Mujuru would emerge victorious, analysts say

WHILE Zimbabwe's deputy president Joice Mujuru seems to be hanging in balance, analysts have dismissed any possibility that Mujuru would lose her job.

Analysts have argued that despite the barrage of vicious attacks and demands that she resigns by President Robert Mugabe's wife Grace Mugabe, Mujuru who leads a faction to replace aging Mugabe will emerge the party's first deputy president at the party's crunch December Congress.

Mugabe, in charge of the country since independence in 1980, has over the years refused to groom a successor and ensured that any top lieutenants taking too keen an interest in his job were subjected to brutal putdowns.

At the party's 2004 congress, it was Mnangagwa who found himself brutally pegged back by Mugabe's Machiavellian scheming but analysts argue that it is now Mujuru's turn to be taken down to size with Mugabe doing it in spectacular fashion by unleashing his loose-tongued wife.

The First Lady publicly told Mujuru to resign with the putdown campaign also targeting the vice president's top allies in the ruling party. The state-owned media has also joined the fray, openly accusing Mujuru of corruption and abuse of office for personal gain.

Mugabe has backed his wife, claiming high treason and saying there was an active plot in Zanu PF to topple him from power. The conspirators were, even more unforgivably, working with the hated West, the veteran leader added.

However, although the State Press has declared that Mujuru was "on the ropes", Harare academic, Ibbo Mandaza, who heads the Sapes Trust think tank said the Mugabes were panicking because they knew the vice president had grassroots support.

"They are all panicking, including herself, Grace, about tomorrow [after Mugabe's presidency]," Mandaza told the Financial Times. "He doesn't expect any succession. He wants to die in office."

Mandaza said it was unlikely Grace would take over from her husband, describing her as unpopular and lacking support. The most likely outcome of the congress will be a continuation of the status quo, he added.

Opposition legislator Eddie Cross also agreed and said he did not expect any drama at the December congress.

"Mugabe will be declared president for life, the vice-president (Mujuru) will survive and Zimbabwe will remain a ship headed for the rocks without a captain capable of rescuing us," he said.