Grace Mugabe slams factionalism in Zanu PF

First Lady Grace Mugabe has vowed to promote unity in Zanu-PF, saying the Women’s League should be at the forefront of fighting divisions.

Amai Mugabe, who was endorsed to take over as Women’s League Secretary at the party’s Congress in December also pledged to learn the principles of leadership from her predecessors.

Speaking at the just ended Zanu-PF Women’s League Conference in Harare on Friday night, Amai Mugabe said factionalism should be dealt with decisively.

“I don’t want to see a repetition of what happened during the Youth Conference. I hope that this so-called factionalism will come to an end. And hopefully one day, this word called faction or factionalism is not something that we will talk about,” she said.

Amai Mugabe said although she did not have much experience in politics, she would learn from those who have been in the trenches.

“And I want to assure you that when the time comes when I am confirmed, my duty is not to obliterate what my predecessors have achieved but I am just going to continue from where they left. I am not well versed in the field of politics, I am here to learn.

“Thank you very much for having given me the opportunity to work with you and in the process to learn what it means to be the leader. But I know that you will be there for me, you will teach me as we go, I know if I make mistakes you will correct me…”

Amai Mugabe said she acknowledged the difficult task that awaited her once she assumed the powerful post. “I have been watching with keen interest all the proceedings from yesterday, even before the Conference started.

“I realise that it’s a lot of work that has been done. In fact, I was remarking to Mama Muchinguri that I don’t envy the position because I know it’s not an easy task.

“There are a lot of expectations out there and moreso that you are the First Lady, people expect wonders and things that are unheard of to be done. But I know that the women in Zimbabwe are very capable and have worked very hard against all odds and I know it has been very difficult for you to organise this conference but all the same as the President said you came, you saw and you conquered.”

But even before Grace Mugabe formally assumes the leadership of the Women’s League for which she has been nominated, there are growing fears within the upper echelons of Zanu PF that she will further deepen divisions within the faction-ridden party and “prove to be an unmitigated disaster”.

Senior party leaders who spoke to the Daily News described President Robert Mugabe’s wife as a “an ambitious but divisive character” who would “subtract more than she will add” anything to Zanu PF.

“The people who have manipulated the political process for their selfish interests by nominating the First Lady to chair the Women’s League know that they are virtually setting the party up to fail because with all due respect to her, she will subtract more than she will add to efforts to build and strengthen the party,” the Central Committee member said.

“Everyone in the party knows that she is an ambitious but fairly divisive character who will sadly erode the president’s hard-won standing and legacy not just in Zanu PF and Zimbabwe, but around the world.”

Another party official claimed that the First Lady would give Zanu PF’s enemies “deadly ammunition”, particularly in the run-up to the 2018 national elections. Like others spoken to, he declined to be named fearing victimisation.

“She has two known weaknesses that will give our enemies in the opposition deadly ammunition as we put the building blocks towards 2018,” the senior official said.

“Her penchant for assets and the good life is legendary and this is what has seen her mired in many embarrassing land grabs such as those in Mazowe.

“Very soon, people inside and outside Zanu PF will start asking open questions about how much land, for example, the First Lady needs to be satisfied that she now has enough. This is all very damaging for the president in particular who is known to be very disciplined and principled.

“To worsen matters, the First Lady is known for being emotional and reckless with words inside the party, which has led some people to view her as an unguided missile. These are the reasons why those who have nominated her have done so, even if it may exacerbate infighting in the party and eventually destroy Zanu PF like we saw in 2008 when we suffered from Bhora Musango.”

The concerns around the First Lady come as she was caught in yet another embarrassing faux pas last week when she launched a scathing and unexpected attack on Mazowe South legislator Fortune Chasi, whom she accused of terrorising her in Mazowe where she owns a number of farms and runs her Amai Grace Mugabe Children’s Home. Sunday Mail/Daily News