-PF were a creation of greenhorn journalists.

Mnangagwa's assertion is in stark contradiction to President Robert Mugabe who at both the Youth and Women's League conferences admitted that factions exist and they had caused mayhem in Zanu-PF.

He said party cadres had an orientation that politics led the gun and that political leaders were responsible for making decisions, some of which may not be challenged by regular party members.

Mnangagwa said presently, there was no vacancy in the presidium, therefore he could not talk about any bid for the presidency, even if supporters were to nominate him.

"Vanenge vakamira pai? Ko varipo vanenge vaindepi? Ndokushupa kwevana vaduku ikoko. Zvinokurukugwa; zvine matare. Imi mune shungu, asi dzinongova shungu. Dai wanga uri pano pandasvika pano, ndanogara namai Mujuru ndichifa nekuseka, ndichiseka imi kuti pwere dziya dziri pano (What power would they be using? These things are discussed by party elders, yours is just a wish and will remain so. I was laughing at you with VP Mujuru as  I sat next to her)," Mnangagwa said.

"Zvinenge zvakarongwa nevakuru, vashoma vakuru vanoronga kuti nyika yedu yoenda nekupi. Haugari chigaro chekuti nyika inoenda kupi vakuru vasingadi. (It has to be agreed to by the leadership, very few seniors plan the direction that the country should take, because you do not get power when they have not anointed you)."

Mnangagwa said all party cadres had an obligation to carry out whatever duties the leadership would have assigned, without questioning.

The Zanu-PF secretary for legal affairs warned impatient party cadres to wait for their chance to lead, saying even God had his trusted lieutenants with whom he discussed important matters.

He said there was protocol to be followed in Zanu-PF, which is based on seniority for one to assume the leadership of the party.

"Zvoto zvinamazera. Haungoti iwe madhara akagara apo, newe wonogaravo. Kana kudenga kune zvoto, zvoto zvengirozi, kwaigoti Mwari naJesu, nemweya mutsvene (Not everyone can be involved in decision making. When elders deliberate, the young cadres do not attend and it's the same even in heaven where it was only God, Jesus and the holy spirit that congregated)," Mnangagwa said.

"Kana panyika pane zvoto zvapo, saka ziva kuti kune zvoto zvavakuru, zviderera zvichiderera. Kana mumusangano, vamwe havazivi zvoto zvavo, vanotozozviziva nemitemo yandinenge ndanyora,  vozoziva kuti ichi choto, handifaniri kupinda (Even here on earth as well as in Zanu-PF there is protocol, but others do not know their roles, they only get it when we interpret the rules for them)," the Zanu-PF legal affairs supremo said.