Grace slams factionalism, says if Mugabe quits party would crumble

FIRST Lady Grace Mugabe who recently stormed into active politics has followed her husband's polemic on factionalism in Zanu PF saying those who divided the party were a shame.

Speaking during her maiden speech in Chinhoyi yesterday, Mugabe who was recently nominated to lead the Zanu PF Women's league took a swipe at factionalism in the ruling party and charged that party big wigs lacked leadership decorum adding that the party would crumble if President Mugabe resigns.

 "Factionalism will get us nowhere if what we are hearing is true then those who are doing it are a shame to the party," Grace said during her maiden political speech.

Grace waded into the allegations of Zanu PF officials who have been accused of spying for the United States of America saying they received money to destabilize Zanu PF.

"They are getting money from Americans and the British to destabilize our party," she said.

Grace follows her husband who has grabbed every opportunity he gets to reprimand party officials for dividing the party along factional lines. During the Wednesday politburo meeting Mugabe cracked a whip on errant party officials and warned that those who divided the party would be punished.

But the venturing of Grace and her recent nomination into the women's top post has brought more confusion in the party especially in the succession drama with some overzealous party officials urging her to contest for the Vice Presidency post at the party's December congress.

Her recent controversial doctoral conferment by the University of Zimbabwe has been perceived by political analysts as a ploy to position her for a top post in the Zanu PF presidium, a move which has further fuelled internal jockeying for posts in the ruling party.