Mnangagwa's allies bay for Jonathan Moyo's blood

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa's backers have reacted angrily to Information minister Jonathan Moyo's statements that the Midlands strongman is not guaranteed to succeed President Robert Mugabe but instead was handpicked by Mugabe to merely assist him to fulfill his mandate and not to succeed him.

The statements have been interpreted to mean Moyo is not backing the VP.

In an interview with BBC broadcast yesterday morning, Moyo said as far as the party was concerned, Mnangagwa was "just assisting President Mugabe to fulfil" his mandate.

"That is your own perceptions of things, don't put it to us as a fact. As far as we concerned, he was appointed to assist the President in executing his duties," Moyo, who was visibly irritated by the question about Mnangagwa's likely succession, said.

Mnangagwa has been touted as Mugabe successor for years and was viewed as a "silent plotter" in the dethronement of former Vice-President Joice Mujuru.

However, Moyo seemed to suggest that the Zanu PF succession equation had not yet been solved.

Newsday reports that Zanu-PF insiders yesterday said the political scientist had touched a raw nerve at a time the ruling party is battling a new wave of infighting blamed on Mugabe's undecided succession issue.

A Zanu-PF politburo member speaking on condition of anonymity said Moyo had crossed the line and should be made to account for his statements.

Zanu-PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo refused to comment on the interview and referred questions to Moyo.