'Mujuru working with MDC-T'

Vice-President Joice Mujuru is working with the MDC-T to dislodge President Robert Mugabe from his seat, a Zanu-PF legislator claimed at the weekend.

Gokwe-Nembudziya MP Justice Mayor Wadyajena told thousands of Zanu-PF supporters at Tsunga Growth Point on Sunday that they should be careful when choosing leaders at the forthcoming elective December congress in light of revelations by the First Lady, Grace Mugabe, and statements uttered by MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai while opening his party's congress.

"I am not the one who said so, the MDC-T leader himself, Mr Tsvangirai or whatever they call him, yesterday (Saturday) said he was working with some moderates in the party to remove President Mugabe. This just confirms what was said by the First Lady during her countrywide rallies," he said.

The MP, widely believed to be a loyal supporter of Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa's faction, said the claims by Tsvangirai should make party members more conscious on who to elect.

"We have some in our midst who do not have the interest of the people at heart and they go about on a self-aggrandisement drive. Let us not associate with such characters," Wadyajena said.

Zanu-PF is set to hold a watershed elective congress where fireworks are expected, with the fate of Mujuru at the indaba under spotlight after a call by the First Lady for her to resign.

"Let us just compare and contrast what was said by Tsvangirai yesterday (Saturday) with what was said by the First Lady in Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East and at her meeting with war veterans, and you will know the truth regarding some of the leaders in our party," he said.

Wadyajena said another sign indicating that Mujuru was working with the MDC-T was during the official opening of parliament. Opposition MPs cheered at Mujuru as she entered the National Assembly while they heckled at the First Lady.

"This shows that they are working with her, there is no way a politician would cheer an opposing politician without any reason. This shows that these people have a common goal," Wadyajena said, adding that "Dr Mugabe never lied when she said that the vice-president is working with the opposition. This confirms it all".

Vice-President Mujuru has denied ever working with the Tsvangirai-led MDC.

The youthful midlands lawmaker took aim at party spokesperson, Rugare Gumbo, saying he must stop labelling party cadres who are 'defending the president'.

"We know that Gumbo has a history of rebellion way back in the liberation struggle. He is one person who must not talk about rebellion. He now has a tendency of labelling anyone who supports the First Lady as a rebel," Wadyajena said.

He told party supporters to be careful at the party congress and not be misled or bribed by those aspiring for higher posts.

"These people have rebelled against the president and we must not vote for them at the congress. The party has banned vote buying and if anyone here in Gokwe North is caught doing that, we don't care who sent you, the party will fire you immediately," he said.

"The party has started firing people like Temba Mliswa, Jabulani Sibanda and soon to go is Calisto Gwanetsa. These are working with those who want to remove the president from power," he said.