News / National
Mnangagwa, Mphoko tiff has been exaggerated by the media
01 Jun 2015 at 07:15hrs | Views
The reported unease between President Robert Mugabe's two deputies, Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, is being fuelled by the unresolved succession politics in Zanu-PF, analysts have said. But other analyst say the tiff has been over exaggerated by the media.
Mnangagwa and Mphoko, who were both appointed VPs after the party's controversial December congress, are alleged to be in a superiority tug of war.
Two weeks ago, Mphoko reproached Psychomotor minister Josaya Hungwe at a meeting in Masvingo over the issue after Hungwe, who has referred to Mnangagwa as the 'Son of God', addressed Mphoko as second VP.
With the Mujuru faction floored, Mnangagwa looks set to take over from Mugabe, but Information minister Jonathan Moyo told the British Broadcasting Corporation that it was not automatic that Mnangagwa would take over from Mugabe as the succession race was still wide open.
Since the signing of the Unity Accord that united Zanu and PF Zapu to form Zanu-PF, the VP from the Zapu side has always played second fiddle to his Zanu counterpart although Article 4 of the Unity Accord says: "Zanu PF shall have two Second Secretaries and Vice-Presidents who shall be appointed by the First Secretary and President of the Party."
Mnangagwa has been largely viewed as the senior of the two and has had more chances as acting president than his counterpart, fuelling speculation that he would be Mugabe's eventual successor.
Media consultant Ernest Mudzengi said: "From the Unity Accord, the VP from Zapu was always regarded as second VP. It is not about the Constitution because even in the Zanu-PF constitution itself, it is not provided for."
He said the tiff between the two had been exaggerated by the media.
Mnangagwa and Mphoko, who were both appointed VPs after the party's controversial December congress, are alleged to be in a superiority tug of war.
Two weeks ago, Mphoko reproached Psychomotor minister Josaya Hungwe at a meeting in Masvingo over the issue after Hungwe, who has referred to Mnangagwa as the 'Son of God', addressed Mphoko as second VP.
With the Mujuru faction floored, Mnangagwa looks set to take over from Mugabe, but Information minister Jonathan Moyo told the British Broadcasting Corporation that it was not automatic that Mnangagwa would take over from Mugabe as the succession race was still wide open.
Since the signing of the Unity Accord that united Zanu and PF Zapu to form Zanu-PF, the VP from the Zapu side has always played second fiddle to his Zanu counterpart although Article 4 of the Unity Accord says: "Zanu PF shall have two Second Secretaries and Vice-Presidents who shall be appointed by the First Secretary and President of the Party."
Mnangagwa has been largely viewed as the senior of the two and has had more chances as acting president than his counterpart, fuelling speculation that he would be Mugabe's eventual successor.
Media consultant Ernest Mudzengi said: "From the Unity Accord, the VP from Zapu was always regarded as second VP. It is not about the Constitution because even in the Zanu-PF constitution itself, it is not provided for."
He said the tiff between the two had been exaggerated by the media.
Source - Southern Eye
