News / National
'Insulting each other is a shame' Mugabe 'scolds' Grace and vice presidents
08 Oct 2017 at 09:59hrs | Views
President Robert Mugabe has urged his party to discuss problems and not resort to insults amid deepening infighting in the Zanu-PF party concerning the issue of succession.
He also warned that some ministers will be axed in a shake-up of his cabinet saying: "I do my own review to assess who have not pulled up or lived up to expectations in government. In the process some will fall," he told youth league members at a meeting at the party's headquarters. So, that exercise I will be doing early next week."
One of his two vice presidents, Phelekezela Mphoko, claimed his counterpart, Emmerson Mnangagwa, had lied about being poisoned at a party rally in August.
Mugabe's wife Grace then accused Mnangagwa of dishonesty, alleging that some unnamed people were plotting a coup if their candidate did not succeed him.
The president last reshuffled his cabinet in 2015 after firing allies of former vice president Joice Mujuru, who was dismissed over allegations of plotting to unseat him. Mujuru denied the charges.
Mugabe's 52-year-old wife is also seen as eyeing her husband's seat in the event of his death or retirement.
Despite his age and signs of frailty, Mugabe has avoided naming a successor, even after his wife pressed him to do so at a recent party meeting.
His party has endorsed him as its presidential candidate to face a coalition of opposition parties in general elections next year. Mugabe also called for unity and an end to public squabbles over his succession.
"If there are problems, let's discuss them," he said as his wife and both deputies sat flanking him.
"Insulting each other is a shame."
He also warned that some ministers will be axed in a shake-up of his cabinet saying: "I do my own review to assess who have not pulled up or lived up to expectations in government. In the process some will fall," he told youth league members at a meeting at the party's headquarters. So, that exercise I will be doing early next week."
One of his two vice presidents, Phelekezela Mphoko, claimed his counterpart, Emmerson Mnangagwa, had lied about being poisoned at a party rally in August.
Mugabe's wife Grace then accused Mnangagwa of dishonesty, alleging that some unnamed people were plotting a coup if their candidate did not succeed him.
The president last reshuffled his cabinet in 2015 after firing allies of former vice president Joice Mujuru, who was dismissed over allegations of plotting to unseat him. Mujuru denied the charges.
Despite his age and signs of frailty, Mugabe has avoided naming a successor, even after his wife pressed him to do so at a recent party meeting.
His party has endorsed him as its presidential candidate to face a coalition of opposition parties in general elections next year. Mugabe also called for unity and an end to public squabbles over his succession.
"If there are problems, let's discuss them," he said as his wife and both deputies sat flanking him.
"Insulting each other is a shame."
Source - News24
