Mnangagwa urged to regularise his illegitimate leadership and not to contest elections in 2023
Mnangagwa and his deputy, Chiwenga
ZIMBABWEAN President Emmerson Mnangagwa (pictured) must regularise his illegitimate leadership position, but not contest the 2023 presidential election, as he would be a geriatric by then, prominent corporate executive Caleb Dengu — who is an ally of Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga — has said.
This comes as Mnangagwa is currently under siege from within the ruling Zanu PF as party bigwigs aligned to Chiwenga say he ascended to power internally through unconstitutional means, hence he is an illegitimate leader.
Zanu PF member Sybeth Musengezi has filed a High Court application challenging Mnangagwa’s rise to power and the resultant dubious mandate through the infamous 19 November 2017 central committee meeting, which he says was not lawfully convened, constituted and conducted.
The shock challenge, coming as it did around the Zanu PF annual conference in Bindura, foreshadows the culmination of the party’s unresolved leadership fight, which is expected to explode during the elective congress next year ahead of the 2023 elections. Mnangagwa is determined to seek re-election, but Chiwenga and his faction are battling to stop him in his tracks.
In a book titled The Bridge — Pathway To New Zimbabwe, Dengu, a well-established development banker, who has specialised in structured project and trade finance, as well as risk management systems, says Mnangagwa should not run in 2023, but instead allow a new younger leader to contest.
“Your Excellency, given your advanced age and the workload required to turn around the nation, a nation as broken as ours, it is advised that you do not seek re-election as state president in 2023,” Dengu says.
“You will be 82 years old then. You can choose to remain as First Secretary of Zanu PF to assist with generational transformation of leadership in the party and government. Given the demography of the country, the nation requires younger leadership to run the country. You have an opportunity to identify competent young talent in the 40-60-year range to take over positions in both government and Zanu PF. The recommended leadership can be security-cleared by our National Security Council (NSC).”
Dengu says the NSC has to ensure ministers consider national security in a strategic way, as they formulate and implement government policies and programmes.
On Mnangagwa’s legitimacy, Dengu, who was in the liberation struggle and later in government, said: “Your Excellency, you became leader of Zanu PF during the transitional period from RG Mugabe to the 2nd Republic, which was christened ‘The New Dispensation’ in November 2017. Your elevation to the position of First Secretary did not follow the established election process which starts from provincial nomination.
“It is therefore imperative that you revisit that chapter in order to get the full support and endorsement of Zanu PF. This will stop dissent and leadership challenges in the party ranks. Your government is mostly undermined by the Zanu PF elite rather than opposition members.”
The businessman, a RioZim Limited board vice-chair (who also chairs the audit and risk committee, as well as the remuneration committee) and is managing partner in CDF Trust and Consulting BV, an investment advisory platform and private equity management firm, said Mnangagwa should visit provinces not just in his capacity as President and Zanu PF official, but as someone seeking to regularise his unlawful position as party leader. Dengu, who staunchly supported the Mnangagwa government when it came to power in 2017 after the overthrow of the late former president Robert Mugabe in a military coup, is Chiwenga’s homeboy and ally.
-www.thenewshawks.com
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