NewsBreakingOnline

Fire death of Solomon Mujuru, husband of Robert Mugabe’s deputy, exposes Zanu-PF infighting to succeed president 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 35 miles south-west of Harare in the early hours of Tuesday morning, police said. Under his nom de guerre, Rex Nhongo, Mujuru was a leader of the guerrilla war that swept Mugabe to power and became Zimbabwe’s first black military commander after independence. The general was married to Joice Mujuru, vice-president of Zimbabwe and leader of a moderate faction in Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party. Analysts said his death will shake Zimbabwe’s political kaleidoscope and rock Zanu-PF, where Joice Mujuru and other rivals are jostling for position as 87-year-old Mugabe’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 3,500-acre farm that had been seized from a white farmer in 2001, although there was no immediate evidence that it was anything other than an accident. Rugare Gumbo, spokesman for Zanu-PF, said: “What we know is he died in a fire accident at his home this morning. The police are looking into the cause and they will inform us. Personally, I rule out all speculation but of course you can never be certain.” Mugabe’s relations with Mujuru had cooled in recent years, but Gumbo added: “Obviously the president must be troubled by the death of someone he worked with for a long time. They were very close.” State radio said Mujuru’s wife visited the farm where its reporter saw the main building razed to the ground. Family members and friends said an electrical fault may have ignited the blaze. Police said a worker at the house told them Mujuru went to bed and neighbours were woken later as fire swept through the house, state radio reported. Mujuru had evidently tried to escape but was overwhelmed by flames and smoke. General Constantine Chiwenga, the current military chief, also visited the farm and told state radio: “The way he has gone is difficult to comprehend. He was such a fine fighter.” Mujuru had been the most senior member of the military to sit on Zanu-PF’s politburo. His wife is seen as leading a reformist faction open to working with the prime minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, and the MDC. She is opposed by Emmerson Mnangagwa , the hardline defence minister dubbed “the Crocodile” who is also vying to take over, should the ailing Mugabe retire or die. It was claimed the circumstances of 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 and the MDC, it will be between factions of Zanu-PF.” Cross added: “I think Robert Mugabe will take it badly. He will read into it rivalries in his own party. Our information is that Mugabe is now looking for a quiet retirement, so this is the last thing he needs.” John Makumbe, professor of political science at Zimbabwe University, said: “There is so much fighting in Zanu-PF now that, if it’s foul play, it’s anybody’s guess who might have done this. “I think we are going to see a severely fractured party because there is going to be finger pointing and allegations from one side against another. The two factions, Mujuru and Mnangagwa, have been fighting for crumbs from the rich man’s table. Mugabe will not find it easy to handle. It will make him age a little faster again.” Mugabe has acknowledged deep divisions in his party and has said he cannot leave office until he has resolved them and unified the party ahead of elections, which could take place next year. The latest turn of events is likely to strengthen Mnangagwa’s hand, according to the Zimbabwean media entrepreneur Trevor Ncube . “It certainly weakens Mrs Mujuru’s chances of succeeding Robert Mugabe,” he said. “All their supporters will have to regroup and consolidate. It strengthens Emmerson Mnangagwa’s chances in a big way. I suspect there may be celebrations in that camp.” Others felt it was too soon to judge. Piers Pigou, project director for Southern Africa at the International Crisis Group, said: “This throws up a lot of dust that will cloud vision for a bit. We’ll have to see how the dust settles.” Accusations of foul play are never far from Zimbabwe’s political discourse. Questions were raised over the death of Brigadier-General Armstrong Paul Gunda, who had been linked with a coup plot against Mugabe, when his car collided with a train in 2007. Tsvangirai’s wife Susan was killed in a car crash in 2009, though the prime minister himself said it was an accident. Mugabe is scheduled to attend a summit of regional presidents this week in Angola, at which the Zimbabwe political crisis is high on the agenda. Regional leaders have recently taken a firmer stance against violence and other obstacles to democratic reforms blamed on Mugabe and his party leaders. Zimbabwe Africa Robert Mugabe David Smith guardian.co.uk