An internal power struggle over Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's successor has weakened his ZANU-PF party's ranks ahead of parliamentary elections next March and could split the party before he retires, analysts say.
Mr Mugabe is glossing over the cracks which emerged after he bowed to pressure from a faction led by former army commander General Solomon Mujuru to pick Mr Mujuru's wife as second party vice president, blocking the general's political rival.
But political analyst and Mr Mugabe critic Mr John Makumbe said the veteran Zimbabwean leader had damaged his personal standing by supporting a move with regional and ethnic overtones, and that this would weaken ZANU-PF in the coming months and years.
"Mugabe is putting up a brave face, a nice finish to this whole saga. But the truth is that ZANU-PF is in deep trouble. There is a lot of anger over how the whole succession question is being handled," Mr Makumbe said.
"I think it's going to affect their campaign (for parliamentary elections), and I don't think you can exclude outright splits towards Mugabe's retirement if ZANU-PF has not found a fairer and smoother way of handling who will take over."
Water Resources and Infrastructure Development Minister Ms Joyce Mujuru, a politician in her own right but who nobody expected to rise to the position which puts her on course to succeed Mr Mugabe, was elected and confirmed last night as Mr Mugabe's first woman deputy.
Analysts say Mr Mugabe chose Ms Mujuru over parliament Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa, regarded for years his heir apparent, because he no longer trusted him.