Mugabe grip tightened

The faction-riddled Zanu-PF on Saturday all but bolstered President Robert Mugabe's grip on the party after endorsing constitutional amendments bestowing him with powers to handpick his deputies, national chairperson and members of the Chinese-style politburo.

Mugabe, who chaired the tense 10-hour politburo meeting at the party headquarters in the capital, now awaits the ratification of the constitutional amendments by the central committee, Zanu-PF's supreme decision-making body in between congresses.

The amendments, sources in the party said, were meant to create one centre and source of power, the president, to tame factionalism, amid allegations that Vice-President Joice Mujuru wanted to topple and replace President Mugabe.

Currently, two vice-presidents and the national chairperson are elected at congress.

At the time of going to print last night it was not clear wether the politburo had or not adopted a proposed amendment to strike off a provision that states that one of the vice-presidents should be female.

The sources said once the amendments are ratified, the fate of Mujuru, secretary of administration Didymus Mutasa and other key members of the faction linked to the party's second-in-command, would firmly be in hands of President Mugabe amid growing pressure for them to be kicked out of Zanu-PF ahead of the party's sixth congress next week.

First Lady Grace Mugabe has been leading the charge against Mujuru, going as far as demanding her immediate resignation or face humiliation at the congress.

National chairperson and also acting party spokesperson, Simon Khaya Moyo confirmed the politburo had deliberated on proposed constitutional amendments, but was not at liberty to give details.

"Before us was also the issue on the amendment of the party constitution, we shall of course finalise the matter next Wednesday, but major issues were addressed," Khaya Moyo told journalists in the early hours of yesterday.

"But what I can say for now is that the politburo was presented with proposed amendments to the party constitution. After extensive discussions and fruitful deliberations a number of amendments were adopted for onward presentation to the central committee. Details will be given to you after a central committee meeting in a few days time."

Mujuru, sources said, was on her way out given the amendments adopted by the politburo.

The Zanu-PF second in command has for the past three months watched helplessly as her reported loyalists were booted out across the country, including nine provincial chairpersons, the party's former information chief Rugare Gumbo, suspended for five years, War Veterans leader Jabulani Sibanda was expelled, while Mutasa reportedly survived by a whisker.

Former Masvingo governor and minister of Psychomotor Activities Josiah Hungwe told a gathering of cross border traders at First Lady Grace Mugabe's Mazowe Children's Home last week that the politburo had already "agreed that President Mugabe should appoint people to both the politburo and presidium".

He was, however, accused by pro-Mujuru loyalists of putting the cart before the horse.

The First Lady has also intimated that Mujuru might remain party deputy leader but fail to make it into government.

Meanwhile, the politburo upheld the suspension of more provincial chairs in the names of Ray Kaukonde (Mashonaland East), John Mvundura (Manicaland) and Luke Mushore (Mashonaland Central).

Harare Province's deputy chairperson for Women's League Miriam Chikukwa and youth league boss Godwin Gomwe had their vote-of-no confidence overturned.

Top officials and Mujuru loyalists, Mutasa, Nicholas Goche and Gumbo face arrests for allegedly plotting to assassinate President Mugabe.

Harare senior politburo member, Cleveria Chizema, moved a motion for the arrest of the alleged coup plotters.

Mutasa, sorces said, also came under attack in the meeting from fellow politburo members Obert Mpofu, Kembo Mohadi and Cain Mathema.

Goche is accused of plotting to assassinate President Mugabe as part of a plot to install Mujuru in his stead.

About two weeks ago, the Politburo heard that Mutasa and Gumbo said President Mugabe would be shot if he did not allow VP Mujuru to take over at the December congress. Goche, it is alleged, approached potential hit men in South Africa and Israel to explore the possibility of the assassination.

He allegedly used the cover of official Government business in Switzerland to make the stop-overs and meet the would-be collaborators. And at Wild Ox Club and Mteri Lodge on September 7 in Chiredzi, he allegedly told Zimbabwe Sugar Cane Millers Union secretary-general Edmore Hwarare that "real war" was coming in the run-up to the Zanu-PF congress.

He allegedly said guns would be fired and unnamed people would be flushed down the toilet.

Mujuru, Goche, Mutasa and Gumbo have denied the allegations as fabrications by the state media.