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| Zimbabwe Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa |
It is understood that Chissano, a renowned peace broker will make a strong plea for Zimbabwe to avoid war and political instability for the sake of development. He is going to tell delegates that no industry will spew smoke when war or political instability is raging on.
The lecture is understood to have been put together by Mnangagwa and Sekai Holland to fundraise for projects at the Midlands State University (MSU). Mnangagwa and Holland who is from the MDC and both hail from the Midlands Province are co-patrons of the MSU Fundraising committee.
Although this looks like a fairly innocent fundraising function, analysts said the move where Mnangagwa brings Chissano to his hometown in Zimbabwe has far-reaching political implications on the power games and succession race in Zanu PF. It is Mnangwagwa flexing his muscle, proving to his rivals that he has powerful connections in the region, said some analysts.
Mnangagwa and Vice President Joyce Mujuru are in a bitter fight to succeed Mugabe as the President of this country. The fight has resulted in tow camps that have split Zanu PF through the middle with VP Mujuru being sponsored by her husband, Retired General Solomon Mujuru.
The analysts also contended that such a visit by Chissano could only take place with the approval of President Mugabe.
Chissano, it is understood, will tell delegates in no uncertain terms that even the political bickering that has been raging in the country was no good for development. Development and war can never mix is the message Chissano had always spread. The message is likely to be taken seriously by Zimbabwean politicians considering that the MSU fundraising committee has representatives from the country’s two major political parties.
“He will say that a nation will either go for war or development. If you want war and political instability, then forget about development because the two will never take place at the same time,” said a source.
The Mirror understands that funds raised from public lecture will be channelled towards the construction of more buildings at MSU. The lecture is now almost fully subscribed with delegates from the corporate world, academics and politicians.
Chissano is credited with bringing full peace to Mozambique after years of civil war in the country. He undoubtedly is the man who also turned around Mozambique from a crumbled economy to one that has been enjoying immense economic growth of more than 6 percent per anum. This has been the biggest growth in the region.
