'Zanu-PF could split,' says senior Zanu-PF official

VETERAN nationalist and senior Zanu-PF Politburo member, Cephas Msipa, has urged President Mugabe to decisively deal with factionalism to avert a possible breakaway by disgruntled members.

In an exclusive interview at his Midlands base last week, Msipa, who was a key player in the Unity Accord negotiations between Zanu-PF and PF Zapu, said factionalism linked to succession was rendering the party dysfunctional.

"I've given a great deal of thought to this issue and I feel that it has gone too far and I must say it's really up to the leadership to deal with those who are promoting factionalism. It's unfortunate that we're spending so much time on this succession thing. Some of us knew that something like this would happen," he said.

Msipa said he spoke to President Mugabe five years ago about the need for him to indicate his preferred successor as happened in Tanzania and other countries.

"Unfortunately, he didn't agree with me. So as you know politics is a struggle for power. People want to take certain positions in the party and that's the nature of politics."

Msipa said President Mugabe was aware of the existence of factionalism and those who were involved in promoting it and must decisively deal with the culprits.

"The key is in the President's hands, he holds the key and I've no doubt about that. No other person. If he can be seen to take action against those who're promoting factionalism, that will end it. The buck stops there. We've to be careful that factionalism does not lead other people to think about forming a break-away party. It can happen and that's why I'm saying this thing must be nipped in the bud and I hope one day the President will act on it," Msipa said.

He said factionalism must not surface at the December Congress so that favourable conditions are created for members to freely elect their leaders.