by Tichaona Chifamba
HARARE, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe's political scene in 2014 was rattled by the abrupt dismissal of more than a dozen cabinet members led by the country's longtime vice president Joice Mujuru as a fierce battle to succeed Africa's oldest leader -- veteran president Robert Mugabe -- over overshadowed efforts to put the country's ailing economy back on the rails.
Mujuru's dismissal presented its own firsts -- being the first vice president in the history of the country to be fired; being the first former vice president to be investigated for criminal activities; and that for the first time since independence in 1980, the country has a living former vice president.
All the other former Vice Presidents -- Joshua Nkomo, Simon Muzenda, Joseph Msika and John Nkomo -- left office through death.
Police are now investigating her on allegations of corruption and abuse of power, while allegations of plotting to assassinate Mugabe have also been peddled. Police on Tuesday said they have found vital evidence after being given approval to search the former vice president's home.
For several years, Mugabe, who turns 91 in February 2015, watched as the drama over his succession unfolded. He would ban discussions over his succession and warn that factional leaders would be punished.
But the run-up to the party's congress in December took a heavy twist when the two camps vying to take over from him took off their gloves and began to hit each other below the belt. The camp led by new Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa scored a vital victory.
Mnangagwa's appointment as Mujuru's replacement was viewed by many as an endorsement by Mugabe that he should become the party and government's next leader.
However, as most people exerted their energies on the political dogfights in the governing party, the economy continued to bleed, liquidity challenges persisted and social services deteriorated, many companies closed down and many people lost their jobs.
Economists Vince Musewe, Luxon Zembe and Godfrey Kanyenze all agreed that one of the reasons the economy was not ticking was that government leaders were ensconced in party factional politics instead of working for the greater good of the nation.
The political uncertainty affected potential investors -- both foreign and local -- who opted to take a wait and see attitude hoping that the situation would play itself out, they said.
Musewe said that those who were fighting to get positions did not have a better plan for Zimbabwe and merely wished to benefit from their stations.
Cabinet ministers continued to issue conflicting policy statements, especially in relation to the indigenization policy, depending on which faction they had belonged to.
About 4,000 people had lost their jobs by the end of September as companies closed down because of the harsh economic environment.
The loss of income and a decline in disposable income for those still in employment also resulted in thousands of people falling into debt, with scores of families losing their homes, household property, office furniture and equipment and even clothes every month.
A number of prominent people, including lawyers, top businessmen and former governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Gideon Gono have recently had their properties either attached or auctioned to settle debts.
Economic growth, which had gone up to 5.7 percent at the formation of the inclusive government in 2009, has been declining since 2012, going down to 4.5 percent in 2013 and is projected to hit 3.1 percent this year.
Monetary authorities said foreign direct investment plunged to 65 million U.S. dollars in the first half of 2014 from 167 million dollars recorded during the same period last year to reach a new low since the economic meltdown which began in 2012.
Labour and Economic Development Research Institute of Zimbabwe director Kanyenze said the country's economy had become a casualty of the political power games.
