Zanu-PF gags officials from commenting on Grace Mugabe's accusations

THE FACTION-RIDDLED ruling Zanu PF has allegedly barred its officials from commenting on divisions in the party in suspected booby-trap by Grace Mugabe and her allies ahead of a key politburo meeting tomorrow that is expected to tackle hate speech in the party.

This follows savage attacks on Vice-President Joice Mujuru by the First Lady recently.

Since her entry into politics, President Robert Mugabe's wife has accused senior members, including Mujuru, of corruption, but there have been no response to her accusations.

Last Friday's politburo meeting was scheduled to discuss Grace's accusations until a power cut put paid to the discussion.

On Saturday, Mujuru was widely expected to hit back at Grace, but she simply said she was not involved in corruption.

Her supporters say this was a measured response, while her critics claim her failure to respond was an indication that she had been cornered.

At the weekend, State media claimed Mujuru was working with Americans in trying to topple Mugabe, but despite the seriousness of the allegations, Zanu PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo would not comment yesterday.

"I am not talking party or politburo issues with the media before the politburo meeting or outside the party or the politburo," he said yesterday.

"This is my position and the position of the party."

Gumbo's colleague Home Affairs minister Kembo Mohadi, a candidate for one of the vice-presidency posts, yesterday said he would not grant interviews until after the party's December elective congress.

"I am no longer talking to you media people until after congress. You write lies," he said.

This was after he was quizzed on why the reburial of 79 human remains found in a disused mine shaft in Old Mutare, where Mujuru was billed to officiate, had been cancelled at the last minute.

Mujuru's sympathisers yesterday said they smelt a rat over the last minute cancellation of the function, saying it was a ploy to deny her an opportunity to respond to Grace's stinging allegations.

This was due to be Mujuru's second public appearance.

Last Saturday, she told Zanu PF supporters at her graduation party in Dotito that she was a victim of political persecution, adding that it was unfair for her detractors to label her a "sellout", given the immense sacrifices she made to liberate the country during the armed struggle.

Although Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Christopher Mushohwe and Zanu PF provincial chairman John Mvundura could not be reached for comment, some senior party officials said they suspected the postponement of the programme was part of a plot to block Mujuru from addressing the public until after the Zanu PF elective congress in December.

Mujuru's spokesperson Sylvester Nguni could also not be reached for comment as he was reportedly attending a funeral in Mhondoro