FORMER Midlands governor and Zanu PF politburo member Cephas Msipa yesterday came to the defence of besieged Vice-President Joice Mujuru and described her vilification as “unAfrican”, saying it would have ripple effects on the country’s already battered image as the nation would be viewed as chaotic. Richard Muponde Senior Reporter
Msipa said attacking Mujuru was similar to attacking President Robert Mugabe as he was the one who appointed her.
“We can’t respect the president alone without respecting the second in command,” he said yesterday.
“The attacks against Mujuru are as good as attacking the president who appointed her. She didn’t appoint herself.”
Msipa described the attacks as savage, saying he was at a loss what those who were attacking the vice-president sought to achieve.
“It’s a result of factionalism, where people attack whoever they consider an enemy,” he said.
“They consider her to be standing in their way and want her removed at all cost.
“They are doing it with the hope that the public will turn against her, but that’s not correct, people abhor what they are doing.”
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Msipa said he expected party supporters to respect their seniors as this was part of the country’s culture.
“It’s unAfrican what they are doing to her,” he said.
“If we allow that to happen to her, then we should also allow it to be done to all ministers and senior party officials.
“What kind of a country will it be? It’s not good for the country to have a people without moral values, ubuntu.
“Even senior people who are using youths to vilify her know that what they are doing is wrong and wouldn’t like it to be done to them, it’s all driven by selfishness.”
Without naming anyone, Msipa said by denigrating Mujuru, they were also damaging the country’s already battered image.
Mujuru has found herself in the eye of a storm since First Lady Grace Mugabe accused her of corruption and planning to unseat Mugabe.
