Mugabe's spokesperson issues a chilling warning to Mujuru

A State media columnist believed to be Mugabe's spokesperson, George Charamba has issued a chilling warning to the former Vice-President, saying Zanu-PF would fight the former war veteran on many fronts.

Charamba also indicated that Zanu-PF had been unsure about how to deal with Joice Mujuru before she came out in the open concerning her future last week.

"Zanu-PF has been uncomfortable with a floating Joice Mujuru, a Mujuru sitting musingly at Rudhara, allowing time to forget and heal, allowing a growing benefit of the doubt," Manheru wrote.

"Such a situation has been very hard for Zanu-PF to manage since December last year, justifying endless purges."

Zanu-PF has fired or suspended several top officials accused of working with Mujuru to allegedly topple Mugabe from power since the purges began last December.

Mugabe has admitted that the purges have weakened the party.

However, Charamba also issued a chilling warning to the former Vice-President, saying Zanu-PF would fight the former war veteran on many fronts.

"There are many things which Zanu-PF had put into abeyance, waiting for this moment. She [Mujuru] has provided a trigger and it can only be fast forward. She is set to be fought on many fronts," he wrote.

"Zanu-PF is a vicious, unyielding auditor. Already, yesterday's [Cabinet] appointments suggest a planner putting his ducks in a row. Read carefully what the appointments do to Midlands and Mashonaland East, and you get a good clue."

But one of Mujuru's allies, former State Security minister Didymus Mutasa, said they were prepared to face Zanu-PF and the State machinery.

Mutasa has been speaking on behalf of disgruntled former Zanu-PF members under the People First (PF) banner who have earmarked Mujuru as their leader.

"PF is determined to resist anarchy in the same way the people's nationalist movements resisted Ian Smith's Rhodesia," Mutasa said.

"We abhor discrimination, oppression and brutality regardless of the colour of the person behind it.

"When one decides to go into politics and in particular our kind of politics in Zimbabwe, one should be aware that it can get dirty and at times dangerous.

"In Shona they say, 'ateya mariva murutsva haachatyi kusviba magaro' [If one takes to the mud they should expect to get dirty].We are prepared for any eventuality."

During his time in government, Mutasa was in charge of the country's feared Central Intelligence Organisation and he said he hoped "some" in the security services would protect them.

"We know the kind of animal we are dealing with, but we also hope that not everyone in the security services is against us," he said.

"We are hoping that some among them would want to protect, not only us, but all Zimbabweans against their government."

University of Zimbabwe lecturer Eldred Masunungure said Mujuru should expect Zanu-PF to use the State machinery to derail her efforts to dislodge Mugabe.

He said he does not believe Mujuru would be a game-changer in Zimbabwean politics, but Zanu-PF would still not treat her with kid gloves.

"I need to send out a word of caution and say Mujuru's perceived impact on the country's political scene is probably exaggerated," he said.

"I do not think she will be a game-changer, but she should prepare for the worst, while expecting the best.

"Zanu-PF will treat her in the ‘normal way' it treats opposition parties to its power base."

Mujuru was fired from government last December for allegedly trying to use witchcraft and hired assassins to push Zimbabwe's only leader since independence out of power.