ZANU PF succession protagonists Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo came eyeball to eyeball in a titanic battle for President Robert Mugabe’s attention as the ruling party’s politburo meeting turned into a political theatre on Wednesday.
Mnangagwa is reported to have told President Robert Mugabe and the Zanu-PF Politburo he has a report that links political foe, Prof Moyo to a foreign spy agency.
Mnangagwa is reported to have made the allegations at the latest Politburo meeting after Prof. Moyo had presented pictures as evidence while accusing Mnangagwa of capturing state institutions and using them in his attempt to succeed President Mugabe. Highly-placed sources said Moyo, who had initially threatened to present video evidence to back claims that Mnangagwa wanted to topple Mugabe, instead made a PowerPoint presentation with still pictures as he sought to nail the VP.
Mnangagwa, according to sources, discounted Moyo and asked Mugabe for an opportunity to expose Moyo “for the spy that you are”. He asked for time to make his own presentation and will likely present his evidence at the next Politburo meeting.
Moyo, sources said, also produced pictures showing former Zanu-PF Mashonaland Central youth chairperson Godfrey Tsenengamu, Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association chairman Christopher Mutsvangwa, party activist Energy Mutodi and Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantino Chiwenga claiming they were all supportive of Mnangagwa’s candidacy.
Another politburo source said: “Moyo claimed institutions such as the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission had been captured by Mnangagwa and his acolytes and were now being used against those opposed to his ‘successionist plot’. Moyo also raised the issue of the late former Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku, arguing the Vice-President had tried unsuccessfully to force him into early retirement.”
The politburo sources added Moyo was said to have accused Mnangagwa of funding demonstrations by pro-democracy groups as well as the opposition.
In response to the accusations, Mnangagwa reportedly mockingly “applauded” Moyo for the effort, but threw everything back at Mugabe. Mnangagwa told Moyo that he had not pitched up at Dinyane for the infamous 2004 Tsholotsho Declaration on the fateful day “because we are politically mature”.
