The Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai has urged President Robert Mugabe to call a special Cabinet meeting this week to tackle the hunger situation that is threatening millions of people and livestock.
Mr. Mugabe flew in from his month-long vacation on Friday amid criticism that he was wasting meager state resources in the face of a crippling economic disaster.
“We want him to immediately set up a mechanism that will address the impending drought that we are facing as a nation,” said party spokesman Obert Gutu.
“We expect President Mugabe to urgently convene his Cabinet and tackle the drought situation. That is what he has to do as a matter of urgency.”
But Zanu PF official Paul Munyaradzi Mangwana laughed off the suggestion saying the opposition cannot tell his governing party what to do.
Meanwhile, the warring in Zanu PF between the so-called Generation 40 and a faction led by Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa escalated Monday with War Veterans Minister Chris Mutsvangwa - a Mnangagwa ally - saying the two factions are now fighting over First Lady Grace Mugabe.
Mutsvangwa was quoted in the NewsDay as saying, “They (G40) are now even trying to take away First Lady Grace Mugabe from us, but they will not succeed because she will come back to us, as we are committed to the struggle, Zanu PF and President Robert Mugabe.”
And now that President Mugabe is back, some are asking whether he can step in and end the infighting.
“I don’t see him managing these factions,” commented independent political analyst Blessing Vava.