Mugabe's delay in appointing VPs sparks anxiety

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe sacked Vice President Joice Mujuru yesterday with the nation eagerly waiting to hear his pick for the two vacant VP posts but that was not to be adding more pain of anxiety to the nation.

Mujuru was fired with nine other minister at an extra-ordinary central committee meeting convened by Mugabe to address the party's pressing issues which the aging leader failed to address at the party's just ended Congress.  

Mugabe is expected to announce his politburo this week together with heads of department in line with the party's constitution which stimulates that such appointments be made immediately after a Congress sitting.

An extraordinary Zanu-PF central committee meets in Harare today, and President Mugabe is expected to announce to the party faithful his two picks for the vacant Vice President posts. The other had not been filled since John Nkomo died last year.

President Mugabe is also expected to announce his new-look Cabinet this week, with indications that more ministerial departures could be on the cards.

Mugabe declined to nominate his two deputies on Saturday, at the closure of his party's biggest meeting  for four or five days, saying he did not wish to "rush" the decision, a development which has sparked speculation and widespread confusion and speculation with pundits saying Mugabe's executive powers are now ceremonial as he no longer wields the power.