President Emmerson Mnangagwa held a crisis meeting with his deputy Constantino Chiwenga to chew over the implications of a meeting between ...
President Emmerson Mnangagwa held a crisis meeting with his
deputy Constantino Chiwenga to chew over the implications of a meeting between
former president Robert Mugabe and Joice Mujuru.
The Standard reports that both Mugabe and Mujuru are bitter
over the manner in which they were ousted from power in 2017 and 2014
respectively. They both accuse Mnangagwa
for plotting their downfall.
Mugabe has since apologised to Mujuru and is considering bolstering
her presidential ambitions.
“Basically the fear is that Mugabe, through his boys [G40]
could infiltrate and cause the destabilisation of this government, so the two
talked on how to handle such possibilities bearing in mind the possibility of
some G40 MPs joining hands with Mujuru’s National People’s Party (NPP),” said a
senior government official.
“They discussed attempts to cause divisions amongst
themselves which they suspected was being pushed by some within the
intelligence through the spread of propaganda alleging that they are not
working well together or were plotting against each other.”
There are fears that Mugabe, still smarting from the pain
of betrayal by his trusted lieutenants last November — although old and too
frail to campaign — could still be a potent election trump card.
Sources said Mnangagwa and his deputy were concerned about
the ramifications on the electorate of the meeting and the alleged apology from
Mugabe — especially the effect this would have on diehard supporters of the
93-year-old ex-leader.
“A number of intelligence reports — especially from
Mashonaland provinces — suggest that the ex-president’s supporters want to hear
that their icon is safe and happy all the time. So the two leaders had hoped to
keep his supporters happy with a message that their dear leader was happy.”
The source said intelligence reports indicated that Mugabe
was still hero-worshiped — especially by beneficiaries of the land reform
programme although his wife and most of the top G40 cabal were generally
disliked.
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