Zimbabwe General Mujuru's death leaves leadership vacuum: analysts

The mysterious death of Zimbabwe's former army chief Solomon Mujuru, an influential member of the ruling ZANU-PF party widely regarded as a kingmaker, has left a vacuum on the country's political scene.

The respected politician, business and military figure died almost three weeks ago when a fire engulfed his 18-room farm house, an incident which left people including his family with more questions than answers.

Analysts however believe his death has cast doubts on the future of Zimbabwe's political future.

Mujuru was a "complex character", admits political analysts Takavafira Zhou from Masvingo State University.

"He was a complex character but what was very clear is that he did not fear the current political leadership because he made them what they are," Zhou told AFP.

Hailed as a national hero, Mujuru used his influence among the freedom fighters to persuade his peers into accepting Robert Mugabe as their leader in 1976, according to colleagues from the liberation struggle.

"He was the only person left who could chastise Mugabe and he could speak his mind and remind the party leadership that the liberation war was not fought to keep some people in power, but to enable people to make a choice of who they wanted as leader."

"Such a person could be regarded as dangerous if he could also give his ear to the opposition. He could also attract enemies from all directions," Zhou said.

John Makumbe, a political science professor at the University of Zimbabwe, said Mujuru remained a professional soldier committed to peace and unity even after he retired from government.

"General Mujuru remained a professional soldier and his refusal to engage in Gukurahundi endeared him to Zimbabweans across the political divide," Makumbe said.

Mujuru retired from service in 1995.

He led Mugabe's forces from training camps in Mozambique in the 1970s guerrilla war against Ian Smith's white-minority regime, serving as commander-in-chief of the Zimbabwe National Liberation Army.

At independence in 1980, Mujuru was appointed the first commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, combining the armies of former liberation movements and of Smith's Rhodesia.

After retiring from the military, he joined politics and was a member of parliament between 1995 and 2000.

Mujuru also had business interests in key sectors of the economy, including diamond mining.

But at age 62, he remained an influential member of the ruling ZANU-PF, in a context of rivalries and tensions after violent and inconclusive presidential elections in 2008 which saw the country forming a power-sharing government.

"He was opposed to violence against the people during elections. He had no problem engaging in dialogue with opponents of his party and he did not regard the opposition as enemies of the state.

"He could stand up to Mugabe and oppose him on policy and issues and people respected him for that. As to his role as a kingmaker he was respected by both the doves and the hawks in his party," said John Makumbe, a political science professor at the University of Zimbabwe.

Since his death on August 16, newspapers are still carrying messages of condolences with pictures of a man who in both life and death managed to bring together people.

Meanwhile circumstances of his death remain a mystery, with his wife, Vice President Joyce Mujuru, saying her family wants a "satisfactory explanation" while police have said they will only make a statement once they conclude their inquiry.

"Comrade Mujuru poured her heart out and explained that the circumstances surrounding the general's death remain a mystery to the family and until satisfactory explanations are given, the family will not find peace," the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation reported this week.

Mujuru was declared a national hero and buried at a shrine for liberation heroes in a funeral attended by about 40,000 people, including Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.