'Mugabe's nephew lied on Grace'

Harare South Zanu PF Member of Parliament Shadreck Mashayamombe on Tuesday came out guns blazing, accusing President Robert Mugabe's nephew Patrick Zhuwao of lying and for working with ministers Jonathan Moyo and Saviour Kasukuwere to cause 'chaos'  in his constituency.

Zhuwao recently alleged that Mashayamombe approached him, asking for Zanu PF Mashonaland West Province to provide a political home to First Lady Grace Mugabe as there was no place for her in Harare.

The move was reportedly meant to scuttle the first lady from assuming the leadership of the Zanu PF's women's league as endorsed by the party youth and women's conferences. Harare provincial executive led by Amos Midzi were allegedly opposed to the First Lady's ascendency to power.

After the publication of the alleged bid to bar Grace from Harare, the provincial executive convened a meeting last week where they backed the first lady and recommended her elevation to the central committee on the capital's ticket.

The move to bar the first lady irked Mugabe who, upon returning from China on Sunday, attacked the Midzi-led Harare executive.

Addressing journalists after police quashed a demonstration by party youths against him in his constituency, Mashayamombe, who is the party's Harare province political commissair, denied ever apprpoaching Zhuwao.

The planned demonstration was allegedly organised by Zanu PF Harare Province youth chairperson, Godwin Gomwe.

"Zhuwao lied. He is lying. I never contacted him. Why would I call him? He doesn't have a constituency in Mashonaland West, and I am a PCC (Provincial political commissar), how can I approach him while he is not a PCC?" Mashayamombe said.

"Kasukuwere and Moyo are all behind this fracas and according to Zanu PF youths, some Gomwe followers revealed that their boss is being used by Tyson (Kasukuwere) and Moyo. This is what their followers said and I can tell them face to face. They are using Gomwe to do what he is doing and cause all the disturbances in Harare. We are aware of his (Gomwe) actions and the youths are condemning what he is doing."

Efforts to get a comment from Kasukuwere and Moyo were fruitless as their mobile phones rang unanswered yesterday.

"Today he (Gomwe) mobilised youths to demonstrate against me, for what? What have we done? Who does not know that Harare South belongs to Zanu PF and all those accused of destroying the party have constituencies that belong to Zanu PF. After all, why do we fight against each other, why demonstrate when we can sit down and settle problems?," Mashayamombe asked.

This was in apparent reference to Mbare MP and deputy Lands minister Tendai Savanhu and Midzi who is the Epworth legislator.

Zhuwao yesterday insisted that Mashayamombe approached him. He said the MP should own up to his actions.

"I cannot be dragged into little issues, if they cannot stand against their word then it is unfortunate. The mark of a man is that he stands by his word and if he realised that he erred, then he must own up and might be helped. It is like brother Peter dying of Aids while refusing to go to the New Start Centre," Zhuwao said.

Meanwhile, when The Zimbabwe Mail went to the place of demonstration, riot police could be seen milling around.

Youths loyal to Mashayamombe were also around the place and told journalists that they had denounced Gomwe.

According to Mashayamombe, 13 women were picked up by police and were taken to Waterfalls Police Station. However, police at the station could neither confirm nor deny that they had picked up anyone.