Mujuru wanted Mnangagwa to be next president

Former Midlands governor Cephas Msipa has claimed that the late former army commander, Solomon Mujuru in 1983 suggested Vice president Emmerson  Mnangagwa to be the next president.

"In 1983, Mujuru approached me and asked who could be the next leader in the event that Mugabe was no longer there. When I told him that (then Deputy Prime Minister Simon) Muzenda would ordinarily take over, he said 'never'," Msipa said.

"He mentioned the name (Mnangagwa) as being the preferred candidate by Zanla, Zanu's military wing. This is where the issue of hierarchy is coming from."

Msipa's statements could likely embolden war veterans, who have been calling for Mnangagwa to succeed Mugabe.

"He (Mujuru) told me something similar to what war veterans are saying today. So you have to understand what Chris (Mutsvangwa, the war veterans' chairman) is saying today is in that context," Msipa continued.

"But it is not implementable today because we have a united Zapu and Zanu under Zanu-PF. The next leader must be chosen not because he comes from one region or another, but on merit and the wishes of the people in the party.