D-Day for VP Mujuru

Politics
ZANU PF will tomorrow hold what could prove to be an explosive politburo meeting following First Lady Grace Mugabe’s accusations that Vice-President Joice Mujuru was leading a faction that wanted to topple President Robert Mugabe.

ZANU PF will tomorrow hold what could prove to be an explosive politburo meeting following First Lady Grace Mugabe’s accusations that Vice-President Joice Mujuru was leading a faction that wanted to topple President Robert Mugabe. SILAS NKALA NQOBILE BHEBHE

Among a litany of charges, Grace also inferred that MDC and Simba Makoni’s Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn were formed in Mujuru’s house.

In an unrestrained attack, Grace had no kind words for the five leading candidates for the vacant vice-presidency post, accusing them of fanning factionalism.

Tomorrow’s politburo meeting is the first formal meeting of the party’s top organ in the wake of Grace’s accusations.

Zanu PF secretary for information and publicity Rugare Gumbo, when asked about the poliburo’s agenda, declined to shed light on what will be discussed.

“I have always made sure that I do not discuss internal party issues with the media,” he said.

“There is nothing I can talk about now. Wait until the politburo meeting is through, that is when I can be able to tell you about issues discussed.”

Gumbo would not be drawn into revealing if Grace’s accusations would be discussed, maintaining that he would only comment after the meeting.

On her two-week tour of the country, Grace, without mentioning names, attacked Mujuru for leading a faction, while party secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa was at the receiving end of much of the insults.

Her last four speeches were punctuated with chants of “down with Gamatox”, a veiled attack on Mutasa, who suggested that Zanu PF had been infiltrated by weevils who needed to be dealt with using Gamatox, a deadly insecticide.

The First Lady also attacked the five people leading the race to replace the late vice-president John Nkomo.

Zanu PF’s national chairman, Simon Khaya Moyo was considered the favourite to land the post, despite competition from Home Affairs minister, Kembo Mohadi, Senator Naison Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu and Zapu and Zipra stalwarts, Phekezela Mphoko and Ambrose Mutinhiri, respectively.

This means three of Zanu PF’s top four members were attacked by Grace, with some speculating that this could mean the party’s presidium could be significantly altered at its December congress.

It is the attacks on Mujuru, Moyo and Mutasa that have raised eyebrows, with questions abound on what Zanu PF’s strategy is leading to the congress.

Political commentator Godwill Phiri said Grace could be attempting to railroad senior party members who have ditched the party’s founding principles.

“While she might be viewed as a divisive character, Grace might also be seen as attempting to reunite the party, although using a radical approach,” he said.

“She is asking senior party members who have digressed from the party to introspect.”

But political analyst Alexander Rusero said it was an illusion to think Grace would unite the factitious Zanu PF.

“Her entry into politics was premature,” he said. “Grace is further dividing the party, which looks more certain to be headed for a split.”

Rusero said Grace was thrust into the political fray to “buy time for Mugabe and other people behind her”.

“It is a strategy to buy time and divert all attention to her, while they are busy crafting a succession plan,” he opined.

“She is there to divert attention, but at the same time widening the fissures.”

Rusero said her attacks on some party members would haunt her, as “it is apparent that she is propping up another faction at the expense of another”.