'Vultures take over Zanu-PF,' says Rugare Gumbo

Former Zanu-PF spokesperson and liberation war hero, Rugare Gumbo, says the ruling party has been hijacked by "political vultures" who are running rings around the party's leadership in what amounts to an effective internal coup.

Gumbo offered this stark warning to President Robert Mugabe in an exclusive interview with the Daily News yesterday, in which he also criticised the ongoing purges of war veterans and senior party officials ahead of next week's "elective" congress.

He described those whom he alleged had hijacked the party as "mercenaries and losers" in the party's primary elections, which was a sure sign that Zanu-PF had dumped its liberation war values after being taken over by mafikizolos (late comers).

Gumbo's chilling warning came as Mugabe is tightening his grip on the party and effectively imposing "one man rule" in Zanu-PF in what some party veterans say is a clear violation of the liberation movement's values and manifesto.

"As I have said before, the Tsholotsho vultures have taken over, they are in the process of staging a coup in Zanu-PF and I don't know why the leadership is blind to this obvious scenario.

"Look at the people being marginalised, Joice Mujuru, Rugare Gumbo, Didymus Mutasa, Angeline Masuku and other war heroes like Killian Gwanetsa, John Mvundura, Luke Mashowe among others.

"And who is behind this? The Tshlolotsho gang, assisted by the Gang of Four which includes Jonathan Moyo, Savior Kasukuwere, Oppah Muchinguri and Patrick Zhuwao.

"I have said this to President Mugabe and I will say it again, these people are destroying Zanu-PF from within. They have achieved what they have always aspired to do and the party will regret this.

"We are witnessing something strange in Zanu-PF, where all of us who were in the struggle are being accused of trying to assassinate the President.

"Mai Mujuru is like a daughter to President Mugabe, how can she decide to kill him now, she knows no other leader except President Mugabe, she was groomed by President Mugabe, why would she want to kill him now and how surely.

"This is a joke surely. I for one have never had any intention of killing even a fly. I don't and will never have any intention of ending someone's life," charged Gumbo.

Last week, Mugabe railroaded his party into changing its constitution, a move that now allows him to sideline Mujuru and appoint his preferred successor.

The changes, which were forced through at Saturday's tense politburo meeting in Harare, will empower the nonagenarian to appoint his party deputies once they are formally adopted - a marked change from the current status quo where his lieutenants are elected into their positions, and which also sees them automatically taking up the same posts in government.

At the same time, the State media has gone into overdrive, accusing everyone perceived to be sympathetic to Mujuru of working to assassinate Mugabe and promoting factionalism.

Among those accused of plotting to topple and assassinate the nonagenarian are Gumbo, Mujuru, Mutasa and Nicholas Goche.

Analysts also say a faction associated with Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa has been working overtime to ostracise supporters of Mujuru - and virtually all of them, including at least 10 Cabinet ministers and more than 100 Members of Parliament have been booted out of the party's powerful central committee.

"I'm concerned, really concerned about what is happening in the party. It's now a circus.

"How do you have people who were overwhelmingly elected at primary elections all being dumped and this by the way includes people who fought for the country, people who sacrificed in the bush to liberate Zimbabwe.

"Zanu-PF structures are being decimated and real Zanu-PF people are being marginalised. Look at Goche, he has been standing by the President and Zanu-PF and has been a pillar of strength, now he is being abused like this.

"What is frightening is that youths, sell-outs and even former Selous Scouts are getting places in the central committee at the expensive of genuine Zanu-PF people. It does not make sense at all," Gumbo added.

A member of the politburo who spoke to the Daily News yesterday accused  Mugabe of presiding over the entire process of destabilising the party.

As a result, he said, genuine party cadres and liberation war fighters were now concerned about the rate at which Mugabe was being "hoodwinked" by one faction in the party.

"Why hasn't President Mugabe stood up to defend his Vice President? Is he part of this sickening plot? How do you go to congress with appointed officials while those who have the support of the people are thrown away.

"Look at the case of someone like Temba Mliswa who has proved that he is extremely popular but is being dumped and treated like a criminal yet the real thugs are taking posts in the party.

"This will go down in history as a kangaroo congress. Look at the amendments to the constitution. How do you change the constitution at the last minute.

"What is happening in Zanu-PF will have far reaching consequences if President Mugabe doesn't act like a man and stop this nonsense," the politburo member speaking on anonymity said.