Intense jostling for control of the ruling Zanu PF between
President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy Constantino Chiwenga is escalating
into public fights between backers of the two heavyweights amid claims of
counter plots.
Zanu PF youths set the cat among the pigeons a fortnight
ago when they declared that Mnangagwa was the party’s undisputed presidential
candidate for 2023.
The statements were seen as being targeted at Chiwenga, who
has been touted in some circles as Mnangagwa’s successor, with suggestions that
the Zanu PF leader will only serve one term.
Mnangagwa allies Pupurai Togarepi, who is also the Zanu PF
youth secretary, and Zanu PF Harare youth provincial chairman Godwin Gomwe told
The Standard that their names were being dragged into the alleged fight between
the president and VP by bitter people.
“A false, unfounded and malicious message has been
circulating on social media lately.
“The nefarious and misleading message states that: I Godwin
Gomwe have verbally attacked the Honourable Vice-President Cde Constantino
Chiwenga and Zanu PF chairperson Cde Oppah Muchinguri at Machipisa flea market
in Highfield,” Gomwe said.
“Bitter people are hurt by the current unity prevailing in
the party; they have resorted to penning falsehoods to achieve evil goals. The
said message is merely a figment of someone’s imagination.”
Togarepi said he was not aware of any factions in the ruling
party and that Zanu PF youths supported both Chiwenga and Mnangagwa.
“It’s all hogwash from overzealous cyber criminals. What
was said during our youth assembly is on record and those keen on knowing the
truth can get what was said verbatim,” he said when asked about the alleged
infighting.
“The youth league respects and supports the president and
his vice-presidents.
“I haven’t seen any divisions among the members of the
youth league and should that happen in the future, it will be my duty to correct
any mistaken ideas or contradictions.”
Togarepi said there were characters who spoke recklessly
about Zanu PF and government policies.
Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo also described the
allegations that there was a rift between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga as “wishful
thinking”.
However, Zanu PF insiders said outbursts by Mnangagwa’s
advisor Chris Mutsvangwa about alleged state capture were the culmination of
serious fights that have been happening behind the scenes.
They said the declaration by Togarepi and other Zanu PF
youth leaders Godfrey Tsenengamu and Lewis Matutu that Mnangagwa could not be
challenged had angered Chiwenga’s backers.
“After the meeting by the youths where they launched the
2023 ED Pfee slogan, Chiwenga’s lieutenants became bitter because they thought
it was an indirect attack on their leader,” a party official revealed.
“Chiwenga’s supporters are now feeling betrayed. They think
Mnangagwa would not have been president without Chiwenga.
“They are bitter that Chiwenga and most of those loyal to
him are being side-lined by a clique close to Mnangagwa led by his relatives
and allies.”
According to the source, Chiwenga backers are also bitter
that Mnangagwa seems to be only rewarding those from Midlands and Masvingo
provinces with senior party and government positions.
University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer Eldred
Masunungure said Mnangagwa needed to be careful in handling Chiwenga.
“He needs to be cautious when dealing with Chiwenga, youths
were used by G40, but we all know what the outcome was,” he said.
“The youths must not regard themselves as usable tools in
the dirty games being fought by their elders.
“Mnangagwa should be wise enough to know that he has to
move very cautiously with Chiwenga.
“The war veterans are divided and we know real power
resides in the military rather than the youth wing of the party, or war
veterans who are not armed.
“One with control of the military will win the battle for
supremacy. Mnangagwa should play his cards carefully rather than have the
political illiteracy that [former president Robert] Mugabe had last November.”
Mnangagwa and Chiwenga were instrumental in Mugabe’s ouster
in a coup last year. Standard
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