The President has the loyalty of ZANU's Youth League led by Absolom Sikosana and its Women's League under ultra-loyalist Oppah Muchinguri former liberation fighter and former Mugabe girlfriend...
In Manicaland Mugabe enjoys blind loyalty from the pre-eminent Didymus Mutasa while Oppah Muchinguri is his trump card...
His support for Manicaland's Simba Makoni has not yet convinced local heavyweights who include Didymus Mutasa Secretary for Administration and Minister of Security and Lands; Patrick Chinamasa Justice Minister needed by any successor for his legal drafting skills; the mercurial Kumbirai Kangai; Water Minister Munacho Mutezo; Agriculture Minister Joseph Made; provincial Governor Mike Nyambuya; Transport Minister Chris Mushowe; and Women's League leader Oppah Muchinguri...
Oppah Muchinguri moved from Health to Gender and Culture while Sydney Sekeramayi (a doctor) took Health...
At present the Politbureau is dominated by Mugabe's lieutenants from the liberation struggle of the 1970s: Robert Mugabe (President and First Secretary) Simon Muzenda (Second Secretary and Vice- President) Joseph Msika (Second Secretary and Vice-President) John Nkomo (Chairman) Didymus Mutasa (Administration) Emmerson Mnangagwa (Finance) Moven Mahachi (Commissariat and Culture) Stephen Nkomo (External Affairs) Sydney Sekeramayi (Security) Nathan Shamuyarira (Information and Publicity) Welshman Mabhena (Transport and Welfare) Tenjiwe Lesabe (Women's Affairs) Josiah Tungamirai (Youth) Naison Ndlovu (Economic Affairs) Eddison Zvobgo (Legal) Joyce Mujuru (Education) Oppah Rushesha Muchinguri (Health) Vacant (Production and Labour)...
Oppah Muchinguri becomes the first woman Governor in Manicaland...
Oppah Rushesha is young but too close to Mugabe; Shuvai Mahofa once a political force in Masvingo is too close to Muzenda...