News / National
Mujuru's lack of clarity on her political future raises suspicion
25 Oct 2015 at 07:36hrs | Views
FORMER Vice-President Joice Mujuru's lack of clarity on her political future has raised suspicion she could still harbour ambitions to return to Zanu-PF as a successor to President Robert Mugabe.
After she was fired from government last December, Mujuru apologised to Zimbabweans for having been part of Mugabe's "ruinous" leadership.
She has issued statements pledging to continue working for Zimbabweans and correct her mistakes, even going to the extent of publishing an alternative blueprint.
However, Mujuru has to date not spelt out her future role in politics despite indications by her-profile sympathisers that she would lead a formation known as People First (PF) to challenge Mugabe in the 2018 elections.
The decorated war veteran has rarely appeared in public and on the few occasions she has spoken, it has been through media statements, leaving many of her sympathisers guessing.
Academic Ibbo Mandaza said Mujuru's strategy could mean that she still harbours ambitions to lead Zanu-PF in a post-Mugabe period, making the-PF project only a decoy.
"My understanding of what is happening is that the likes of [Rugare] Gumbo and [Didymus] Mutasa are indeed speaking on Mujuru's behalf, but she is still hedging her bets," Mandaza said.
"The pre-congress structures, we understand, are still intact and she has a groundswell of support across the country although it might be confusing given the palpable anger against Mugabe."
Mandaza said given the fact that at the time of her sacking, Mujuru reportedly commanded majority support within the former liberation movement, it would not make sense to "form a party and begin anew".
"It would be foolhardy for Mujuru to turn around and form a party when they have claimed that they were and are still in the majority inside Zanu-PF," he said.
But Gumbo, who has assumed the position of de facto-PF spokesperson — in the absence of a proper party-set-up — dismissed suggestions Mujuru wanted to return to Zanu-PF.
Mandaza said Mujuru could benefit from the chaos engulfing Zanu-PF and suggested Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa might be ameanble to a re-unification of the former guerrilla movement.
After she was fired from government last December, Mujuru apologised to Zimbabweans for having been part of Mugabe's "ruinous" leadership.
She has issued statements pledging to continue working for Zimbabweans and correct her mistakes, even going to the extent of publishing an alternative blueprint.
However, Mujuru has to date not spelt out her future role in politics despite indications by her-profile sympathisers that she would lead a formation known as People First (PF) to challenge Mugabe in the 2018 elections.
The decorated war veteran has rarely appeared in public and on the few occasions she has spoken, it has been through media statements, leaving many of her sympathisers guessing.
Academic Ibbo Mandaza said Mujuru's strategy could mean that she still harbours ambitions to lead Zanu-PF in a post-Mugabe period, making the-PF project only a decoy.
"My understanding of what is happening is that the likes of [Rugare] Gumbo and [Didymus] Mutasa are indeed speaking on Mujuru's behalf, but she is still hedging her bets," Mandaza said.
"The pre-congress structures, we understand, are still intact and she has a groundswell of support across the country although it might be confusing given the palpable anger against Mugabe."
Mandaza said given the fact that at the time of her sacking, Mujuru reportedly commanded majority support within the former liberation movement, it would not make sense to "form a party and begin anew".
"It would be foolhardy for Mujuru to turn around and form a party when they have claimed that they were and are still in the majority inside Zanu-PF," he said.
But Gumbo, who has assumed the position of de facto-PF spokesperson — in the absence of a proper party-set-up — dismissed suggestions Mujuru wanted to return to Zanu-PF.
Mandaza said Mujuru could benefit from the chaos engulfing Zanu-PF and suggested Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa might be ameanble to a re-unification of the former guerrilla movement.
Source - thestandard
