Gono angers Mujuru faction

FORMER Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono has suffered yet another set-back in his political career following reports that his allies linked to a Zanu PF faction fronted by Vice-President Joice Mujuru has dumped him for allegedly harboring ambitions to unseat Mujuru, NewsDay reports.

Gono had been earmarked to replace the late Zanu PF politburo member Kumbirai Kangai as Manicaland senator until he was last month disqualified by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) for not being a registered voter in the province.

But according to reports, the Mujuru faction which has been supporting him in his quest has dumped him leaving at the mercy of Zanu PF secretary for legal affairs, and Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, who will now decide his fate.

Mnangagwa is believed to be leading a faction opposed to Mujuru. Last week the Gono issued exposed widening cracks between the two factions when politburo members linked to the two factions sought to use the media to give contrasting statements on the fate of Gono after a politburo meeting.

Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo insisted that Gono still has a chance to land the post after the politburo resolved to withhold the Zec's decision while Mnangagwa initially said Gono's senatorial bid had hit a brickwall and the case was now a closed chapter.

 He later made a U-turn following protests by fellow senior party members who insisted that the issue was not conclusively exhausted.

According to latest reports, the Mujuru faction has left Gono in the open fearing that if Gono lends the senatorial post he might rise through the Zanu PF ranks and unseat Mujuru because of his close ties with the First Family.