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Vol 50 No 17

Published 28th August 2009


Zimbabwe

After Msika - a new pecking order

Following the death on 4 August of Joseph Msika, the new Second Vice-President is likely to be the Chairman of the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front, John Nkomo. He is Ndebele and already sits in the Presidium, among the ruling party's top four officials. President Robert Mugabe regards him as dependable and studiously neutral in the factional fighting between supporters of the former Zimbabwe Defence Forces chief, General (retired) Solomon Mujuru, and current Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa. Nkomo is clever but not politically bold and is likely to return Mugabe's favour with strong support for the 85-year-old President at ZANU-PF's congress in December.

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