ONE OF the most powerful men in Zimbabwe has been killed in a fire at his home, triggering rumours of a conspiracy in the battle to succeed the president, Robert Mugabe.
Former military chief Solomon Mujuru (62) was “burnt beyond recognition” in the blaze at his farm about 50km southwest of Harare in the early hours of yesterday morning, police said.
Under his nom de guerre, Rex Nhongo, Mr Mujuru was a leader of the guerrilla war that swept Mr Mugabe to power and became Zimbabwe’s first black military commander after independence. He was married to Joice Mujuru, vice-president of Zimbabwe and leader of a moderate faction in Mr Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party.
Analysts said his death would shake up Zimbabwe’s political landscape and rock Zanu-PF, where Ms Mujuru and other rivals are jostling for position as 87-year- old president’s heir apparent.
This in turn could destabilise the party’s power-sharing agreement with the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
In a country with a history of politically suspicious deaths, there was speculation over the cause of the fire at the 1,400-hectare farm that had been seized from a white farmer in 2001, although there was no immediate evidence it was anything other than an accident.
It was claimed the circumstances of Mr Mujuru’s death could fuel Zanu-PF infighting.
Eddie Cross, policy co-ordinator general of the MDC, said: “It’s a huge shock. The suspicion of a power play is everywhere. Everybody’s talking about it. If that was involved, it’s a huge event and could spark violence between factions of Zanu-PF.
“We’ve been saying for a long time that if there’s a civil war in Zimbabwe, it won’t be between Zanu-PF nd the MDC, it will be between factions of Zanu-PF.
“I think Robert Mugabe will take it badly. He will read into it rivalries in his own party. ”
– ( Guardianservice)