Is Mutsvangwa that powerful?

Whispers, however, said Kasukuwere was in fact using the First Lady as a stepping stone to the throne and was going to ditch her at the right moment.

Reports say Grace Mugabe seems to have realised this and has since distanced herself from Kasukuwere though some reports say she is still protecting him.

Mphoko’s statement clearly demonstrates that the country’s war veterans are in control of the politics in the ruling party.

There could, however, be some truth to Mphoko’s sentiments because at their crucial meeting with Mugabe in April last year, war veterans protested that Kasukuwere was not the right person to head the party’s commissariat.

“The…primary role of the commissariat department must be mass mobilisation and political education of the party members and never that of expelling and suspending members from the party,” the veterans said.

 “Kudzingana nekususpendana zvoita kunge ndiro basa remusangano. It is recommended that war veterans take over in the departments of security, commissariat and welfare not only to stop this rot, but to gain back the trust and support of the people of Zimbabwe.”

War veterans have been in favour of putting the department under a war veteran.

They also believe that Mugabe’s successor should have liberation credentials.

Defence Forces Chief Constantine Chiwenga recently repeated sentiments made by his predecessor Vitalis Zvinavashe 15 years ago that the security forces will not salute anyone without liberation credentials.

At the time this was targeted at Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai who was challenging Mugabe in the 2002 presidential elections.

There is now wide speculation that this is now includes Grace Mugabe who is reportedly eyeing the throne though she had repeatedly denied this.

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