Mujuru denies leading Zanu PF faction

By Staff Reporter

Mutare – Despite years of political kickboxing with her major rival, Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, Vice President Joice Mujuru has denied leading a faction of Zanu PF vying to take over when President Robert Mugabe steps down. 

Addressing delegates at a Zanu PF Woman’s League Inter-District Conference in Mutare on Saturday, Mujuru said factionalism had no place in the party.

“Our party, Zanu PF, in most cases survives because of discipline among members. That is what we must show, our discipline in our party.

“I am always not happy to hear a leader in Zanu PF moving around fanning factionalism. You must understand the hierarchy of the party leadership.

“That is what we must show to the majority of the people. If you hear anyone saying ‘my post is small, I need a bigger post’, that’s betraying the party.

“Do not ever tell anyone that there is factionalism in Zanu-PF, there is nothing called factionalism in the party.”

“If you hear people talking about factionalism, ask them where it is written in the party’s constitution. The person will tell you a word that looks nice.

“No, that person should tell you that he wants to remove President Mugabe kana kuti ndapanduka ndavakuda kuita zvinhu zvangu saka musazomuteerera munhu iyeye because isu vamwe veZanu-PF tichiri paya paya pane discipline.

“VaMugabe varipo, vaMugabe vanotiudza mazuva ose kuti dai maenda kuvanhu muvadzidzise gwara remusangano. Iwe unoda kukwira pamusoro pauri wago gona here?

“Handisati ndagona pandiri saka pamusoro paunoda pane munhu unopada peyi iye aripo? Wacho aripo ugozomuita sei, kana kuti wavakuda faction isiri yaMugabe.

“Kana isi faction yeZanu-PF, isiri yavaMugabe, yako yauri kutaura ndeyani nokuti wedu musagano watinoziva unotungamirirwa navaMugabe?” she said.

Despite her remarks Zanu PF is engulfed in serious infighting as Mujuru and Mnangagwa’s factions position themselves.

Last year Mujuru effectively bagged the support of 9 out of 10 Zanu PF provinces to position herself strategically for the next elective party congress.

In provincial elections held, Mujuru loyalists took control of Harare, Bulawayo, Mashonaland East and West, Masvingo and Matabeleland South provinces in addition to the Midlands, Mashonaland Central and Manicaland provinces.

So vicious is the infighting two weeks ago Mugabe sought to calm things down by telling members of the Gushungo clan at Murombedzi Growth Point that presidential aspirants would be elected through the Zanu PF congress.

Mugabe said Mujuru and Mnangagwa were not the only people who could take over from him as the pool of potential leaders was large.