ZANU-PF congress ends but the agonising wait begins

The Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front ended tonight with only two people, President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace, assured of their posts in the powerful politburo.

The party endorsed Mugabe, who at 91 said  “I still have a bright mind”,  as its president and presidential candidate for the 2018 elections when he will 94.

His wife Grace was appointed secretary for the women’s league, a post that guarantees a seat in the politburo

But the agonising wait has begun for his lieutenants aspiring to be appointed to the politburo. Mugabe warned them that anyone appointed to the politburo should stop the nonsense of thinking that he has people because this is what caused Vice-President Joice Mujuru all her troubles.

“I will look at the central committee and look at hands on people who will make it to the politburo,” Mugabe said.

“Those who are not here have said goodbye to us. We are not sending them away, except those we have expelled,” he said referring to his former deputy Mujuru and those who stayed away from the congress in solidarity with her.

“We just got them out of the management of the party. They have become ordinary members and will have more time to farm potatoes.”

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