By Bridget Mananavire, Staff Writer
Tracy Mutinhiri, the Zanu PF deputy minister for Labour and Social Welfare, says she is marked for death, as hundreds of people she described as “Zanu PF militia sent by Sydney Sekeramayi” invaded her farm yesterday.
Over 20 police officers in riot gear and armed with AK47 rifles protected Mutinhiri from the mob. Mutinhiri told the Daily News on Sunday she had become enemy number one within her party because her comrades were jealous of her good fortune and closeness to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
The Daily News on Sunday sneaked into the farm compound through a back entrance and watched the drama. The militia took camp at the entrance of Mutinhiri’s Tapiwanashe farm singing and dancing to Zanu- PF songs denouncing the deputy minister.
Japi Madzudzo, one of Mutinhiri’s farm workers, told the Daily News on Sunday that leaders of the militia informed him that they had been sent by Sekeramayi to take over the farm and loot the farm produce. Mutinhiri said this was not the first time her life had been threatened.
“I was almost abducted at Marondera Hotel about two months ago and the perpetrators had sprays with them. That is when we started taking caution on the farm,” said Mutinhiri. Mutinhiri said things could have turned nastier had the police failed to urgently respond to her emergency call for help.
The defiant Mutinhiri said she was not going to vacate her farm because she had invested millions of dollars on it.
“I believe that this is the best empowerment a woman can be given. I own this land in my own right and nobody has got a right to take it away from me. I am one woman who has proved that we can do it. This is not good for our country because they will say ‘oh look they are now chasing each other again’.
“My committed staff and I now live in fear and our operations have been disturbed. These people who supposed to be at their farms working and producing are singing and dancing outside, waiting to take over what I have worked so hard for,” added Mutinhiri, who was dressed in black tracksuit.
The combative politician is known to oppose Sekeramayi, who together with Vice President Joice Mujuru are the longest serving government ministers, having worked for President Robert Mugabe in cabinet since independence in 1980. This makes them among the natural candidates to take over from the 87-year old.
Mugabe, who says he will run in the next election, has previously admitted that internal jostling for his post by top ministers has often turned nasty hence his hesitancy at retiring.
Mutinhiri’s problems in Zanu PF, particularly in her Mashonaland East province, have been mounting since she attended the burial of her brother Innocent Muzuva, an MDC supporter who died in a car crash in September last year. She spoke glowingly about the MDC at the event.
“I’m humbled by the leadership of the MDC-T for such an honour, especially the party-assisted funeral,” she said then. Yesterday, Mutinhiri said internal rivals buried her fate within the party when she accompanied Tsvangirai on a working trip in Mutare late last month.
She says her “enemies” are using her comfortable association with Tsvangirai, a hated figure by Zanu PF hardliners and military-generals, to justify their actions. Mutinhiri’s former husband, Ambrose, is a retired brigadier, former cabinet minister and diplomat.
“Last week I travelled to Manicaland with the Prime Minister for the drought mitigation programme and when I came back, I heard that Sekeramayi held a meeting to invade my farm,” she said.
“It is not fair to brand me because only last week, Saviour Kasukuwere (Youth Development Minister) went to Gweru with the Prime Minister. So why am I being targeted?” Mutinhiri questioned. She said she would not budge.
“I am brave. I am not shaken,” said Mutinhiri, prancing around the farm yard and showing the Daily News on Sunday crew a healthy tobacco crop. It was not possible to get a comment from Sekeramayi as his phone was switched off last night. Our news crew had to use a side farm strip to sneak into the farm compound as the militia had blocked the main entrance.
Madzudzo, the farm worker, said the militia had at first threatened a guard manning the main entrance. But they later claimed to have been sent by Sekeramayi after armed police were summoned, according to Madzudzo.
“They said they were not going to leave with anything. They also said there were going to loot and burn what was in the barns and in the fields.” Madzudzo said.
“And for what?” chipped in Mutinhiri.
“I have to service my loan and if they take these things how am I going to repay the bank. This land is not for the party. I am being branded but I am still Zimbabwean with a plan to make this land productive,” said Mutinhiri.
Mutinhiri said she was busy grading her tobacco before the invasion. The militia had lit bon fires in a sign that they were preparing for a long fight when the Daily News on Sunday left the farm last night. Daily News on Sunday
