News / National
Mnangagwa snubs Grace Mugabe's rallies
18 Oct 2015 at 11:57hrs | Views
VICE-President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been conspicuous by his absence from First Lady Grace Mugabe's on-going countrywide rallies.
Mnangagwa remains a frontrunner to take over from President Robert Mugabe, but has been joined in the power scrap by Grace, who is reportedly backed by a group of Young Turks, also known as the Generation 40 (G40) faction.
Grace has vehemently denied allegations she is eyeing her 91-year-old husband's throne or any links to a faction.
She was in Chimanimani and Rushinga recently where she issued stern warnings to party officials that were fanning factionalism.
While VP Phelekezela Mphoko has become a permanent feature at Grace's rallies, Mnangagwa has kept himself busy with his government work, attending Parliament, meeting diplomats and seemingly pushing a teetering reform agenda, an indication he is laying the groundwork for his own administration and ignoring the rantings of his apparent rival.
Mphoko, who has been linked to the G40 group, even travelled by road as Grace was flown in a State helicopter and escorted by military helicopters to her rallies.
Suspected Mnangagwa allies have also been absenting themselves from the gatherings where Grace has taken to talking with both party and government authority, often threatening her perceived factional enemies.
Political analyst and University of Zimbabwe lecturer Eldred Masunungure said Grace's rantings at her rallies and Mnangagwa's absenteeism could be interpreted differently.
Political analyst Takura Zhangazha said it was apparent that Zanu-PF's succession battles were now at their peak, with key players being Grace and Mnangagwa.
Some Zanu-PF insiders told The Standard that Mnangagwa might not be interested in the current wave of politicking in the midst of more factionalism following the events of last year that resulted in the expulsion of former Vice-President Joice Mujuru.
"Mnangagwa attended the Kadoma rally where the First Lady embarrassed him together with Mphoko when she disclosed the two VPs got instructions from her," a senior official who refused to be named said.
Another insider said: "Anyway, Mnangagwa is the one running the country. He has better issues to attend to than moving around where people will be subjected to all those insults."
Another Mnangagwa ally said the snub was strategic.
Mnangagwa remains a frontrunner to take over from President Robert Mugabe, but has been joined in the power scrap by Grace, who is reportedly backed by a group of Young Turks, also known as the Generation 40 (G40) faction.
Grace has vehemently denied allegations she is eyeing her 91-year-old husband's throne or any links to a faction.
She was in Chimanimani and Rushinga recently where she issued stern warnings to party officials that were fanning factionalism.
While VP Phelekezela Mphoko has become a permanent feature at Grace's rallies, Mnangagwa has kept himself busy with his government work, attending Parliament, meeting diplomats and seemingly pushing a teetering reform agenda, an indication he is laying the groundwork for his own administration and ignoring the rantings of his apparent rival.
Mphoko, who has been linked to the G40 group, even travelled by road as Grace was flown in a State helicopter and escorted by military helicopters to her rallies.
Political analyst and University of Zimbabwe lecturer Eldred Masunungure said Grace's rantings at her rallies and Mnangagwa's absenteeism could be interpreted differently.
Political analyst Takura Zhangazha said it was apparent that Zanu-PF's succession battles were now at their peak, with key players being Grace and Mnangagwa.
Some Zanu-PF insiders told The Standard that Mnangagwa might not be interested in the current wave of politicking in the midst of more factionalism following the events of last year that resulted in the expulsion of former Vice-President Joice Mujuru.
"Mnangagwa attended the Kadoma rally where the First Lady embarrassed him together with Mphoko when she disclosed the two VPs got instructions from her," a senior official who refused to be named said.
Another insider said: "Anyway, Mnangagwa is the one running the country. He has better issues to attend to than moving around where people will be subjected to all those insults."
Another Mnangagwa ally said the snub was strategic.
Source - the standard
