The bitter succession rivalries in Zanu PF were threatening to unravel following the bussing in of thousands of Zanu PF loyalists ahead of a tense politburo meeting in Harare Wednesday.
However, the tensions between the rival factions fizzled out when President Robert Mugabe called the perceived rival camps to order.
Speaking at a mini rally organized by the Women' league before Zanu PF's crucial Politburo Mugabe acknowledged that there was violence that prevented some members of the party from attending the meeting and he deplored the violence.
Hurungwe East Member of Parliament, Sarah Mahoka, said it was high time that Mnangagwa also known by his supporters as Ngwena declares if he has Presidential ambitions.
President Mugabe did not directly respond to Mahoka’s assertions but acknowledged that the factional wars with the party had been discussed at Tuesday’s cabinet, adding today’s Politburo meeting would discuss the issue that has threatened to tear the party apart.
In a long winding speech, Mugabe thanked the organizers of the gathering that had been threatened of disruption by war veterans.
Mahoka, an alleged Grace Mugabe ally also denigrated those wearing T- shirts with the crocodile symbol, known to be Mnangagwa’s emblem and said this was furthering divisions in the party.
Mahoka also attacked the Herald newspaper which she accused of fanning factionalism. She also accused permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information George Charamba of misusing his position to push his own agenda.
Mahoka pleaded with Mr. Mugabe to discipline both Charamba and the Herald newspaper that is increasingly being accused by one rival faction of being used by the one said to be sympathetic to vice president Mnangagwa.
“You will die in a house. These things you are seeking will get you killed. We support the President and the leadership chosen at congress. We are not saying Mnangagwa should be removed but he must not sit there like a duck while his people violate us,” Mahoka said.
Zanu PF's women's league President who is also President Grace Mugabe’s wife also discouraged factionalism in the Party.
Grace Mugabe also revealed that she is living in fear after the alleged attempted bombing of his Alpha Omega Dairy by members of a fringe political party called Zimbabwe People’s Front whose leader was yesterday jailed for nine years for the attempted bombing of the first family’s property.
"There are some people who think that because they went to school to learn those big words they are better than others," she said.
While Mr Mnangagwa was not given any time to respond to the women's League allegations some of the Zanu Pf supporters who attended the rally said there was no problem in having presidential ambitions.One such person is Farai Nyemba
Another Zanu PF supporter, Timothy Moyo however told Studio 7 that the VP should indeed come out especially for his constituency and declare his aspirations
War veterans leader, Chris Mutsvangwa had sais they were going to disrupt the mini-rally and stop education minister, Jonathan Moyo from attending the politburo meeting.
Factionalism has rocked the ruling party resulting in social media wars among some senior members who are said to be positioning themselves in the event that Mugabe leaves office.
