Battle over Mnangagwa ascendancy intensifies

About five months into the aftermath of the controversial Zanu-PF congress held last December which led to the dramatic rise of Emmerson Mnangagwa to the vice presidency with the brutal removal and eventual expulsion of his rival Joice Mujuru, internal resistance within Zanu-PF to his ascendancy is intensifying amid clear indications two realigned rival factions are now at each other's throats over President Robert Mugabe's divisive succession problem.

The situation is now fast deteriorating due to fears and swirling speculation Mugabe (91) will for health or old age reasons fail to complete his term or resign before his tenure expires, a remote possibility.

The two rival Zanu-PF factions one led by Mnangagwa and the other initially by First Lady Grace Mugabe, which ganged up to remove Mujuru are now at each other's throats as the battle to succeed Mugabe takes a new twist.