Mugabe loses Zanu-PF grip

There was widespread agreement among political analysts yesterday that President Robert Mugabe probably owing to advanced age and failing health has completely lost control of Zanu-PF.

Virtually all the analysts canvassed cited the 90 year old's impotence in dealing with the ruling party's escalating factional wars and the country's deteriorating economy, as well as the unresolved question of his successor, to conclude that he no longer had the capacity to lead the party from the front.

Despite moves by Zanu-PF to bar members from using the media to air their grievances and to settle political scores, the directive is being flagrantly defied, observers and analysts said yesterday.