“People know that I stood by Mugabe,” Kasukuwere said.

“As former ZANU-PF political commissar, I am deeply respected within and beyond Zimbabwe. “I interacted with former [South African] presidents Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma. I have links with business people with regional interests too.

” There has been widespread speculation that Kasukuwere will challenge for the presidency and his comments are the clearest indication yet that he is ready to do so.