Zimbabwe succession scuffle turns into a storm in a tea cup

The often nasty battle to succeed Zimbabwe's aging president has turned into a tempest in a tea cup — literally, Associated Press reports.

On the face of it, nothing was wrong with Facebook photos of one of the country's vice presidents holding a mug with friends during the recent holidays.

Problem is, the mug featured the words "I Am the Boss."

Emmerson Mnangagwa's opponents within the fractured ruling ZANU-PF party pounced on the opportunity to accuse him of harboring ambitions to take over from 92-year-old President Robert Mugabe.

Mnangagwa, who is acting president while Mugabe holidays abroad, has issued a statement denying any such ambitions.

Mugabe does not take kindly to suggestions of anyone taking over from him. He fired his deputy of 10 years, Joice Mujuru, in 2014 on accusations she was using witchcraft to oust him. In April, four members of the once-loyal war veterans' leadership were axed from the party for calling on Mugabe to step down.

Mugabe has declared he wants to live until 100 and rule for life.

Meanwhile, two factions, one associated with Mnangagwa and another with first lady Grace Mugabe, are fighting to position themselves for eventual takeover once Mugabe leaves the scene.

The mug photos only heightened the jostling.

"When pictures not only tell more than a thousand words, but also deepen the power grab narrative!" posted higher and tertiary education minister Jonathan Moyo on Twitter.

Moyo, an outspoken minister once critical of Mugabe, is associated with a youth faction linked to the first lady. He often takes to Twitter to attack Mnangagwa.

Mugabe in December warned his officials against using Twitter to fight succession wars.

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