ZANU-PF Burns calls emergency politburo meeting – ZimEye

Political Correspondent – ​​Zanu PF has called for an urgent Politburo meeting on Wednesday to discuss the party’s succession battle.

The party’s Acting Secretary General, Jacob Mudenda, announced that all members are expected to attend the meeting at the Zanu PF headquarters on Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 10:00 am.

Although Mudenda said the main agenda would be a presentation on preparations for the 44th Southern African Development Community Summit, party sources said the power struggle between Mutsvangwa and Chiwenga would be a major topic.

Mutsvangwa was interviewed over the weekend standardhe openly opposed Vice President Constantino Chiwenga taking over from President Emmerson Mnangagwa, instead advocating for the election of Mnangagwa’s successor.

Former Norton MP Temba Mliswa claimed that Mutsvangwa harboured presidential ambitions, which was confirmed by Mutsvangwa’s consistent criticism of Chiwenga.

The internal conflict dates back to the 2017 coup led by Chiwenga that overthrew former President Robert Mugabe and installed Mnangagwa as leader.

The military’s initial plan was to promise Mnangagwa two terms and then hand over power to Chiwenga without an election.

However, Mnangagwa’s supporters, including Mutsvangwa, appear to be reneging on that agreement.

As a staunch ally of Mnangagwa, Mutsvangwa has publicly stated that Chiwenga should run in the election and become Mnangagwa’s successor.

In a recent interview standardHe insisted, “There is no holy order in ZANU PF. ZANU PF is not a church that can ordain people. The president is not the Pope of the Catholic Church or the Archbishop of Canterbury, he cannot ordain priests.” Stressing that all political candidates must abide by democratic principles, he said: “Everyone who enters politics and aspires to be a leader must abide by the rules, especially the rules of the Revolutionary Democratic Party. That is why the president has said very clearly, ‘I will not usurp the decision-making power of the people of Zimbabwe or the members of Zanu PF – I will retire.'”

Mutsvangwa further compared the way the ruling party operates to religious organisations, arguing that Zanu PF operates democratically, unlike church leaders who can unilaterally appoint successors.

“ZANU PF is not Makandiwa’s church and he cannot allow himself, his wife, children and followers to say this is my church. President Mnangagwa is an elected leader of a Revolutionary Democratic Party,” he concluded.

A power struggle within the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) has raised questions about the future leadership of Zimbabwe and the party’s commitment to the democratic process amid internal competition.

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