By JEFFERY MUVUNDISI
GWANDA – Grace Mugabe again tore into Vice President Joice Mujuru, sensationally claiming that her husband President Robert Mugabe is overworking while the VP is doing nothing.
Speaking at a “Thank You” rally in Gwanda, Mugabe’s wife took gloves off to attack Mujuru, who has hitherto been considered one of the leading candidates to succeed her 90-year-old husband as speculation mounts that the First Lady has been hijacked by the Emmerson Mnangagwa faction.
“Some think because if you are vice president you just stay there and do nothing while Mugabe works for you, we want people who are capable, we do not want a liability, hatimude (we don’t want her),” Grace said to cheers from scores of Zanu PF supporters that trooped to the Matabeleland South town.
Grace has addressed several rallies in the Midlands, Manicaland, Masvingo, Harare and Mashonaland West where she has clearly aligned with the Mnangagwa faction. In all the rallies, she has brutally attacked Mujuru.
Despite concerns over his waning health, Mugabe prefers to attend personally to state business notwithstanding the fact that he has a much younger deputy.
Mujuru and Mnangagwa reportedly lead two factions fiercely battling to succeed Mugabe.
Grace said anyone who heads a faction is anti-Zanu PF.
Although she did not mention Mujuru by name, Zimbabwe currently has a single vice president although the country has a dual vice presidency. The other VP post is presently unoccupied following the death of John Landa Nkomo in 2012.
“You cannot benefit from two courses of action that are mutually incompatible,” Grace said. “Uku urikuti urimumusangano, uku urikuti uri mufaction (On one hand you say you belong to this faction and on the other hand you say you belong to Zanu PF). Stop that,” Grace said. Taking pot shots at Mujuru, who apparently has a wide social base, Grace said women should be careful of being used by men.
“They will be saying you are doing wonders but when you get somewhere, they will discard you,” she said. Mugabe’s wife, who seemingly has the advantage of campaigning ahead of the pack, said persons in Zanu PF who think they are “unstoppable” were digging their own graves.
The Women’s League secretary-designate said some top guns in the ruling party were morally bankrupt.
“I saw it in Mutare last Friday, some senior members incite youths to do bad things,” she said. “Murume mukuru nemukadzi mukuru unotenga doro uchiti mai Mugabe varikuuya pa rally wovaputisa mbanje kuti panenge pachitaura Amai Mugabe moita noise (You see a grown man and woman buying beer and marijuana for youths so that they heckle me).”
Claiming to be thanking party supporters for her nomination to take over as the Women’s League boss when the party holds its congress in December, Grace has been traversing the country, with her rallies becoming platforms to attack Mujuru and the like of party secretary for administration, Didymus Mutasa.
Incumbent Women’s League boss Oppah Muchinguri has already revealed that she roped in Grace into politics to stop some ambitious party leaders who were already preparing for life after Mugabe.
Grace repeated the growing but unpopular call for Zanu PF to amend its constitution so that her husband, who has already been nominated to retain the top post, appoints all members of the politburo.
“We want hardworking people, not people who want to be vice presidents and be a liability to President Mugabe and Zimbabweans,” she said. “Let us stop vote buying and leading youths astray. Now we have five people saying they want to be vice presidents. Dzikamai! (Be cool)”
Zanu PF national chairperson Simon Khaya Moyo, Home Affairs minister Kembo Mohadi, ambassador Phekezela Mphoko and Ambrose Mutinhiri are all gunning for the vacant second VP post, while the Mnangagwa faction is expected to name a candidate who will slug it out with Mujuru.
Cabinet ministers Saviour Kasukuwere, Khaya Moyo, Mohadi, Obert Mpofu, Andrew Langa,
Olivia Muchena and Muchinguri were all in attendance at the rally. Daily News
