Zanu’s new plot for Mugabe
Zanu-PF mulls the way forward
Zanu-PF party members are determined to “get rid of this animal called Mugabe” in impeachment proceedings starting today, but it may not be that simple to oust Robert Mugabe as Zimbabwe’s president.
Mugabe, despite being removed as Zanu-PF leader at the weekend, seemed determined to continue with business as usual and called for a cabinet meeting today.
This while Zanu-PF’s chief whip said an impeachment motion was a certainty after Mugabe missed yesterday deadline to step down.
MPs and the senate spent yesterday afternoon meeting to decide on the proposed impeachment process. They also negotiated with opposition MPs as a two-thirds majority is needed to remove Mugabe in parliament.
Party chief whip Lovemore Matuke filed papers in parliament that accused Mugabe of misconduct and “failure to obey‚ uphold or defend this constitution”.
The motion accuses Mugabe of ignoring “endemic corruption” and presiding over an “unprecedented economic tailspin”.
“We want to get rid of this animal called Mugabe. He must go. We have the numbers; the opposition is also going to support us,” Zanu-PF MP Vongai Mupereri told AFP.
High on the agenda at the Zanu-PF meeting yesterday was how the party would handle the post-Mugabe period since Mugabe had fired vice- president Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The second vice-president, Phelekeza Mphoko, who is considered loyal to first lady Grace, would be the natural successor if Mugabe were successfully impeached.
Mphoko is believed to be in exile in Russia.
“If he is impeached, it could set the pace for elections. Is the party ready? It could also mean Mphoko becomes president because Mugabe didn’t fire him.
“There is also the issue of how Mnangagwa will fit into the puzzle,” said an opposition politician close to the talks.
The source warned if ZanuPF failed to agree on how to approach the matter, the impeachment plan could be shelved. Already, former Zambian president Kenneth Kaun- da is in Zimbabwe to “sweettalk” Mugabe into stepping down in a dignified manner.
Former deputy prime minister Professor Arthur Mutambara said impeachment would not be easy. “The process is not a walk in the park. The legal route of removing is long and arduous; but not impossible.”
The National Assembly and the senate can begin proceedings to remove the president if both pass simple majority votes against him – either on grounds of “serious misconduct”, “violation” of the constitution or “failure to obey, uphold or defend” it, or “incapacity”.
Once the votes are passed, the two chambers must appoint a joint committee to investigate removing the president. If it recommends impeachment, the president can be removed if both houses back it with two-thirds majorities, according to section 97 of the constitution.
But Mugabe would first have a right to reply to parliament’s accusations, under section 69 of the constitution, according to the Veritas legal group.
Meanwhile, Mnangagwa is in contact with Mugabe and will return home soon, the army chief said yesterday. – Additional reporting by AFP and Reuters