Mnangagwa, Mphoko under Mugabe's tight control

THE appointment of outgoing Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa and former Zimbabwean Ambassador to South Africa, Phelekezela Mphoko as Zanu-PF vice-presidents will entrench President Robert Mugabe's hold on power, analysts yesterday said.

Political analyst Pedzisai Ruhanya said although the appointments of Mnangagwa and Mphoko were in the interest of Mugabe, the two would not make any meaningful contribution to the transformation of people's lives as long as the 90-year-old leader was still in charge.

"Zanu-PF will remain Zanu-PF. They will remain authoritarian, vindictive, and without a clear economic direction. There is nothing exciting about the appointments. There will be no policy shift. All of them are birds of the same feather and all those appointed can only make face-powder changes," Ruhanya said.

Mugabe appointed Mnangagwa as his new deputy on Wednesday and possible successor, taking over from ex-Vice-President Joice Mujuru who was fired on Tuesday on allegations of attempting to topple the veteran Zanu-PF leader.

"The fundamental issue to Mugabe is that they both come from an intelligence background. This means that they are loyal to Mugabe and can keep State secrets. Both Mnangagwa and Mphoko once worked in the development of State security in Mugabe's government," Ruhanya said.

He said Mnangagwa and Mphoko mirror Mugabe's character.

Another political analyst Takura Zhangazha weighed in: "The fact that Mnangagwa and Mphoko were appointed by Mugabe, as opposed to the previous method where they should have been nominated by provinces, means that they will serve at Mugabe's pleasure. They do not have the required legitimacy to manoeuvre their own ways and even Mugabe himself had already made it clear that they will only work on instruction."

"Their leadership styles do not matter, they will serve at Mugabe's pleasure. They need to have loyalty to Mugabe and would seek permission from him for doing anything he has not instructed," he said.

Political analyst Charles Mangongera also said Mnangagwa was rewarded for his loyalty to Mugabe and through the influence of First Lady Grace Mugabe who showed a soft spot for him.

"However, it does not necessarily mean he is the successor," Mangongera said.