By Mugove Tafirenyika and Fungi Kwaramba
HARARE – Liberation war icons, legislators and some within the security establish ment are pushing for ousted Vice President Joice Mujuru to lead the “original” Zanu PF — and take President Robert Mugabe head on — so as to rescue long-suffering Zimbabweans from his “disastrous rule”.
While the Zanu PF (People First) formation is at an advanced stage of forming structures and preparing for a potentially explosive showdown with the divided ruling party — Mujuru, whose nom de guerre was Teurai Ropa, has remained stoically silent — leaving many guessing on her preparedness to lead the party that calls itself the original Zanu PF.
However, her silence has not dampened the spirits of her powerful and influential backers who told the Daily News yesterday that it is high time she emerges from the shadows and lead them.
In separate interviews, legislators linked to Mujuru said they are prepared to relinquish their parliamentary seats — and join the former vice president’s bandwagon.
Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, the former State minister for Masvingo province and current MP for Mwenezi East described Mujuru as “a good woman” who he is prepared to work with.
“It is true that I worked with Mujuru but who didn’t? How can people be expelled for working with a VP who was elected by people at a congress and was appointed to her government post by the president? They have since failed to find any fault against her including allegations that she wanted to kill the president, they cannot prove that,” said Bhasikiti.
Mujuru along with top party officials that included former Presidential Affairs minister Didymus Mutasa, Rugare Gumbo, Nicholas Goche, Dzikamai Mavhaire and nine provincial chairpersons, were chucked from the posts on allegations that they were plotting a coup.
The widowed VP has suffered a glut of allegations that also include witchcraft and corruption, but her supporters have been steadfast daring police to investigate and arrest her if she is guilty.
Said Bhasikiti, “We all know that they are spreading lies thus to me she remains a good woman and it is true that I was working with her and still have no problem continuing to work with her. Who did not work with her after all? Do we have to work with the president only?”
Several MPs who spoke to the Daily News on condition of anonymity — and currently face expulsion from the troubled Zanu PF — said they are ready to face the chop and stand by Mujuru.
“We are ready to stand by her. We have been branded traitors and yet there is Mujuru urged to nothing that we did. We From have our comrades in the system who support Mai Mujuru and we are ready to restore Zanu PF to democracy again”.
Although none among the country’s top securocrats has openly supported her — the purges in government have also targeted some veterans of the liberation struggle.
Meanwhile, Bhasikiti added that people who snubbed Mujuru when she deputised Mugabe are the actual rebels as they did not respect the chain of command.
“Is it a crime to work with your VP? In fact it is those who did not work with her, if there are any, who are rebels. If it is a crime then they will have to sack everyone because we all did. It also means that when I visited VP Emmerson Mnangagwa’s office about twice to brief him on developments in Masvingo when he was acting president, I committed another crime,” he said.
Rugare Gumbo, spokesperson of the original Zanu PF, described Mujuru, the wife of late liberation war luminary Solomon (Rex Nhongo), as “humble, calm but strong-willed woman who has the traits of a true leader.
“She is not driven by emotions for she is tolerant — which is the mark of a true democrat,” said Gumbo, adding “I think Zimbabweans now feel that for a change, such a woman with Christian values could be the messiah.
“It is a reality that some may not be comfortable with that she is a brand in Zimbabwean politics. Mujuru exudes a motherly approach and that explains why many of us call her Amai because people feel comfortable in her presence.”
Gumbo added that a majority of the People First membership also wanted her to lead the party on account of her liberation war credentials.
“She is a war veteran and one of the few women who had the courage to get involved in the armed struggle both in Zambia and Mozambique. She is the widow of the most decorated general of the liberation struggle who was also the first commander of the ZNA (Zimbabwe National Army).
Mujuru’s husband Solomon, was found dead after a mysterious inferno that reduced his house to ashes in 2011 and his magnetism in death saw thousands voluntarily thronging the National Heroes Acre, making it the biggest ever in history.
“She rose through the ranks as a member of the Zanla general staff and went on to become the secretary for women affairs in 1978 in Mozambique and went on to diligently serve government after independence as a minister in different portfolios then as VP from 2004”.
Mujuru made history in 1980, when she became the youngest minister at the age of 25.
Mutasa, a former top aide of Mugabe, said he has no regrets supporting Mujuru because she has the attributes of a true leader.
“We hope that as time goes on, she will be the first democratically elected female president of Zimbabwe. She is a tried and tested war veteran. We believe that she is an upright and strong woman of high integrity, a good mother and widow of our veteran commander of the liberation struggle, Cde Rex Nhongo (Solomon Mujuru)
“Amai Mujuru is a team player and a fine compromiser. She always puts “People First”, and the unity of the party above her personal ambitions,” said Mutasa.
Another former top Zanu PF official Temba Mliswa, who was the party’s chairperson for Mashonaland West Province before the party’s purges began, said Mujuru is a politically mature person who has the character to extricate Zimbabwe from the brink of collapse.
“It is clear that Mujuru learnt a lot during her stint as VP and at times as acting President. It is my humble opinion that she conducted herself very well and I think it is all down to her liberation track record.
“She is a seasoned politician and being a freedom fighter, she has values, she has a culture that the Mafikizolos left in the Zanu PF politburo do not have,” said Mliswa.
“Freedom fighters have been in situations and can contain even the most difficult ones. There were purges in Zanu PF after the Tsholotsho declaration but you will notice that the manner they were handled was mature. It was not as reckless as the current purges are being handled. It boils down to maturity.
“If you scoop water out of a dam into another reservoir, you risk the danger of scooping out the fish as well and the other water source may well develop into another dam and the fish will not stop breeding”. Daily News
