(Last Updated on April 6, 2014 by Editor)
ZIMBABWE – NEITHER Vice-President Joice Mujuru nor Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa have an automatic ticket to take over leadership of the country, as the people will have their say and choose who they deem fit to be president, President Mugabe said yesterday.
The President, who was speaking in response to reports of factionalism in the ruling Zanu-PF pitting factions reportedly led by the two senior Politburo members, said no individual owned the revolutionary party.
Addressing members of the Gushungo Clan at Murombedzi Growth yesterday, President Mugabe said presidential aspirants would be elected through the Zanu-PF congress.
President Mugabe said VP Mujuru and Minister Mnangagwa were not the only people who could take over from him as the pool of potential leaders was large.
There have been persistent reports over the years that VP Mujuru and Minister Mnangagwa are vying for the Presidency and have built factions in Zanu-PF around them.
But yesterday President Mugabe said: “Izvi tirikutaura nekuti kumaprovince akawanda kwanga kune nyaya iyoyo yekudhivhaidhana kuti vamwe varikunzi ndevaMai Mujuru pane zvesuccession, vamwe ndevaMinister Mnangagwa vachinzi ndovaviri varikuda kuzotora chigaro chaPresident kana varetire (I am saying this because in many provinces we hear of divisions along factional lines. It is said Mai Mujuru and Minister Mnangagwa are aspiring for the presidency).
“Vanhu vanosarudza vavanoda. Handi vaviri ivava chete. The day I retire the people can choose any other leader they think is the best candidate.”
President Mugabe said he still had unfinished business to sort out before stepping down.
“Morega kuteerera vanoda kukurovanisai musoro vachiti uyu ndewekwavaChombo uyu ndewekwavaShamu. Hatina izvozvo. Vanhu vese ndeve Zanu-PF. VaChombo havana vanhu vavo, vaShamu havana vanhu vavo. VaMugabe havana vanhu vavo. Ndiri mukuru weZanu-PF. Ndinotungamirira Zanu-PF ine vanhu.
“Vatinoti mamembers edu eZanu-PF, ndivo vanhu ivavo vatinoti vedu. Ndo vanhu vamunoti vaChombo venyu ivavo veZanu-PF. VaMliswa ndo vanhu venyu ivavo kwete vanhu vanonzi ava vanoteerera zvavaChombo ava vanoteerera zvavaMliswa. VaMliswa vanoda kuve nechigaro chakati, vaChombo varikuda kuzoti vave nechigaro chakati. Hatidi izvozvo kwete,” he said.