Johannesburg — THE death of Zimbabwean co-vice-president Joseph Msika in Harare this week after a long illness has re-opened President Robert Mugabe's explosive succession race and triggered a fresh power struggle within his deeply divided Zanu (PF).
Msika's death, coupled with simmering factionalism dividing the party, leaves Mugabe exposed in Zanu (PF)'s intensifying battle over his succession.
Msika, a veteran nationalist who invited Mugabe to join the anticolonial struggle in the 1960s, has been a stabilising factor in Zanu (PF).
There was already a jostling for Msika's position of late when his health was rapidly failing ahead of the party's congress in December.
Although Mugabe, who has been Zanu (PF) leader for 32 years, had almost been endorsed to extend his leadership by another five years, Msika's death is likely to fuel a fresh power struggle within the party.
Rumours are rife that the party will disintegrate along regional and ethnic lines when Mugabe dies.
Mugabe on Wednesday told the Zanu (PF) politburo Msika passed away at West End hospital in Harare . But informed sources said Msika actually "clinically died" on Tuesday, although he remained on a life support system until Mugabe and his relatives agreed with doctors to switch off the machines.
Like his predecessors Joshua Nkomo and Simon Muzenda, Msika died in office as an octogenarian. Insiders say Zanu (PF) has an unwritten rule of having leaders for life, which is why Mugabe is effectively an undeclared life president.
Sources said Msika's death has triggered a new fight to succeed him between Zanu (PF) chair John Nkomo, politburo member Obert Mpofu and Bulawayo governor Cain Mathema.
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Talking of one believing one's own lies to the extent of propagating it as truth; Dumisani Muleya is one such character. He believes that repeated lies become truth, but alas, he is totally wrong as a lie will always remain a lie no matter how many times it is repeated.
1st lie: "deeply divided Zanu (PF)". This lie has been said I do not know how many times now and by the same people but the revolutionary party has proved them wrong all the time.
When Cde Chitepo died the prophets of doom came up with all sorts of predictions which never materialized. Equally, when Tongogara died just before we attained our political independence the same thing happened but still no disintegration of the revolutionary party.
Again when Vice Presidents Nkomo and Muzenda died, a lot was said about the revolutionary party disintegrating but still nothing of that sort happened. How is that possible when many sellouts and former colonizers want the party that brought independence to this country to disintegrate into small and irrelevant factions?
The answer to that question is not only that there are no factions in the revolutionary party but also that the party has deep rooted connection with the people who formed the party in the first place.
2nd Lie: "Rumours are rife that the party will disintegrate along regional and ethnic lines when Mugabe dies". While we are still to see to that prophecy, it is important to note that Zanu-pf is bigger than individuals.
One political analyst once described the party thus; "Zanu-pf is to Zimbabwean politics and history what oxygen is to human life". You, dear Muleya, can only wish it away but your combined force cannot destroy the revolutionary party however hard you may try.
There is therefore no power struggle that will result from the death of revolutionary Msika. True Zanu-pf cadres are fully aware that "A Revolutionary does not die but just falls and continues to live within the living heroes". Zanu-pf cadres are also fully aware that we cannot all be leaders - some will lead while others will be lead. This has been like so ever since the start of the revolutionary struggle so it will not be new today simply because one of our torch bearers has passed on.
Takunya,
I really dont think you are one that should be lecturing people on believing their own lies.
Mr "The CIA invented homosexuality"
Mr "The Botswana wants to attack Zimbabwe"
Mr "AWT works for the CIA."
Mr "MDC killed 130 of their own supporters to make the ZANU PF look bad"
Mr "Tsvangirai called for sanctions"
In fact, I've lost count of the amount of lies you have told on this site. There are hundreds, yes hundreds, more.
But I'm glad that you know that a lie will always remain a lie no matter how many times it is repeated.
PS your mum is still calling me.... seriously, can you tell her to stop? .. its embarrasing.
Takunya, have you nothing better to do with your time than compose silly arguments? You mention many Zanu leaders that died without a power struggle ensuing. But you conveniently failed to mention that Mugabe has always been there. That is very disingenuous and shows your true character.
No one in Zanu has the political acumen of Mugabe. In fact the party has allowed Mugabe to become ZanuPF, they have no other identity anymore. If I may rephrase the quote you use- "Mugabe is to the survival of ZanuPF as oxygen is to human life".
I'm forsee the demise of ZanuPF as inevitable as the evening sunset.