FIRST Lady Grace Mugabe’s G40 allies have reportedly taken
charge of preparations for Zanu PF’s proposed December extraordinary congress where
she is expected to force through a constitutional amendment allowing for her
appointment as the party’s second female vice-president, NewsDay has learnt.
Impeccable sources yesterday said President Robert Mugabe
had, after last week’s tense politburo meeting, immediately set up a steering
committee, comprising mainly of Grace’s allies, to organise the congress.
Zanu PF is effectively split between two distinct factions,
Grace’s G40, whose kingpins are party commissar Saviour Kasukuwere and Higher
Education minister Jonathan Moyo, and Team Lacoste, which is sympathetic to
Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
With both the Zanu PF factions jostling to sponsor a
candidate to succeed ailing soon-to-be 94-year-old Mugabe, the First Lady’s G40
faction was likely to have the last laugh in the succession race.
“Yes, there is a committee to plan and co-ordinate the extraordinary
congress. It is headed by (administration secretary Ignatius) Chombo and some
of its members are (political commissar Saviour) Kasukuwere, (Major-General
Douglas) Nyikayaramba and a former Reserve Bank governor (name withheld),” a
top Zanu PF source said.
“It is basically a G40 group and that is a clear indication
that the faction has taken charge of the party and most organs. They are
running the show and likely to have their way at the extraordinary congress.”
This came amid reports that Grace’s allies would want
Mnangagwa pushed out of the presidium on allegations of plotting Mugabe’s
ouster.
But Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo yesterday
declined to comment over the matter, referring all questions to Chombo.
“The secretary for administration (Chombo) would know. I
have not been advised, maybe he has not finalised the setting-up of the
committee, but check with him,” Khaya Moyo said.
Efforts to contact Chombo were fruitless as his mobile went
unanswered.
Chombo and Kasukuwere are reportedly leading figures in the
G40 faction while Nyikayaramba is also believed to be sympathetic to the same
faction.
Mnangagwa’s political life has continued to hang by the
thread over the past few weeks following public attacks on his person by the
First Family, in a clear indication that the Zanu PF leader might be ready to
cut loose his long-time lieutenant widely believed to be the frontrunner to
succeed him.
Mugabe last month formed a Zanu PF election directorate
made up of mainly G40 members led by Grace and supported by Chombo, Kasukuwere,
legal secretary Patrick Chinamasa and youth league boss Kudzanayi Chipanga to
lead the party’s 2018 election campaign.
Only Chinamasa is reportedly a known member of Mnangagwa’s
Team Lacoste faction. Grace, who doubles as Zanu PF secretary for women’s
affairs, will lead the party’s elections directorate that has been tasked to
manage, supervise and mobilise for the 2018 general elections.
Mugabe last week agreed to the idea of transforming the
Zanu PF annual conference, scheduled for Gwanda, into an extraordinary
congress, triggering provincial co-ordinating committee meetings that endorsed
the idea at the weekend.
Insiders said while Mugabe’s position as party leader was
safe, changes to the party’s constitution were being considered.
“There are two issues being considered: The re-introduction
of the woman’s quota to provide for a woman deputy president or to introduce a
third vice-president,” NewsDay heard.
While addressing the Zanu PF women’s league national
assembly in July, Mugabe dropped a bombshell urging his wife, who had demanded
that he names his successor, to “consider the idea of a third vice-president”.
“My suggestion is that we leave things as they are at the
top and consider the idea of three vice-presidents to add a woman to the two.
The other would be to revert to the original position and amend the
constitution, then go to congress. I want you to think about that,” Mugabe said
in response to an angry rant from his wife. Newsday
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