Categories: Stories

A quick view of Mugabe’s potential successors

The deputy editor of the Zimbabwe Independent, Iden Wetherell, told United States embassy officials that he did not see anyone in the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front with the stature or backing to challenge President Robert Mugabe, or even form a lasting government should Mugabe step down.

He said most of the old guard were completely beholden to the President and lacked the political wherewithal needed to control the fractious ruling party.

Furthermore, they were “contaminated” by their association with Mugabe, making any one of them unpalatable to the public.

One-time potential successors Speaker of Parliament Emmerson Mnangagwa and Mines and Energy Minister Sydney Sekeramayi were out of the running due to their electoral setbacks.

Former Agriculture Minister Kumbirai Kangai and former Home Affairs Minister Dumiso Dabengwa were completely washed up politically.

Masvingo party “supremo” Eddison Zvobgo fancied himself as a presidential candidate, but his declining health removed him from serious consideration.

Home Affairs Minister and party chairman John Nkomo was a party hack who obtained his position only because others in the party did not want to see Mnangagwa assume the ZANU-PF chairmanship.

Finance Minister Simba Makoni, who was widely touted in the independent media as a possible successor, lacked the credentials and political support to succeed Mugabe.

 

Full cable:

 

Viewing cable 00HARARE5829, ZIMBABWE RULING PARTY IGNORING CLAMOR FOR

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Reference ID

Created

Released

Classification

Origin

00HARARE5829

2000-10-13 11:01

2011-08-30 01:44

CONFIDENTIAL

Embassy Harare

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

 

131101Z Oct 00

 

 

CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ7414

 

PAGE 01       HARARE 05829 01 OF 03 131101Z

ACTION AF-00

 

INFO LOG-00   NP-00   AID-00   ACQ-00   CEA-01   CIAE-00 COME-00

CTME-00 DODE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00   EB-00   EUR-00

EXIM-01 E-00     FAAE-00 VC-00  FRB-00   H-01     TEDE-00

INR-00   ITC-01   L-00     VCE-00   AC-01   NSAE-00 OMB-01

OPIC-01 PA-00   PM-00   PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00     SP-00

IRM-00   SSO-00   STR-00   TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00   DSCC-00

DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00 SAS-00     /009W

——————913C8E 131101Z /38

FM AMEMBASSY HARARE

TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7355

INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 005829

 

SIPDIS

 

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH

LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY

PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS

 

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/10

TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON ZI ZANU PF

SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE RULING PARTY IGNORING CLAMOR FOR

CHANGE AT ITS OWN PERIL

 

 

CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE D’AFFAIRES EARL M. IRVING.

REASONS: 1.5 (B) AND (D).

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 02       HARARE 05829 01 OF 03 131101Z

 

1. (C) SUMMARY: POLITICAL PUNDITS AND WOULD-BE

REFORMERS ARE AGAIN RAISING THEIR HOPES THAT THE ZANU-PF

EXTRAORDINARY CONGRESS DUE TO BE HELD BY THE END OF THE

YEAR WILL RESULT IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF A SUCCESSOR TO

MUGABE AND A REJUVENATION OF THE PARTY. THE POPULATION

AT LARGE, VICTIMIZED BY THE PARTY’S ONGOING CAMPAIGN OF

TERROR AND ECONOMIC MISMANAGEMENT, IS INCREASINGLY EAGER

FOR A CHANGE OF LEADERSHIP. ZANU-PF’S LEADERSHIP,

HOWEVER, DOES NOT SEE, OR CHOOSES TO IGNORE, THE WRITING

ON THE WALL, AND IS LIKELY TO SQUELCH ANY ATTEMPTS BY

THE PARTY’S “YOUNG TURKS” TO ASSUME A GREATER ROLE IN

RUNNING THE COUNTRY. THE PARTY LEADERSHIP IS REDOUBLING

ITS EFFORTS TO CLAMP DOWN ON DISSENT AND IS FURTHER

ATTEMPTING TO CONCENTRATE POWER IN THE HANDS OF THE

PRESIDENT WHILE THE DEMAND FOR GREATER PLURALITY

INCREASES. THIS YEAR’S PARTY CONGRESS IS PROBABLY THE

LAST GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR MANAGEABLE CHANGE WITHIN ZANU-

PF, AND, ONCE MISSED, WILL COME BACK TO HAUNT THE PARTY

MANY-FOLD IN 2002’S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. END SUMMARY.

 

2. (C) ACCORDING TO RECENT PRESS ARTICLES, THE

SUCCESSION ISSUE IS LIKELY TO COME UP AGAIN AT THIS

YEAR’S EXTRAORDINARY PARTY CONGRESS, DUE TO BE HELD BY

THE END OF THE YEAR (A DATE HAS NOT BEEN SET). ON

SEPTEMBER 29, ZANU-PF’S SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATION

DIDYMUS MUTASA ANNOUNCED THAT PRESIDENT MUGABE WOULD BE

THE PARTY’S NOMINEE FOR PRESIDENT IN 2002. THE DECISION

WAS REACHED AT A RECENT CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEETING,

APPARENTLY WITHOUT MUCH DEBATE. THE ANNOUNCEMENT SET

OFF A STIR WITHIN THE PARTY, AND THE LEADERSHIP HAS

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 03       HARARE 05829 01 OF 03 131101Z

SINCE BACKPEDALED, SAYING THAT THE PARTY’S NOMINEE WOULD

BE DETERMINED AT THE CONGRESS. OUR PARTY CONTACTS HAVE

CHARACTERIZED THE EXTRAORDINARY CONGRESS AS A

CONTINUATION OF “UNFINISHED BUSINESS” FROM LAST

DECEMBER’S FIVE-YEAR CONGRESS. MICHAEL MATAURE, A

FORMER ZANU-PF MP FROM MANICALAND, TOLD US THAT THE

SPECIAL CONGRESS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HELD IN MARCH OR

APRIL, BUT BECAUSE OF THE REFERENDUM DEFEAT IN FEBRUARY,

IT WAS POSTPONED. MATAURE WENT SO FAR AS TO SAY THAT

MUGABE HAD BEEN READY TO DISCUSS FINDING A SUCCESSOR AT

THAT CONGRESS, BUT INSTEAD DUG IN HIS HEELS WHEN IT

BECAME APPARENT THAT THE PARTY WAS LOSING POPULAR

SUPPORT AND AND THE MEMBERSHIP WANTED HIM TO GO. NOW,

MUGABE IS UNLIKELY TO GIVE SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO

ANOINTING A SUCCESSOR, BELIEVING THAT HE IS THE ONLY

FIGURE WHO CAN HOLD THE PARTY, AND THE COUNTRY,

TOGETHER, MATAURE OPINED.

 

3. SINCE THE PARTY’S BACKPEDALING ON MUGABE’S

“NOMINATION,” A CHORUS OF POTENTIAL SUCCESSORS HAVE

CHIMED IN ON THEIR WILLINGNESS TO ASSUME THE REIGNS

SHOULD MUGABE DECLINE TO RUN AGAIN. THE 78-YEAR-OLD

VICE-PRESIDENT SIMON MUZENDA, WHO HAS BEEN OUT OF THE

LIMELIGHT FOR SOME TIME, IS MAKING IT KNOWN WITHIN PARTY

CIRCLES THAT HE WISHES TO SUCCEED MUGABE SHOULD HE

DECIDE TO RETIRE, ACCORDING TO THE “FINANCIAL GAZETTE.”

OTHER PARTY STALWARTS ARE QUIETLY LOBBYING FOR

CONSIDERATION. IDEN WETHERELL, DEPUTY EDITOR OF THE

“ZIMBABWE INDEPENDENT,” TOLD US THAT HE DOESN’T SEE

ANYONE IN THE PARTY WITH THE STATURE OR BACKING TO

CHALLENGE MUGABE FOR THE PRESIDENCY, OR EVEN FORM A

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 04       HARARE 05829 01 OF 03 131101Z

LASTING GOVERNMENT SHOULD MUGABE STEP DOWN. MOST OF THE

OLD GUARD ARE COMPLETELY BEHOLDEN TO THE PRESIDENT AND

LACK THE POLITICAL WHEREWITHAL NEEDED TO CONTROL THE

FRACTIOUS RULING PARTY. FURTHERMORE, THEY ARE

“CONTAMINATED” BY THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH MUGABE, MAKING

ANY ONE OF THEM UNPALATABLE TO THE PUBLIC. ONE-TIME

POTENTIAL SUCCESSORS SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT EMMERSON

MNANGAGWA AND MINES AND ENERGY MINISTER SYDNEY

SEKERAMAYI ARE OUT OF THE RUNNING DUE TO THEIR ELECTORAL

SETBACKS, ACCORDING TO WETHERELL. FORMER AGRICULTURE

MINISTER KUMBIRAI KANGAI AND FORMER HOME AFFAIRS

MINISTER DUMISO DABENGWA ARE COMPLETELY WASHED UP

POLITICALLY, WETHERELL SAID. MASVINGO PARTY “SUPREMO”

EDDISON ZVOBGO FANCIES HIMSELF AS A PRESIDENTIAL

CANDIDATE, BUT HIS DECLINING HEALTH REMOVES HIM FROM

SERIOUS CONSIDERATION, WETHERELL STATED. HOME AFFAIRS

MINISTER AND PARTY CHAIRMAN JOHN NKOMO IS A PARTY HACK

WHO OBTAINED HIS POSITION ONLY BECAUSE OTHERS IN THE

PARTY DID NOT WANT TO SEE MNANGAGWA ASSUME THE ZANU-PF

CHAIRMANSHIP. FINANCE MINISTER SIMBA MAKONI, WHO IS

WIDELY TOUTED IN THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA AS A POSSIBLE

SUCCESSOR, LACKS THE CREDENTIALS AND POLITICAL SUPPORT

TO SUCCEED MUGABE, WETHERELL OFFERED.

 

4. (C) THERE IS A WIDENING SPLIT IN ZANU-PF BETWEEN THE

 

CONFIDENTIAL

 

CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ7415

 

PAGE 01       HARARE 05829 02 OF 03 131101Z

ACTION AF-00

 

INFO LOG-00   NP-00   AID-00   ACQ-00   CEA-01   CIAE-00 COME-00

CTME-00 DODE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00   EB-00   EUR-00

EXIM-01 E-00     FAAE-00 VC-00   FRB-00   H-01     TEDE-00

INR-00   ITC-01   L-00     VCE-00   AC-01   NSAE-00 OMB-01

OPIC-01 PA-00   PM-00   PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00     SP-00

IRM-00   SSO-00   STR-00   TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00   DSCC-00

DRL-02 G-00     NFAT-00 SAS-00     /009W

——————913C9C 131101Z /38

P 131101Z OCT 00

FM AMEMBASSY HARARE

TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7356

INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY

 

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 HARARE 005829

 

SIPDIS

 

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH

LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY

PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS

 

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/10

TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON ZI ZANU PF

SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE RULING PARTY IGNORING CLAMOR FOR

CHANGE AT ITS OWN PERIL

 

OLD GUARD (WITH LINKS TO THE LIBERATION WAR OF THE

1970S) AND THE SO-CALLED “YOUNG TURKS.” WETHERELL DID

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 02       HARARE 05829 02 OF 03 131101Z

NOT DESCRIBE THE YOUNG TURKS AS A FACTION, BUT MORE AS A

DIVERSE GROUPING OF YOUNG BUSINESSMEN AND INTELLECTUALS

UNITED ONLY BY THEIR DESIRE TO KICK OUT THE OLD GUARD.

THEY DOMINATE THE ZANU-PF DELEGATION IN PARLIAMENT, AND

ARE LED BY CHEGUTU MP CHARLES NDLOVU, BUT HAVE NO

POSITIONS IN CABINET AND VERY FEW SENIOR POSITIONS IN

THE PARTY. NDLOVU, WHO IS ALSO THE PARTY CHAIRMAN FOR

MASHONALAND WEST, AND PADDY ZHANDA, PARTY CHAIRMAN FOR

MASHONALAND EAST, WOULD APPEAR TO BE THEIR MOST SENIOR

MEMBERS. MAKONI AND INDUSTRY AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE

MINISTER NKOSANA MOYO, OFTEN TOUTED AS REFORMERS, ARE

NOT “YOUNG TURKS,” WETHERELL SAID, BUT MERELY COMPETENT

TECHNOCRATS BROUGHT IN TO PUT A GOOD FACE ON ECONOMIC

RECOVERY ATTEMPTS. MOYO IS NOT A MEMBER OF ZANU-PF, AND

RECENTLY TOLD THE AMBASSADOR HE WOULD CONTINUE TO GUARD

JEALOUSLY HIS POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE.

 

5. (C) MANY OF THE YOUNG TURKS ARE “JOHNNY-COME-

LATELYS” TO THE PARTY WHO SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET INTO

GOVERNMENT BY TROUNCING UNPOPULAR PARTY HACKS IN THE

PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION, ACCORDING TO WETHERELL. SOME OF

THESE NEW MEMBERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN CO-OPTED BY THE OLD

GUARD. NONETHELESS, THE YOUNG TURKS ARE THE PRIMARY

SOURCE FOR CALLS TO REFORM THE PARTY’S TOP-DOWN

STRUCTURE. ZHANDA, A PROMINENT BUSINESSMAN IN

MASHONALAND EAST, TOLD US THAT HE WOULD RATHER TRY TO

CHANGE THE PARTY FROM WITHIN THAN FROM WITHOUT. HE SAID

HE HAS PERSONALLY TOLD MUGABE THAT CHANGE IS DESIRABLE

AND INEVITABLE. THE OCTOBER 6 “ZIMBABWE MIRROR”

REPORTED THAT SHORTLY AFTER THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION,

JOHN NKOMO SET UP A CABINET-LEVEL TASK FORCE TO

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 03      HARARE 05829 02 OF 03 131101Z

RECOMMEND WAYS OF REVAMPING ZANU-PF. THE

PRESIDENTIALLY-APPOINTED POLITBURO, HOWEVER, DID NOT

FIND THE RECOMMENDATIONS, WHICH INCLUDED RENAMING THE

PARTY AND REFORMING ITS CONSTITUTION, AT ALL ACCEPTABLE.

 

6. (C) INSTEAD OF TAKING CALLS FOR CHANGE ON BOARD, THE

PARTY LEADERSHIP IS REDOUBLING ITS EFFORTS TO CLAMP DOWN

ON DISSENT BY TRYING TO REIMPOSE THE DISCIPLINE THAT HAS

SLIPPED AWAY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. ONE OF MUGABE’S

PRINCIPAL INSTRUMENTS FOR THIS PURPOSE IS NEW MINISTER

OF STATE FOR INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY JONATHAN MOYO.

ACCORDING TO WETHERELL, MOYO WELL MIRRORS MUGABE’S

COMBATIVE STYLE AND CLOSELY REPRESENTS HIS THINKING ON

MOST ISSUES. MOYO IS RESENTED IN THE PARTY BECAUSE OF

HIS RAPID RISE AND BECAUSE HE SERVES AS THE PRESIDENT’S

POINT MAN ON THE CRITICAL ISSUES OF THE DAY. MUGABE

CIRCUMVENTS THE PARTY AND GOVERNMENT STRUCTURES BY

HAVING MOYO ISSUE STATEMENTS THAT EFFECTIVELY

COUNTERMAND DIRECTIVES FROM CABINET OFFICIALS, WETHERELL

CONTINUED. MOYO’S PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE CLOSING

DOWN OF THE INDEPENDENT CAPITAL RADIO STATION HIGHLIGHTS

HIS GROWING POWER. THE CABINET, AND THE MINISTRIES IT

REPRESENTS, IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY IRRELEVANT AS IT IS

SIDELINED BY THE PRESIDENT’S OFFICE. THIS IS BECOMING

ANOTHER SOURCE OF DISCORD WITHIN ZANU-PF.

 

7. (C) MOYO HAS BEEN INFORMALLY CHARGED WITH REIMPOSING

DISCIPLINE ON WAYWARD PARTY OFFICIALS IN THE PROVINCES

AS WELL. THE OCTOBER 7 GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED “HERALD”

PROMINENTLY REPORTED THAT THE ENTIRE ZANU-PF PROVINCIAL

EXECUTIVE IN HARARE HAD BEEN SUSPENDED OVER INFIGHTING

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 04       HARARE 05829 02 OF 03 131101Z

AMONG ITS MEMBERS. CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS THEN TOOK

OVER THE OPERATION OF THE RULING PARTY IN HARARE. THE

ZANU-PF EXECUTIVE LED BY SHADRECK BETA IN MANICALAND WAS

SUSPENDED SHORTLY THEREAFTER. MANICALAND HAS BEEN

RACKED BY INTRA-PARTY SQUABBLING AND FEUDING FOR SEVERAL

YEARS. THE PARTY CHAIRS IN MASVINGO, MASHONALAND WEST,

AND MIDLANDS ARE ALSO REPORTED TO BE HEADING FOR THE

CHOPPING BLOCK. MUGABE RECENTLY WARNED OF CLEANING OUT

“DARK CHARACTERS” FROM THE PARTY WHO WERE MORE

INTERESTED IN “MAKING WAR” ON THEIR FELLOW PARTY MEMBERS

THAN “ENGAGING OUR POLITICAL RIVALS.” THE SUSPENSIONS

WILL LIKELY SERVE AS A PUNISHMENT FOR THOSE LOCAL PARTY

OFFICIALS WHO ALLOWED THE MDC TO WIN SO MANY SEATS IN

THE JUNE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION.

 

8. (C) THE OCTOBER 13 EDITION OF “THE HERALD” REPORTED

THAT MUGABE IS THINKING OF TURNING OVER THE PRESIDENCY

TO A SUCCESSOR, BUT NOT WHEN THE PARTY IS “IN

DIFFICULTY,” AND ONLY AFTER IT “WINS VICTORY” AND

ENSURES THAT THE COUNTRY’S “INDEPENDENCE IS NOT IN THE

HANDS OF STOOGES AND AGENTS OF IMPERIALISTS” – A CLEAR

REFERENCE TO THE MDC. MUGABE’S COMMENTS IN A BBC

INTERVIEW, AND THEIR SUBSEQUENT PROMINENT COVERAGE IN

THE “HERALD,” WERE LIKELY INTENDED TO ASSUAGE THE

RESTIVE PARTY MASSES AHEAD OF THIS YEAR’S PARTY

 

CONFIDENTIAL

 

CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ7416

 

PAGE 01       HARARE 05829 03 OF 03 131101Z

ACTION AF-00

 

INFO LOG-00   NP-00   AID-00   ACQ-00   CEA-01   CIAE-00 COME-00

CTME-00 DODE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00   EB-00   EUR-00

EXIM-01 E-00     FAAE-00 VC-00   FRB-00   H-01     TEDE-00

INR-00   ITC-01   L-00     VCE-00   AC-01   NSAE-00 OMB-01

OPIC-01 PA-00   PM-00   PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00     SP-00

IRM-00   SSO-00   STR-00   TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00   DSCC-00

DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00 SAS-00     /009W

——————913C9F 131101Z /38

P 131101Z OCT 00

FM AMEMBASSY HARARE

TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7357

INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY

 

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 HARARE 005829

 

SIPDIS

 

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH

LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY

PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS

 

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/10

TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON ZI ZANU PF

SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE RULING PARTY IGNORING CLAMOR FOR

CHANGE AT ITS OWN PERIL

 

CONGRESS. THE REMARKS PROVIDE MUGABE WITH AN EXCUSE TO

STAY AT THE PARTY’S HELM. AS WETHERELL CHARACTERIZED

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 02       HARARE 05829 03 OF 03 131101Z

IT, MUGABE IS TRYING TO PROJECT AN IMAGE OF AN EMBATTLED

LEADER UNDER SIEGE FROM FOREIGN “IMPERIALISTS” (BRITAIN

AND THE U.S.) AND “COUNTERREVOLUTIONARIES” WITHIN THE

COUNTRY (MDC MEMBERS AND WHITES). CREATING ENEMIES

OUTSIDE THE PARTY IS THE ONLY WAY HE BELIEVES HE CAN

KEEP A LID ON THE GROWING DISCONTENT WITHIN THE PARTY

AND THE COUNTRY.

 

9. (C) COMMENT: PRESIDENT MUGABE AND HIS LOYAL OLD

GUARD APPEAR TO BE POSITIONING THEMSELVES TO WARD OFF

ANY CHALLENGES TO THEIR ENTRENCHED LEADERSHIP AT THIS

YEAR’S PARTY CONGRESS. AT LAST YEAR’S CONGRESS, MUGABE

AND COMPANY SUCCESSFULLY SWEPT UNDER THE RUG THE YOUNG

TURKS’ CALLS FOR REFORMING THE PARTY, AND THIS YEAR IS

NOT LIKELY TO BE ANY DIFFERENT. MUGABE HAS SHOWN NO

WILLINGNESS TO COMPROMISE WITH ANYONE WHO ESPOUSES

ALTERNATIVE VIEWPOINTS. HE REMAINS FIRMLY IN CONTROL OF

THE POLITBURO, THE PARTY’S PRIMARY DECISION-MAKING BODY.

UNLIKE MUGABE’S EARLY YEARS IN WHICH HE RULED MORE BY

CONSENSUS, HE IS NOW MORE FREQUENTLY RULING BY DECREE ON

CRITICAL ISSUES SUCH AS LAND REFORM, AND IN THE PROCESS

SIDELINING PARLIAMENT, HIS CABINET, AND HIS OWN PARTY.

THE QUESTION REMAINS HOW LONG THE PARTY FAITHFUL ARE

WILLING TO WAIT FOR CHANGE FROM THE TOP BEFORE THEY

REVOLT AND KICK MUGABE OUT. THIS YEAR’S CONGRESS IS

PROBABLY THE LAST OPPORTUNITY FOR ZANU-PF TO BEGIN

MANAGING A SMOOTH CHANGEOVER BEFORE THE MAY 2002

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. THE PARTY NEEDS ALL THE TIME IT

CAN GET TO CHANGE ITS IMAGE OF AN OUTDATED AND

FOSSILIZED ORGANIZATION THAT NO LONGER HAS THE INTERESTS

OF THE PEOPLE AT HEART. IF THE SUCCESSION ISSUE IS ONCE

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 03       HARARE 05829 03 OF 03 131101Z

AGAIN SWEPT UNDER THE RUG THIS YEAR, OR MUGABE REAFFIRMS

HE WILL AGAIN STAND FOR PRESIDENT, EVEN THE PARTY

FAITHFUL MAY DECIDE THEY HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF STAYING

IN GOVERNMENT BY JOINING THE OPPOSITION. IF HE DOES NOT

ALLOW SOME CHANGE TO COME NOW, MUGABE RISKS A MORE

SUDDEN, AND FOR HIM, UNDESIRABLE, CHANGE DOWN THE ROAD.

END COMMENT.

 

IRVING

 

CONFIDENTIAL

 

>

 

(18 VIEWS)

Charles Rukuni

The Insider is a political and business bulletin about Zimbabwe, edited by Charles Rukuni. Founded in 1990, it was a printed 12-page subscription only newsletter until 2003 when Zimbabwe's hyper-inflation made it impossible to continue printing.

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