Zanu PF bids to oust Msika

Zanu PF bids to oust Msika

MUGABE

• Mugabe looks to China

• Obasanjo snubs Mugabe

• Mugabe in threat to quit C'nwealth

• Isolated Mugabe fights back

• Mugabe not stepping down

By Felix Njini
08/12/03
A RENEGADE group of Zanu PF militants, aided by the shadowy spy agency – the Central Intelligence Organisation - have launched an ambitious bid to expel former PF-Zapu stalwart and Vice President Joseph Msika from the party, claiming he is “supping with whites”.

Details of this emerged at the just ended Zanu PF annual conference in Masvingo at the weekend. A document was circulated and is said to have been handed to President Mugabe, claiming Msika was “eating and drinking Whisky with whites”.

Political commentators say the bid is bound to fail as President Mugabe would be unwilling to compromise the 1987 Unity Accord between Zanu PF and PF-Zapu which ended a five-year military campaign in Matabeleland which claimed over 20 000 lives.

An angry Msika, described as “edgy” by the Zimbabwe Mirror newspaper immediately hit back, vowing to age a campaign to expose his opponents. He told the paper that the originators of the document were merely bent on smearing his image.

“Beware of a backlash! Detractors say Msika is eating with whites, Msika is getting whisky from whites,” Msika said, referring to himself in the third person. “That’s nonsensical and insulting. I am very clear and straight. I am not a sell-out as you will see when you look at my record.

“That document was written by stupid people Mafikizolos (Johnny-come-lately), I think the party is infiltrated,” a livid Msika told the Mirror.

It was an acrimonious end to the party’s annual gathering where President Mugabe signalled his intention to stay in power and threatened to pull Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth from which the country stays suspended.

The allegations against Msika, as reported in the document which was allegedly drawn up with input from the intelligence services, include claims that Msika was “too friendly” with former white commercial farmers who were ejected from their properties during the government’s contentious land reform programme.

The document was reportedly availed to Mugabe, who made no comment on it during the conference. However, while talking about the land question, Mugabe expressed disapproval with party officials who had collaborated with the white farmers who intended to stay on gazetted farms.

He also accused senior party officials of hypocrisy and double-dealing, pointing out that some of them collaborated with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), which Mugabe has often described as an appendage of white interests.

“I say this because I know what is happening,” Mugabe said in his swipe against “those who want to use money to disrupt our party and create in it a new ideology”.

The document purported to have been written by party members, but senior Zanu PF officials claimed it was the MDC that was trying to sneak the issue in through the back door.

In an apparent bid to declare his loyalty, Msika told Zanu PF supporters that those calling for Mugabe’s exit belonged in the same category as British premier, Tony Blair, US president, George Bush as well as the MDC.

“All those who talk of succession are bloody sell-outs. There was someone who wanted to bring up the issue here at the conference. We were going to deal with him if he had brought up the issue,” said Msika.

“Mugabe cannot go whilst things are as they are.”

In closing remarks at the three-day conference, a defiant Mugabe warned party officials discussing his succession behind his back, implying that such actions amounted to conspiracy.

“I will tell you when I feel I need rest, but I haven’t told you that yet. I am still mandated to rule.

“I have said those who want to talk about succession are free. They should not do it Nicodemusly. Why should you talk about it behind closed doors if you are genuine?” said Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe for the past 23 years.

“If you think that Zimbabwe can do better by change of leadership, why not discuss that openly as opposed to clandestinely,” Mugabe asked.

Early this year he encouraged party members to discuss his exit. This led to reported jockeying and jostling amongst those with presidential ambitions. A succession committee was subsequently formed, but it was disbanded when it was discovered that the group was fuelling intra-party fighting.
JOIN THE DEBATE ON THIS ARTICLE ON THE NEWZIMBABWE.COM FORUMS
editor@newzimbabwe.com