ZANU-PF to allow Mugabe to choose his own Deputies

The decision making body of the Zimbabwe’s ruling party has proposed allowing President Robert Mugabe to directly choose his deputies, two members of the party’s Politburo said, asking not to be identified because an announcement hasn’t been made.

Altering Zanu-PF’s constitution will permit Mugabe, who turns 91 in February, to appoint two vice presidents instead of having them elected at the party’s five-year congress next month. The proposal needs to be ratified at the congress.

The move follows accusations of corruption and treason made against Vice President Joice Mujuru by Mugabe’s wife, Grace, who has called for Mujuru’s immediate resignation.

Zimbabwe’s state-controlled Chronicle newspaper reported Nov. 11 that the change would bring the Zanu-PF Constitution in line with the 1987 Unity Accord it signed to merge with the Zimbabwe African People’s Union, then led by Joshua Nkomo. Mugabe’s Zanu primarily represented Zimbabwe’s Shona majority in the 1970s war for independence, while most Zapu supporters were members of the minority Ndebele people.

That accord came after about 20,000 Ndebele civilians were killed in a crackdown on armed dissidents by the Zimbabwean military.

Infighting within Zanu-PF has seen perceived supporters of Mujuru fired or suspended by the party in recent weeks after Grace Mugabe, an ally of Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, began a series of verbal attacks on Mujuru during a series of “Meet the People” rallies ahead of the party’s congress.

Less Plotting

The changes to Zanu-PF’s constitution will allow Mugabe to choose his own two deputies and will also minimize plotting against the president, one of the people said.

Zimbabwe’s state-controlled Sunday Mail said Nov. 16 that Mujuru was at the center of a plot to assassinate Mugabe, charges she immediately denied.

The infighting within Zanu-PF will be resolved “within 10 days,” Information Minister Jonathan Moyo said today by phone from Harare, the capital.

“It’s not unusual for political parties to have differences anywhere in the world and this one will be settled at congress,” he said.

Bloomberg