News / National
Mugabe grabs all power as chairman post is abolished
11 Dec 2014 at 06:39hrs | Views
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe shocked all and sundry yesterday when he abolished the Zanu-PF chairman post in what analysts say is a ploy by the aging leader to fortify his grip on party structures.
Mugabe, political pundits say, scrapped off the powerful post ordering the two VPs to rotate as chairs in order to garner all the power in Zanu-PF.
"The scrapping of the chairpersons' post simply reduces centres of power and disputation leading to Mugabe's greater consolidated control of his party," political analysts Takura Zhangazha said.
Analysts also warned that Zimbabweans should brace for tough times ahead as Mugabe appointed Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, long believed to be a hardliner, as his deputy.
The purge of former Vice-President Joice Mujuru has seen hawkish members ascending in Zanu-PF structures.
Among those who were elevated is Saviour Kasukuwere - another Zanu-PF official believed to be a hardliner - who takes over the commissariat.
Kasukuwere gained notoriety during his time as the Indigenisation minister where he was seen as uncompromising in his drive to ensure that shareholders seized foreign companies ceding controlling stakes to locals.
Blessing Vava, a political analyst, said Zimbabweans should be worried with the appointment of Kasukuwere and others "who will resort to any means to retain their positions" judging from the way they pushed Mujuru out.
"Kasukuwere is one of the more radical elements in Zanu-PF," he said.
"But it will be a tall order for the party to convince the electorate basing on the recent performance of most of the people who were appointed. They are unpopular and it will only take violence, intimidation and rigging for Zanu-PF to retain power with the new team."
Kasukuwere, once described as Zimbabwe's version of Julius Malema with his fiery threats to grab companies, has crossed swords with a number of government and Zanu-PF officials.
Zhangazha weighed in saying Mugabe's latest appointments were meant to ensure that he concentrated power around himself.
"Well, it does not really come as a surprise, especially after his party's constitution was amended in order to grant him the power to appoint his two deputies," he said.
"Those who he has appointed are probably in no doubt that they serve not only at his pleasure but also his mercy.
Vava concurred that Mugabe had tightened his grip on power and the appointments served this purpose.
"It's not surprising and it was almost predictable that Mugabe is tightening screws, centralising power on himself, as prescribed by the Zanu-PF constitution," he said.
"However, by appointing Mnangagwa it seems Mugabe is now looking to the future and a successor after his departure."
Mugabe, political pundits say, scrapped off the powerful post ordering the two VPs to rotate as chairs in order to garner all the power in Zanu-PF.
"The scrapping of the chairpersons' post simply reduces centres of power and disputation leading to Mugabe's greater consolidated control of his party," political analysts Takura Zhangazha said.
Analysts also warned that Zimbabweans should brace for tough times ahead as Mugabe appointed Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, long believed to be a hardliner, as his deputy.
The purge of former Vice-President Joice Mujuru has seen hawkish members ascending in Zanu-PF structures.
Among those who were elevated is Saviour Kasukuwere - another Zanu-PF official believed to be a hardliner - who takes over the commissariat.
Kasukuwere gained notoriety during his time as the Indigenisation minister where he was seen as uncompromising in his drive to ensure that shareholders seized foreign companies ceding controlling stakes to locals.
Blessing Vava, a political analyst, said Zimbabweans should be worried with the appointment of Kasukuwere and others "who will resort to any means to retain their positions" judging from the way they pushed Mujuru out.
"Kasukuwere is one of the more radical elements in Zanu-PF," he said.
"But it will be a tall order for the party to convince the electorate basing on the recent performance of most of the people who were appointed. They are unpopular and it will only take violence, intimidation and rigging for Zanu-PF to retain power with the new team."
Kasukuwere, once described as Zimbabwe's version of Julius Malema with his fiery threats to grab companies, has crossed swords with a number of government and Zanu-PF officials.
Zhangazha weighed in saying Mugabe's latest appointments were meant to ensure that he concentrated power around himself.
"Well, it does not really come as a surprise, especially after his party's constitution was amended in order to grant him the power to appoint his two deputies," he said.
"Those who he has appointed are probably in no doubt that they serve not only at his pleasure but also his mercy.
Vava concurred that Mugabe had tightened his grip on power and the appointments served this purpose.
"It's not surprising and it was almost predictable that Mugabe is tightening screws, centralising power on himself, as prescribed by the Zanu-PF constitution," he said.
"However, by appointing Mnangagwa it seems Mugabe is now looking to the future and a successor after his departure."
Source - Southern Eye
