The increasingly influential First Lady, Grace Mugabe, has denied leading a faction within Zanu PF and used a rally in Rushinga on Wednesday to threaten the expulsion of party members behind the current bitter infighting.
Addressing thousands of people at Chimhanda Secondary School, Grace warned those behind factionalism that it was “cold outside Zanu-PF.”
“Kana usiri muZanu-PF kunze uku kunotonhora, unogara wakapfeka zibhachi,” she said.
“Have you ever seen anyone who survived after leaving Zanu-PF. Ukange wangobuda muZanu-PF chete wapera, waenda, wabvaruka, wava mvemve.
“If you are clever you quickly apologise and you will be forgiven. Some of those punished last year are with us today. Look at the trend, everyone who has started a party goes nowhere.”
Former Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Nicholas Goche and former Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs deputy minister Fortune Chasi, who were suspended from the party, attended yesterday’s rally.
In apparent reference to sacked former Vice President Dr Joice Mujuru, Grace Mugabe said war credentials alone were not enough to save factional and wayward members from being thrown out of the party.
Grace said private media reports alleging that she led a faction in the party were driven by malice. “They (private media) say Mai Mugabe has a faction,” she said.
“Where is the faction? I am Zanu-PF 500 percent. I sleep, eat Zanu-PF and my clothes are Zanu-PF. I do not understand these people (journalists). I think they need a psychologist to see if they are not insane. People voted us to work and I will just work, work and work for the people of Zimbabwe.”
She added: “I will not stop working for Zanu-PF because I stay with a hero (President Mugabe) and I work with big heroes. That is where I get direction. As long as I have energy, I will continue working and connecting with people kusvika vaputika matumbu iwayo. Chokwadi kusvika 2018 vanhu vachashamisika kuti muchembere uyu akambenge arikupi. It is a free Zimbabwe and you can go wherever you want to go.”
Amai Mugabe said her tours were “just what a First Lady” should do but the private media was going ballistic claiming she was “buying” the people.
She said while media diversity was needed, it should be coupled with responsible journalism not “silly articles.”
“They said I am giving people the goods as a way of buying votes,” Grace said.
‘Hazvina basa kana ndikakutenga ukandivhotera its okay. It is better to vote for someone who gives you something than someone who does not. We do not want senseless and nonsensical articles, stooping that low.
“Journalists do not stoop that low, you are educated people. Please be constructive and I am not saying do not criticise when I go wrong but do not just write silly things. We also want to read your papers but we are fed up. We cannot read them because you produce rubbish,” she charged.
“If I am away they say she is in the intensive care unit and if I do not come to meet the people they say I do not like the people. What do you want me to do? I cannot just sit in the State House polishing my nails while people are starving. I come and take people’s messages to their President. That is my duty.”
Anyone with the desire to lead the party, she said, should have patience and wait to be given the mandate by the people at the right time (congress).
“You should not go in front, let the people see your deeds and be satisfied before choosing you,” she said.
“Do not impose yourself. For now, we have got a mandate to implement Zim-Asset and let us concentrate on that because people are waiting.”
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