News / National
'Mujuru's political future in Mugabe's hands'
24 Oct 2014 at 09:11hrs | Views
Vice-President Joice Mujuru's political career has hit turbulent waters and now hinges on the reaction likely to come from President Robert Mugabe, analysts have said.
Mujuru, a beneficiary of Mugabe's 2004 masterstroke that saw the Zanu-PF constitution amended to accommodate a clause that requires one of the party second secretaries to be a woman, has fallen foul of the women's league and now First Lady Grace Mugabe.
After weeks of keeping everyone guessing, the First Lady on Thursday came out guns blazing and identified the "faction leader" she has been talking about at her "Meet the people rallies" as Mujuru and called on the country's number two to "resign now and concentrate on tobacco farming".
Political analyst Levee Kadenge said the First Lady's pronouncements have put President Mugabe in a ‘sticky situation'.
"He (President Mugabe) has been placed in an unenviable position. He will need to take a stance and say his position. It is highly likely the First Lady is well informed. More informed than the rest of us and now the president needs to act. The situation cannot continue as is," said Kadenge.
Another analyst, Ibbo Mandaza, however, argued that while President Mugabe might have been put on the spot regarding his confidence or lack of it with his deputy, Mujuru still has a chance to politically survive.
"Mujuru's position is still tenable unless President Mugabe says otherwise," said Mandaza.
Media lecturer and political analyst, Alexander Rusero said Zanu-PF was at its weakest since its formation in 1963 and ahead of an elective congress that has turned out to be the most divisive in over 50 years of existence.
"It depends on how the president takes it and his reaction to the calls as well as the allegations against his deputy. For Mujuru, it could be business as usual until a decision is taken by her principal," said Rusero.
Former liberation war fighter and deputy Foreign Affairs minister, Chris Mutsvangwa, however, said Mujuru has two options, fire herself or be fired.
"The difference is the same," he said.
Mujuru, a beneficiary of Mugabe's 2004 masterstroke that saw the Zanu-PF constitution amended to accommodate a clause that requires one of the party second secretaries to be a woman, has fallen foul of the women's league and now First Lady Grace Mugabe.
After weeks of keeping everyone guessing, the First Lady on Thursday came out guns blazing and identified the "faction leader" she has been talking about at her "Meet the people rallies" as Mujuru and called on the country's number two to "resign now and concentrate on tobacco farming".
Political analyst Levee Kadenge said the First Lady's pronouncements have put President Mugabe in a ‘sticky situation'.
"He (President Mugabe) has been placed in an unenviable position. He will need to take a stance and say his position. It is highly likely the First Lady is well informed. More informed than the rest of us and now the president needs to act. The situation cannot continue as is," said Kadenge.
"Mujuru's position is still tenable unless President Mugabe says otherwise," said Mandaza.
Media lecturer and political analyst, Alexander Rusero said Zanu-PF was at its weakest since its formation in 1963 and ahead of an elective congress that has turned out to be the most divisive in over 50 years of existence.
"It depends on how the president takes it and his reaction to the calls as well as the allegations against his deputy. For Mujuru, it could be business as usual until a decision is taken by her principal," said Rusero.
Former liberation war fighter and deputy Foreign Affairs minister, Chris Mutsvangwa, however, said Mujuru has two options, fire herself or be fired.
"The difference is the same," he said.
Source - Zim Mail
