Mujuru attacks Jonathan Moyo

Vice President Joice Mujuru on Sunday launched a thinly veiled attack at her reported rival, Jonathan Moyo, describing him as being over-ambitious.

Speaking at Dotito High School in her home province of Mashonaland Central where she received basic items donated by Zanu (PF) chair, Simon Khaya Moyo under the National Chairman’s Charity Fund, she said some party insiders were so ambitious they even wanted to take over from President Robert Mugabe.

While she did not mention Jonathan Moyo by name, the Information minister has recently been linked to a shadowy online project, 263preeze Team, that is reportedly campaigning for him to succeed Mugabe, the Zanu (PF) First Secretary.

She accused those with high ambitions of being newcomers—the mafikizolos—in the party. Moyo has always carried the tag of a newcomer in Zanu (PF). He rejoined the party a couple of years ago after a lengthy period as an independent legislator following a reported attempt by a rival camp to undermine the Mujuru camp in the succession race, in what is now referred to as the “Tsholotsho Palace Coup” of 2004.

Moyo has been associated with a camp led by Zanu (PF) Legal Affairs Secretary and Justice Minister, Emmerson Mnangagwa, that is reportedly fighting a turf war with the Mujuru faction to take Mugabe’s post when he finally leaves.

Recent reports, however, suggest that Mnangagwa has ditched Moyo.

“This party (Zanu PF) cannot be led by people who do not know its roots. When these (ambitious) people are given the chance to get into the party, they jump as if they would leap over President Mugabe,” said Mujuru.

“They are also foul-mouthed, they don’t have respect. Our party follows laid down procedures, it does not have shortcuts and we will not be shy to tell you to sit down. We will sit you down no matter how big you are,” she added.

Moyo, upon his return to the party, was catapulted to the Zanu (PF) politburo, an elite decision-making body. The Zimbabwean