FORMER Education minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu has leapt to Information minister Jonathan Moyo’s defence saying the Zanu PF strategist’s sentiments on President Robert Mugabe’s succession were spot on.
BY Everson Mushava
Moyo ruffled feathers in Zanu PF on Monday when he told the BBC that Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa was not guaranteed to succeed Mugabe.
The minister said Mnangagwa had been handpicked to assist Mugabe fulfil his mandate not to succeed the 91-year-old leader.
Moyo’s remarks were condemned by the Vice-President’s allies who said they felt he was ruling the Midlands strongman out of the race to succeed Mugabe who is nearing the end of his political career.
Ndlovu, one of the remaining senior former Zapu officials still in Zanu PF, said the talk of a Mugabe successor were premature.
“We of former PF Zapu are amazed to hear of a succession race to succeed our President Mugabe,” the former politburo member wrote in the State media.
“In isiNdebele we say ‘akukho langa eliphuma elinye lingakatshoni’ (there can be no two rulers at once).
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“The President will also tell us as part in this unity when the time comes, but for now let us all help the President in the affairs of State and national development.”
Debate over Mugabe’s succession has resurfaced a few months after the 91-year-old leader purged former Vice-President Joice Mujuru’s supporters last December.
Mujuru, who was seen as the front-runner to succeed Mugabe, was accused of plotting to assassinate the long-serving ruler.
Her demise benefited the Justice minister the most as Mnangagwa was elevated to Vice-President and for a few months appeared destined to succeed Mugabe.
However, in recent weeks distinct camps have emerged in Zanu PF with one backing Mnangagwa and another supporting the so-called “Young Turks”.
Ndlovu hinted that the succession battle could rope in former PF Zapu members, saying their concerns needed to be taken aboard.
In the BBC interview, Moyo was asked about Mnangagwa’s role in the Gukurahundi atrocities and if they could affect his chances to succeed Mugabe.
He said the Gukurahundi question was addressed by the Unity Accord signed between Zapu and Zanu in 1987.
“Now here is why I support Professor Jonathan Moyo on why anyone should want to reopen old wounds,” Ndlovu wrote.
“Do we want to destroy this highly cherished unity which is the envy of the African continent and the world?
“Unity must be maintained at all costs and those in politics and government must talk unity and walk unity by availing the opportunities to the former PF Zapu.
“Some new top beneficiaries of unity must not forget that they are what they are because of the peace and unity attained the hard way after the liberation of the our beloved nation, Zimbabwe.”
Ndlovu took a swipe at people who wanted to pretend that Gukurahundi did not happen.
“Some of our people who want to pretend there was no political strife did not even suffer during that time hence they do not appreciate the importance and seriousness of the Unity Accord signed between Dr Joshua Nkomo and President Mugabe and the merger between the two revolutionary parties and indeed all the people of Zimbabwe,” he added.
Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko recently came under fire for claiming that Gukurahundi was a Western creation.
