Mugabe, always the scheming survivor, killed the debate about succession right from the word go because it was creating havoc within the party. “….Nyaya yesuccession iyi yavakutiparira ngozi. Stop it. Ko what’s the problem. Hapana mavacancies acho, aripo here?” he asked the delegates clearly indicating that as far as he was concerned, the issue of succession was causing havoc within the party. There was no need to debate it because there were no vacancies.
Mugabe instead switched to the conference theme: Consolidating Independence through Land, Mining Reforms and Empowerment.
"It is disheartening to see the chaotic situation that has characterised the mining of diamonds in the Marange area….. Some of the behaviour, allegedly incited by senior party and government officials, provides fodder for our enemies who are ever ready to pounce on the smallest happening that appears to tarnish us,” he said.
"If you are going to be harnessed by European companies which are already in it, which we are fighting against, then we will be fighting against you as well, ndozvamunoda here izvozvo (Is that what you want)?" he asked.
The question was rhetorical. Mugabe had already struck the first blow by shutting down the operations of African Consolidated Resources (ACR) which had started mining diamonds commercially in Marange only a few months earlier. He was angry because Mujuru, among others, was allegedly working with the British registered company.
The revoking of ACR’s mining rights in Marange met strong criticism as it triggered memories of the chaotic land reform programme during which Mugabe took over thousands of farms from 4 000 mainly white commercial farmers without any compensation.
It was not clear at the time whether Mugabe merely wanted to save his throne or he was aware of the sinister move, but Mugabe’s decision to stop the operations of ACR could have saved him great embarrassment.
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