MEDIA, Information and Broadcasting Services minister Jonathan Moyo yesterday sprang to the defence of the First Lady Grace Mugabe, denying that she called for the ouster of Vice-President Joice Mujuru during a rally in Gwanda on Monday.
Nqobile Bhebhe Chief Reporter
Moyo told journalists in Lupane on the sidelines of Grace’s “meet the people” tour that the First Lady was merely spelling out qualities a vice-president needs.
Moyo said the assertions that Grace wanted Mujuru sacked were “mischievous” and calculated at raising “dust”.
“There are screaming headlines in some newspapers today (yesterday) which are claiming that at her address in Gwanda the First Lady Grace Mugabe called for the ouster of Vice-President Joice Mujuru,” he said.
“Mugabe never said anything of the sort. This is some fertile imaginations of some people.”
In her address, Grace insinuated that President Robert Mugabe should appoint vice-presidents and not have people who piggybacked on him yet they were not working, in an apparent reference to Mujuru.
Grace’s sentiments literally laid bare the infighting within Zanu PF, raising the stakes as the party heads to its December congress.
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“She was addressing qualities that a vice-president and second secretary of Zanu PF should have,” Moyo said in her defence.
“No name was mentioned and just because we have one vice-president it does not mean she was referring to her.
“Now that we going to be selecting a vice-president, it was more about the office and not the occupant, the past or the present, but the office as it relates to aspiring vice-presidents.”
Addressing about 6 000 supporters at Phelandaba Stadium in Gwanda in her sixth provincial meeting, Grace — without mentioning Mujuru by name — said there was no one in Zanu PF permanently guaranteed of a post in the party.
“Some think because you are vice-president you just stay there and do nothing while Mugabe works for you,” she said.
“We want a vice-president who helps the president, not one who just relies on Mugabe.
“We no longer want that. We want people who are capable.
“You mustn’t think because you have a post you are there forever. You must work for it.”
