Mugabe flies into Zanu-PF storm

President Robert Mugabe will return home today from a four-day trip in Russia to confront a raging fire in Zanu-PF at a potentially explosive politburo meeting set for Thursday.

According to ruling party sources, the 91-year-old leader will have to address the worsening factional fights and douse the Zanu-PF flames before flying to Mali to attend a peace agreement signing ceremony at the weekend.

Tomorrow, Mugabe will chair a Cabinet meeting ahead of the politburo session where the factionalism rocking the party's Harare provincial structures is likely to dominate discussions.

The politburo meeting is also likely to decide the fate of over 20 Zanu-PF officials accused of working with former Vice-President Joice Mujuru in plotting to topple the 91-year-old leader.

"As you know, the President is the Africa Union chair, he has been invited to Mali through a special envoy, Abdoulaye Diop, who delivered the invitation through Acting President Phelekezela Mphoko," a source said.

But before he leaves, there is a politburo which will deal with many issues, chief among them the chaos in Harare East and infighting within the party is set to dominate discussion.