Grace Mugabe is likely to be the next head of state

Most Zimbabweans live with assumptions and rumor mongering and they don't want facts on their table, you should learn to live with facts and reality. Analysis and comparisons should be based on facts and people should deal with analysis objectively without any bias. Grace Mugabe is on her way for Presidency and people should start to leave this with reality.

Grace Mugabe is a citizen of Zimbabwe despite having the prerogative and privilege of being the wife of the President, she has a right to contest any election, and the current constitution does not bar her from contesting the forth coming election of Zimbabwe. In fact no one can stop her; the only method to stop her is the ballot only.

We witnessed a number of political events a fortnight ago, where most senior Zanu PF officials were purged or dismissed. We are yet to witness more events as events unfold, whether these events are going to have an impact on our beloved economy or on our political landscape it is another issue but for now my analysis will dwell much on the anticipated things which are likely to take place before and beyond 2018. Mugabe always plays his cards close to his chest.

Most people think Mugabe got pressure from his wife that is very wrong, Mugabe as a strong politician within the continent he has his assertions already, and he had already made up his mind, and I think ED should have been the first person to see this coming. Being a lawyer who served both in the Government and the ruling party he should have seen this before. ED mocked Mujuru, and he was very instrumental in the dismissal of Mujuru thinking that he will get his share not knowing this was likely to lead somewhere.

I also blame ED's supporters who misled him and ill-advised him, giving him wrong advise, he should have just calmed down , avoid power traps and he was going to succeed but just because he fell into so many traps by allowing people like Energy Mutodi to have so many ranting on social media. My analysis is on what is likely to take shape soon after this political debacle and drama; we are most likely to witness a number of changes in the Government structure and security apparatus. There are more likely to be more purges even at ministerial level.

Jonathan Moyo can rejoice for now but he can be the next. The issue of having Sekeramayi going for the VP post, is not true, it is Grace Mugabe who will be appointed as the next VP of the country and later, Mugabe will go to his annual leave and this time it can be a bit longer and then it will give Mugabe time to assess her wife whether she will be able to consolidate her power base during his absence. If Grace succeeds then she will be given the chance to contest or by then Mugabe may decide to leave politics and go to rest. ED has lost the game for now, if he decided to bounce back time will tell but for now it is in Mugabe's hands. We are going to witness a number of ministers being chopped. But for 2018 the race will be very tight considering a number of events which have taken place in Zanu PF. Remember Mugabe is doing this not for anyone else but for his legacy and interests as well. If you check the renaming of the Harare international airport it is a way of saying good bye, and he is making sure he is sealing his legacy.

For now people should be prepared for her presidency, whether she will manage it, it's another chapter but for now it is game over. I've been going through most comments from opposition members who are busy making noise on social media instead of registering for 2018, their hopes are pinned on ED yet if ED bounce back he is not bouncing back to the opposition but to the ruling party, this is where you lose the game period. I've always told people that with Jonathan Moyo you will never win a war with him , he has managed to silence big guns in Zanu PF, you start a war with Jonso you are gone, that's him.

In fact this could be a surprise for many; Grace Mugabe may even contest the 2018 elections. It will be very difficult for ED to resurrect politically, for now he is finished, even if he bounce back, he will bounce back as whom? The only option for ED will be to back Tsvangirai in 2018 since he wield much influence in the ruling party particularly Masvingo and Midlands province. Don't expect much from politicians like ED and Mujuru and at the same time don't underrate them, so politics is unpredictable, but for now we are likely to have a new female President. Mugabe is the master mind and he has a strong art and technique in politics which most politicians don't have. He doesn't talk too much, very calculative and he always take people by surprise. Many people are saying the firing of ED was caused by the booing in Bulawayo and this is a wrong conclusion, Mugabe had made up his mind already and he made people including ED to conclude that he will axed at congress level or after elections.

Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo writes in his personal capacity as the Head of Southern Institute of Policy Analysis and Research – SIPAR TRUST, which is responsible for policy Analysis and Research. He is also an academic and researcher. He holds a BA, M.A from Solusi University, and he also holds a Masters of Development Studies from University of Lusaka, Zambia. He is currently enrolled at University of Kwazulu Natal University in South Africa (PHD in Development Studies). He can be contacted at southerninstitutepar@gmail.com