BUSINESSMAN Nigel Chanakira yesterday disassociated himself from allegations that he was at the centre of a planned palace coup to topple President Robert Mugabe, amid indications a minister linked to beleaguered Vice-President Joice Mujuru faces an investigation.
Own Correspondent
This follows allegations by the State media that Chanakira and Zanu PF Mashonaland East chairman Ray Kaukonde were leading a clique of businesspeople who were financing an elaborate plot by Mujuru to unseat Mugabe, while Minister of State in the President’s Office Flora Buka faces a raft of allegations.
The businessman took to Twitter to defend himself saying he had not been afforded a chance to comment by the State media.
“What disgusting lies! I am shocked that The Sunday Mail can print such nonsense, when I have been outside of Zimbabwe,” Chanakira wrote in response to questions whether he was complicit in the affair.
Chanakira, the founder of Kingdom Bank (now AfroAsia Bank), described the allegations as hogwash, saying whoever wrote it qualified to be a fiction writer.
He said contrary to claims by The Sunday Mail that they had called him, he had not received any call and was not given a chance to respond to the allegations. Turning to his religion, Chanakira said he had faith God would vindicate him, saying “the Lord God is my advocate and vindicator”.
Challenged that there was no smoke without fire, Chanakira curtly responded: “Nonsense, in this case there is not even a wisp of smoke, a matchstick or rocks for a fire.”
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The Sunday Mail claimed Chanakira and Kaukonde’s financial empires were struggling and hoped to secure their future by capturing State power or by investing in the palace coup in the hope of reaping bigger dividends in the event that Mujuru became president.
The two were accused of pinning their business hopes on strategically advancing Mujuru’s agenda.
Mujuru, who has not responded to an ever growing list of accusations, has faced a barrage of attacks. Her fortunes took a deep with the entry of First Lady Grace Mugabe into mainstream politics.
She has been accused of corruption, factionalism, plotting a palace coup and being linked with a plot to assassinate Mugabe.
Based on current events, the Zanu PF December congress could be her Waterloo and an end to almost 10 years as Mugabe’s deputy.
Meanwhile, Buka’s political career is hanging by the thread as she is facing an investigation over charges of being involved in the plot to topple Mugabe.
Yesterday, Buka’s election bid into the powerful Zanu PF central committee was “frozen” to allow time for investigations into her conduct and involvement with the under-fire Mujuru.
Buka, who is a politburo member and women’s league administration secretary, was among party stalwarts jostling for three central committee slots in Gokwe North district before the internal elections were called off pending investigations into her alleged shenanigans.
Midlands Zanu PF provincial spokesperson Cornelius Mupereri said the Gokwe North polls were postponed to a later date to deal with disciplinary issues involving Buka and other Mujuru loyalists. Mupereri said district elections in Shurugwi had also been postponed.
Buka, believed to be one of Mujuru’s ardent loyalists, was accused of sabotaging government programmes in the Midlands, convening unsanctioned meetings and urging her supporters to chant divisive slogans.
She also faces charges of abducting women’s league members and forcing them to elect her in the run-up to the league’s national conference in September this year.
“(District) elections are taking place as we speak in all areas,” Muperi said.
“We have a problem in Gokwe North where there are people facing disciplinary hearings. Some of the allegations raised against them are bad. I will take you back to issues of abductions during the Women’s League congress in the area.
“We are dealing with the issue and it’s still under investigation.
“Some held meetings which were outside the structures where divisive slogans were said to have been chanted.”
Buka was not immediately available for comment.
The former Gokwe-Nembudziya MP has been lumped together with several top party officials plotting to oust Mugabe and replace him with Mujuru.
Some of Mujuru’s alleged loyalists who include party spokesperson Rugare Gumbo, war veterans’ leader Jabulani Sibanda and several provincial chairpersons Amos Midzi (Harare); Andrew Langa (Matabeleland South); Jason Machaya (Midlands); Temba Mliswa (Mashonaland West) and Callisto Gwanetsa (Masvingo) have already been purged with more heads set to roll ahead of the Zanu PF congress next month.
