Political commissar fears boot
FIGHTS and internal tensions within Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF have reached an extraordinary level with ongoing demonstrations this week against its political commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere.
The rumours via various social media late on Tuesday were even more extraordinary. Some chit-chat on WhatsApp by Zimbabweans in various parts of the world said Kasukuwere, 46, was so upset about demonstrations against him that he was admitted to the intensive care unit of a Harare hospital.
Other rumours claimed he complained to President Robert Mugabe, begging him in tears to “save” him from expulsion from the party.
Kasukuwere, who is also minister of local government, was involved in a faction known as G40, which appeared to support Mugabe as a candidate in next year’s election.
The G40 faction was also in a vague alliance with unpopular first lady, Grace Mugabe, who claimed her husband would rule Zimbabwe, even from the grave.
This made all of the G40 faction enemies of the group supporting Vice- President Emmerson Mnangagwa, 74, who has been determined for many years to become Zim- babwe’s second president and who felt cheated by Mugabe when he appointed Joice Mujuru, who became the first woman vice-president in 2004.
Mujuru was expelled in a plot organised by Grace Mugabe 10 years later.
The demonstrations against Kasukuwere, insiders say, are unlikely to see him expelled, but he will lose some of his party powers.
His alliance with Grace Mugabe was also strained when she decided last week, perhaps for self-preservation, that the G40 had showed disloyalty to Mnangagwa, the clear front runner to succeed Mugabe.
Mugabe is not about to back any successor as he has made it clear that he intends standing as Zanu-PF’s presidential candidate next year.
Although Mugabe has been Zimbabwe’s only leader since independence in 1980, the 2013 constitution says he can only serve two terms since it was adopted.
Some say he is not going to allow any successor to emerge now as he needs to unite Zanu-PF behind him ahead of the elections.
This could mean Mugabe’s second term of office, since the new constitution, would end when he is 99 in 2023.
Mnangagwa is strongly supported by the security sector and many key Zanu-PF politicians. Zimbabwe’s Minister of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Saviour Kasukuwere.
He was accused of playing a key role in violence against the former opposition, Zapu, from 1983 which saw thousands die.
Most of it took place in Matabeleland.
He is also accused of choreographing violence against the opposition Movement for
Democratic Change after the party and its leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, won the first round of elections in 2008.
Mnangagwa is also accused of organising political manoeuvres to get Mujuru sacked from office and expelled from the party three years ago.
In the middle of all this plot-
ting and planning, Kasukuwere emerged, allegedly with Grace Mugabe’s backing, to become political commissar and oppose Mnangagwa.
Prominent political and legal commentator Alex Magaisa said: “Mugabe is in charge and this is all gamesmanship by him.
“He is not prepared to do anything less than 15 months ahead of elections.
“He is going to win and he will want full support from all in Zanu-PF.”
Magaisa said, as do many commentators, that Mugabe remains determined to die in office.