Analysts back Zanu People First

Analysts say disaffected Zanu-PF stalwarts who have broken ranks with President Robert Mugabe to coalesce under the banner and principles of the "original Zanu-PF", have realistic chances of becoming a formidable political force.

A Zanu-PF central committee member who refused to be named for fear of reprisal said yesterday that the liberation struggle pioneers who were spearheading a rival Zanu-PF formation to Mugabe's, with the political slogan "People First", could flower if they were able to take advantage of the massive disgruntlement within the ruling party.

The top official added that their most urgent task was to seek consensus with all their potential allies about the need to continue to pile pressure on the post-December 2014 Zanu-PF leadership, which would be best achieved by holding on to the Zanu-PF name.

He also said that the leadership that came out of the Zanu-PF congress were a product of the First Lady's political designs, as some have no history in the war or in the party, while those have like Mnangagwa, Kasukuwere, Chombo have no support base.