HARARE – The attacks on Vice President Joice Mujuru descended to new levels on Monday with war veteran Linda Mangwende being wheeled out to make bizarre claims that Mujuru had been using her picture, that was taken in 1978, to claim it was her after shooting down a helicopter.
Mangwende, whose Chimurenga name was Sarudzai Nehanda said:
“VP Mujuru has been using my picture claiming it is her after shooting down a helicopter, but the truth of the matter is that that is my picture that was taken in 1978 when I was coming from Takawira Sector entering Tangwena Sector in Gaza province,” said Mangwende in an interview with the state media.
“I had left Cdes Kambanje (Tenzi Nehoreka) going to the sector where Cdes Aginyu Kambeu (the late General Amoth Chimombe), Freddy Matanga, Brigadier General Munemo, Grenjar Benhura, Tonderai Zimondi, Charles Munyoro and Tokwe were.
“On the women side, it was myself, Lieutenant Colonel Mukurazhizha, Cde Muchaneta Plaxedes, the late Colonel Mlambo and Mabel Chinomona. We are the ones who used to carry materials.
“The people responsible for shooting down the helicopter are Cdes Dick Joboringo, Kambanje pa D-Level, Brian, Long Chase, Dangarembizi, Masweets, Gabarinocheka, Norest, Shungu and the late Bazvoka Chidemo.
“These are the people who brought down the helicopter not these lies about Joice Mujuru because at the time she was at Osibisa Nehanda.”
Mangwende said she wanted VP Mujuru to pay her back all the money she gained for using her picture. She said Mujuru must not claim to have downed the aircraft when she had not yet been trained.
Chief Nehoreka concurred with Mangwende, saying VP Mujuru was nowhere near Murehwa when the helicopter was shot down.
“We don’t understand why she wants to lie because she was not there when we brought down that helicopter. The picture that she is claiming to be her is of Cde Mangwende when she had just left us. Mujuru was not part of the team that downed the helicopter,” he said.
Its not the first time that a faction of the party loyal to President Mugabe and Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa has made the claims 34 years after the liberation war ended.
The first time it was Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Christopher Mutsvangwa who claimed the story that Mujuru had downed a helicopter was propaganda being peddled by political commissar Webster Shamu.
But as the Zanu PF congress draws near critics argue that Mugabe and his faction are mapping out a war of attrition design to humiliate VP Mujuru and her allies in an attempt to block them from participating.
