I do not think Joice Mujuru has got the stomach to take the fight to Robert Mugabe. She is not in the mould of Edgar Tekere or her late husband, General Solomon Mujuru.
For much of her career Mujuru was a junior minister. Her rise to the vice presidency took many by surprise. The rumour mill churned out that it was her husband, the late general who leaned on Mugabe to promote her.
Solomon was widely reputed to be the king-maker in Zanu-PF. He was one of the main people responsible for propping Mugabe in the leadership of the party when an internal rebellion almost removed him, during the 1970s.
It was the general's clout that also kept his wife in positions of power. I am convinced one of the reasons why Mugabe treated Joice Mujuru the way he did is because the general is no longer there.
The Harare rumour mill has been awash with speculation that the general's death was not accidental as claimed. Surely the subsequent fate of his wife gives the rumour mongers another dot to connect.
Suggestions that Joice Mujuru join hands with the MDC are totally unworkable. In my books it amounts to nonsense. In what capacity is she going to join the MDC? As its leader or one of Tsvangirai's bum lickers?
Tsvangirai has already shown the handiende (I won't go) spirit. There is as much chance as a snowflake's in hell of him stepping aside to let someone else lead his faction of the MDC.
Even if she defects, I do not think she will take any significant support from Zanu-PF to the MDC. Remember the core of the former's support base is liberation war veterans who believe they suffered in the bush largely because the British refused to be tough with their kith and kin, Ian Smith.
They will always view a party funded by the Westminister Foundation and, they believe, hatched in Western capitals, with suspicion.
Moreover the notion that Mujuru join hands with the MDC is one founded on the extremely shallow presumption that all that is needed is an anti-Mugabe platform. That shallow platform is the main reason why the Zimbabwe opposition has had little success. It is a platform that relies on Mugabe's own blunders to make an impact.
What is needed is a platform that defines core values and principles that can resonate with the people of Zimbabwe. One of those values is anti-corruption and many Zimbabweans believe that some of the mud that has been smeared on Mujuru deserves to stick. She can hardly be a poster-girl for an anti-corruption drive.
It is much better for Joice to remain an ordinary member of Zanu-PF than for her to move over and become a junior member of the MDC. Moving from licking Mugabe's bum to licking Tsvangirai's bum can hardly be called an improvement by anyone in their right senses.
Mind you the political landscape of Zimbabwe is not full of people who are fighting for principled causes. It is full of people who are hunting for opportunities, especially the opportunity to become filthy rich through lavishing off state funds.
I can guarantee you not one of them will be prepared step down a rung on the ladder to opportunity to make room for someone else. Noone in the various MDCes will step out of their top position and hand it over to Mujuru. Maybe Welshman Ncube but I don't think he will want to repeat the same mistake he made with Mutambara.
Can she strike out on her own? Can she form her own party? I doubt very much that she can stand on her own. Her position in Zanu-PF was mainly due to the political acumen and skill of her husband.
Apart from her war record as Teurai Ropa, the only other thing Zimbabweans remember her for is her piqued onslaught against Strive Masiiwa when he was trying to form what is now one of Africa's leading companies, Econet.
I do not think she has the acumen and skill to fight for her own political space. I agree she has got a good launching pedestal, but I don't think she has the wings to fly. If she leaves Zanu-PF chances are that she will just be another Simba Makoni.
Joice Mujuru's political career may be over.
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