A week ago, a former Zimbabwean ruling party parliamentarian quit the party citing what he called the "unconstitutional overthrow" of Mugabe. In his resignation letter he wrote,"I have taken this decision after carefully considering the events of the past four months, starting with the unconstitutional overthrow of the elected Head of State and Government, President Robert Mugabe and his illegal replacement with Emmerson Mnangagwa, by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) through a military coup on 15 November 2017."
Just a while after, it was reported that the same Mutinhiri had been "anointed" the leader of a new political outfit by none other than Robert Mugabe himself. This "anointing" had taken place a day before Mutinhiri resigned from Zanu PF. State media reported that a source had revealed that, "...the fact that he was invited to the Blue Roof (Mugabe's private residence in Harare) meant obviously that the former president and his wife are part and parcel of the New Patriotic Front..."
Zanu PF immediately went on an offensive with youths chanting slogans against Mugabe who until the had been referred to as a founding father and accorded some modicum of public respect. The party's youth league secretary went on to brand Mugabe as Zanu PF's new enemy. For his part, the country's president, Mr Mnangagwa said the party would look into the issue with a view to find the "reality" and "facts".
One wonders what new facts President Mnangagwa needs since Mugabe has already told African Union Commission Chair Mahamat Faki that, "Mnangagwa is in power illegally, yet some of his officials dare call me a dictator."
Mugabe is a bitter man and believes he has another fight in him. Everyone would be foolish to count him out just yet. The Zimbabwean daily newspaper, Daily News has, however, reported that a deal between Mugabe and Mnangagwa has been put on the table to end the current bickering.