Mugabe 'feared' Mujuru

The death of former army commander General Solomon Mujuru last year in a mysterious blaze would have been a great relief for President Robert Mugabe, who feared him and was always under pressure from him to retire.

A senior Zanu-PF official is quoted in the latest WikiLeaks cables as telling an American diplomat that Mujuru, and another former Zanu-PF politburo member, Dumiso Dabengwa, were a thorn in the veteran ruler's side. Dabengwa quit the party in 2008 to support former finance minister Simba Makoni's bid for the presidency.

A year earlier Mujuru, Dabengwa and Makoni were at the centre of a plot at Zanu-PF's extraordinary congress in Harare to force Mugabe to resign ahead of the contested 2008 elections. When the plan failed, Dabengwa and Makoni left, while Mujuru stayed put.

Although Mugabe is still under pressure to retire, it was Mujuru he feared the most, according to party insiders and Zanu-PF politburo member Sikhanyiso Ndlovu.

Ndlovu was quoted by WikiLeaks as telling a US diplomat in Harare: "Mugabe respects and fears Mujuru. Mujuru is also now independently wealthy, which gives him freedom for manoeuvre that those whose livelihoods depend on the ruling party do not have." Ndlovu told former US ambassador Joseph Sullivan that Americans should not paint everyone in Zimbabwe with the same brush, as there were moderates like him who were trying to reform Zanu-PF from within. He said the only problem was that hardliners were blocking reforms.

He said Mujuru was capable of confronting Mugabe and asking him when he would retire. Ndlovu indicated the succession issue was being discussed in top Zanu-PF circles.

"The one prominent exception is retired General Solomon Mujuru, who recently asked Mugabe during a politburo meeting when he planned to step down. The politburo is full of aspiring individuals who want their own chance at the top job. Two options have been discussed informally among like-minded members. The first is to somehow invoke the section of the draft constitution rejected in 2000, which created the position of prime minister," Ndlovu is quoted as saying.

He said if that initiative had succeeded it would have given the prime minister executive powers, while leaving Mugabe as a largely ceremonial head of state.

At the time there was also a consideration of another option, that of appointing two young and energetic vice-presidents to work under Mugabe and revive the party and run government efficiently, he said. During the discussions with Sullivan, Ndlovu emphasised the importance of managing Mugabe's exit to ensure a safe way out and guaranteeing him immunity from prosecution.

Zanu-PF insiders say Mugabe is afraid of suffering a fate similar to that of former Liberian president Charles Taylor, which explained why he wants to die in office. Taylor was this week found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity by a United Nations special tribunal in The Hague.

According to WikiLeaks, almost all senior Zanu-PF officials want Mugabe to go. Mujuru's death remains a mystery, with his family suspecting he was murdered by political opponents.

Some say he was killed over diamond deals which went sour. Mujuru had an acrimonious dispute with Saudi Arabian tycoon Adel Abdul Rahman al Aujan, who owns the Dubai-based Rani Investment, over the control of River Ranch Diamonds. He died a day before he was to take over River Ranch. Aujan has denied the fallout.