Mugabe's security in my hands claims Mutasa

Presidential Affairs Minister and Zanu-PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa has denied plotting against President Robert Mugabe - insisting that he is actually responsible for Mugabe's security.

He made the statement immediately after the president blocked deliberations in a politburo meeting where outgoing Women's League boss Oppah Muchinguri and Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa had pushed for Mutasa's ouster.

They accused him of plotting to kill Mugabe and fanning factionalism in the party. Mugabe reportedly blocked the move and said Mutasa was his long-time ally.

Mutasa told The Zimbabwean this week that he is the one who takes care of the Head of State.

But Zanu-PF Central Committee members in Manicaland, led by Makoni South legislator Mandi Chimene, insisted that Mutasa should step down immediately for "plotting to assassinate Mugabe."

In an interview this week Chimene said: "Him (Mutasa) being the Minister of Presidential Affairs, no longer qualifies to hold such a portfolio because he can be feeding President Mugabe with wrong information for selfish gain."

She accused Mutasa of being the man behind all the problems bedevilling Zanu-PF in Manicaland.

"He is the most senior person in the province and I blame him for fanning factionalism and all other problems haunting the smooth running of the party here," she said. She described Mutasa as a "selfish person who wants to pursue egotistic agendas".

"Mutasa is trying to whip everyone to follow his line of thinking. Manicaland is one of the best provinces in the country, but it is always suffering from leadership crisis. There is gross corruption -with girlfriends and concubines of some chefs having farms at the expense of deserving cadres," said Chimene.