Opinion / Columnist
Ugly succession battles in ZANU-PF
2 hrs ago | 32 Views
Zimbabwe is at risk of a leadership crisis as a result of the growing political tension and rift between President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa and his vice president, Constantino Guvheya Chiwenga. It has been the standard for a very long time in Zimbabwe, where the ruling Zanu-PF party has been at a loss for how to handle succession issues.
Such incidents, such as the altercation between Mugabe and Amai, have occurred during his administration, where he was fighting his vice president, the then Amai Joyce Mujuru.
Emmerson Mnangagwa, the current president, was the one who pushed for a position in the presidency and had to ensure that his goal was accomplished. Joyce Mujuru was the target of a vicious slander campaign and was once charged with attempting to kill the late Robert Mugabe.
The late President Robert Mugabe later fired Joyce Mujuru, who went on to form her own political party and named it People First, a splinter party from Zanu-PF. However, it did not see the light of day due to massive infiltration.
Fast forward: when Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa was appointed to the position of Vice President, a lot was happening behind the scenes, and his ambition to topple Robert Mugabe was starting to show, and in November 2017, Operation Restore Legacy was instituted, which led to the removal of Mugabe.
The same modus operandi is what we are witnessing again today, where power struggles within the ruling power override developing the nation. There is no clear-cut policy of succession in Zanu-PF.
Joyce Mujuru later founded her own political party, People First, a split group from Zanu-PF, after being fired by the late President Robert Mugabe. But because of widespread infiltration, it never made it to the light of day.
A lot was going on behind the scenes when Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa was appointed vice president, and his desire to overthrow Robert Mugabe was beginning to manifest.
In November 2017, Operation Restore Legacy was launched, which resulted in Mugabe's overthrow. We are currently seeing the same pattern of action, where power battles within the governing class take precedence over the advancement of the country. There is no explicit succession policy in the party.
Party proxies and incessant press briefings are being used in the conflict between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga. The nation is currently suffering as a result of the power struggles.
As the two opposing factions continue to fight for control, we will soon witness some manoeuvring, pushing, redeployments, expulsions, and suspensions.
Unfortunately, the so-called new dispensation is now a ghost of its former glory, and there is no strong opposition to capitalise on the disarray.
Email - konileonard606@gmail.com
X - @Leokoni
Such incidents, such as the altercation between Mugabe and Amai, have occurred during his administration, where he was fighting his vice president, the then Amai Joyce Mujuru.
Emmerson Mnangagwa, the current president, was the one who pushed for a position in the presidency and had to ensure that his goal was accomplished. Joyce Mujuru was the target of a vicious slander campaign and was once charged with attempting to kill the late Robert Mugabe.
The late President Robert Mugabe later fired Joyce Mujuru, who went on to form her own political party and named it People First, a splinter party from Zanu-PF. However, it did not see the light of day due to massive infiltration.
Fast forward: when Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa was appointed to the position of Vice President, a lot was happening behind the scenes, and his ambition to topple Robert Mugabe was starting to show, and in November 2017, Operation Restore Legacy was instituted, which led to the removal of Mugabe.
The same modus operandi is what we are witnessing again today, where power struggles within the ruling power override developing the nation. There is no clear-cut policy of succession in Zanu-PF.
Joyce Mujuru later founded her own political party, People First, a split group from Zanu-PF, after being fired by the late President Robert Mugabe. But because of widespread infiltration, it never made it to the light of day.
In November 2017, Operation Restore Legacy was launched, which resulted in Mugabe's overthrow. We are currently seeing the same pattern of action, where power battles within the governing class take precedence over the advancement of the country. There is no explicit succession policy in the party.
Party proxies and incessant press briefings are being used in the conflict between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga. The nation is currently suffering as a result of the power struggles.
As the two opposing factions continue to fight for control, we will soon witness some manoeuvring, pushing, redeployments, expulsions, and suspensions.
Unfortunately, the so-called new dispensation is now a ghost of its former glory, and there is no strong opposition to capitalise on the disarray.
Email - konileonard606@gmail.com
X - @Leokoni
Source - Leonard Koni
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