ZIMBABWE’s two Vice-Presidents and all Zanu PF politburo members serve at the pleasure of their principal, President Robert Mugabe and could be relieved of their posts at the twinkle of his eye, party spokesperson, Simon Khaya Moyo has said.
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Addressing journalists soon after yesterday’s politburo meeting in Harare, Moyo said all party office bearers, including Vice-Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, were at Mugabe’s mercy.
His remarks seemed to be directed at party members reportedly jostling for posts ahead of the party’s forthcoming conference in Victoria Falls.
“I want to emphasise that this is not an elective conference, it is only a congress that is elective. So we must not be spreading rumors, which I see in the number of areas,” Moyo said.
“You are aware that the President, his Excellency, is the only one who is elected after the amendments to the party constitution last December. All of us are appointees and he can appoint at his leisure, so we must not mix up a lot of things for the purpose of this conference.”
The statement came as factional fights in the party have reached boiling points, with rival party factions fighting to strategically position their candidates in the race to succeed Mugabe.
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Two competing camps have emerged, with one group allegedly led by Mnangagwa and the other said to be made up of young politicians linked to the First Lady, Grace Mugabe.
Various party provinces have made resolutions to be tabled at the conference with some demanding for leadership change within Mugabe’s politburo.
Some of the demands include the axing of party political commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere, appointment of a woman vice president in the party, as well as declaration that Mugabe be the sole candidate for the 2018 general elections.
Meanwhile, politburo member Oppah Muchinguri has warned party members to stop pulling each other down as factional fights escalate in the ruling party.
Muchinguri made the remarks in Nyanga South during victory celebrations hosted by the area legislator Supa Mandiwanzira at the weekend.
“I want to warn those who don’t want to see good things, those who want to pull others down so that people will not unite,” Muchinguri said.
“As a leader you have to rule with others. If you remove another person know that one day you will be removed as well. This is not the time for campaigning.”
