Loyal Zanu-PF members baying for the blood of WikiLeaks sellouts

There are reports that some members Zanu-PF are baying for the blood of those who were exposed by the whistle blower website WikiLeaks for calling for the octogenarian leader's ouster in secret meetings with United States diplomats.

Angry party officials have also been hoping that Mugabe would deal with the sellouts by putting the WikiLeaks scandal on the agenda of their party's conference.

This, they hope, will expedite disciplinary processes for the likes of serial political flip-flopper Jonathan Moyo, politburo members Saviour Kasukuwere, Sikhanyiso Ndlovu and Vice President Joice Mujuru for engaging in dubious meetings with Washington envoys.

Didymus Mutasa, Zanu PF's secretaryfor administration, said at the weekend the sellouts could meet their fate at the December conference.

"Our position as a party still stands. We are still downloading the cables and studying them to see how we can proceed with this matter.

"By the time we get to the congress, we should have a clear picture on how we are going to deal with this matter," he said.

"As I said, some action will be taken. But it is premature for me to say what action will be taken at this moment," Mutasa said.

According to the party's constitution, members found guilty of misconduct should go through disciplinary processes but Mugabe has left them hanging two months after the sensational revelations.

Sources said Mugabe had initially planned to deal with them by initiating leadership changes in December by turning the conference into an elective congress.

Mugabe appears to have backtracked however, after sensing that rival factions that want him out were plotting to hijack the event and turn on the 87-year-old instead.

But this has not stopped his loyalists from pushing for punishment, many of them hoping this will set them up for higher positions if the Wikileaks purge succeeds.

Political analyst Charles Mangongera said despite the push, Mutasa and his crew were unlikely to have it their way since Mugabe was acutely aware of the damage such a fallout will inflict on the already fractured party ahead of watershed elections.

Mangongera, who is a leadership associate with the Institute for a Democratic Alternative for Zimbabwe (IDAZIM) said everything in the party was centralised around Mugabe who has become increasingly unpopular.

"Mugabe will determine the agenda because there is so much power around him. Everything is centralised around him. He will make sure that it is not on the agenda because it is divisive," Mangongera said.

He added: "I do not think he would countenance having such an explosive subject being discussed but he will deal with these people in his own time."

Mangongera said the octogenarian leader, who has been in and out of the country several times to receive treatment for an undisclosed ailment, would not fall for the scheming of a group of people who want to use the Wikigate to strengthen their positions in the party.

"Mugabe cannot be fooled. He knows he needs the full support of everyone and he knows dealing with the WikiLeaks will weaken his position.

The group that is pushing for it to be placed on the agenda comprises those who have not been fingered in the scandal and now want to use this to strengthen their positions," he said.