ADDRESSING a Zanu PF women’s league meeting in Harare on Friday, First Lady Grace Mugabe surprised many when she said she had respect for and harboured no desire to undermine Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa whom she and her allies have torn apart during recent party gatherings.
Grace has repeatedly used public fora to accuse Mnangagwa of attempts to dislodge President Robert Mugabe, something that has seen President Mugabe purge perceived Mnangagwa allies.
But addressing the meeting in her capacity as Zanu PF women’s league chairperson, Grace denied the women’s push for the reinstatement of a party constitutional clause which says one of the two party vice president should be a woman, was never intended to get rid of Mnangagwa.
“Your Excellency, just to put the record straight, our resolution was misunderstood and misinterpreted,” she said.
“The resolution was never going to disperse anyone. On this note, I wish to assure ubaba uVice Presidents and second secretary, Cdes Mnangagwa and Mphoko that you have our full support.”
President Mugabe also backed the vice president, attacking party officials demanding the ouster of his deputy over alleged disloyalty.
However, political analysts feel this was part of President Mugabe’s old tactics of deceiving party rivals while he silently plotted their downfall.
Grace is viewed as fronting a group of younger party politicians tussling for party control with the Mnangagwa faction ahead of president Robert Mugabe’s much anticipated exit from politics due to old age.
False security
Political analyst Takavafira Zhou said this was a tactical move aimed at trying to pacify the person who has defended Mugabe from many dangers.
“Given the age of the president he cannot stand against Mnangagwa and his Team Lacoste (Mnangagwa’s faction) because their tentacles are spread all over particularly in the rural areas,” he said.
“I think it was upon realisation by Mugabe that fighting a fierce force that also has …in the army as well as in the CIO may lead to a situation where all may lose against the opposition. So it was better to reconcile with internal enemies and ensure that for the meantime, there is calm.”
Zhou could also Mugabe could also have been taking Mnangagwa down the garden path as he has always been doing with party factions over the years.
“One of Mugabe’s traits is that he always leaves everyone guessing. He always plays one against the other. He will keep balancing factions against each other,” he said.
Zhou feels this was a “ruse meant to give Mnangagwa false security while he planned a strategy to finish him off”.
Harare based political analyst Jacob Rukweza concurs, saying that Mugabe now felt his future and that of his younger family were best protected by Mnangagwa than anybody else.
“He has realised he is safer under Mnangagwa that any other candidate that can be offered by Generation 40,” Rukweza said.
“What is clear is that Mnangagwa has done his homework and sent his message to Mugabe
“Mnangagwa has successfully lobbied Mugabe who is the centre of power in the party and government and this explains the u-turn.
“Mugabe has instructed Grace to hold back the heat that she was directing at Mnangagwa.”-NewZim
