HARARE - President Robert Mugabe has more than a mountain to climb as he bids to unite the deeply divided Zanu PF.
And the looming entrance into mainstream politics by his wife Grace does not make his bid to heal rifts in Zanu PF any easier.
Strikingly, most of these problems are of Mugabe’s own making and his failure to have a succession plan is now threatening to sink Zanu PF.
There is no doubt that Grace’s entry into Zanu PF politics and her public barracking of perceived enemies such as the fusillade of barbs against deputy Justice minister Fortune Chasi, have angered many in the fractious party.
Whether it is a well calculated gamble or not by those fighting in Grace’s corner, the truth of the matter is that Zanu PF is now deeply divided.
The First Lady does not meet the party’s stringent requirements to contest in the elections but she is poised to violate the rules which were used to bar aspiring candidates to the Central Committee in the youth and women’s wings.
But Grace’s entrance into Zanu PF politics should not be used as an excuse to mask the problems created by Mugabe himself as the leader of the party.
It further fuels divisions as opposed to arresting them.
No one is asking why Mugabe attacks divisions and factionalism in Zanu PF but fails to address the root cause.
The root cause is that Mugabe has failed to groom a successor — leaving aspirants to fight publicly while dividing Zanu PF.
No amount of sugar coating by Mugabe or anyone in Zanu PF will hide this fact from those concerned by the future of Zimbabwe.
Mugabe has decided to let nature take its course with regards to his successor and judging by what is obtaining on the ground, he seems unfazed.
The entrance of his wife into politics just adds to the problems in Zanu PF.
It is hard to see any winners in the long reported factions in Zanu PF because without cooperation from each other, there is no definitive end to the succession saga.
As the governing party by extension, the rift paralyses the economy and lives of ordinary Zimbabweans.
Already, we have seen the debilitating effects of this infighting which has split government business along factional lines.
Mugabe must shoulder the blame.
Gushungo has not been decisive on succession.
And like the orchestra band on the titanic, the music goes on while the ship sinks!