'Jonathan Moyo a security threat'

FORMER Zanu-PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa has described Information Media and Broadcasting minister Jonathan Moyo as a security threat and questioned how President Robert Mugabe could call him a fool after 38 years of working together.

Mutasa was responding to attacks on him by both Mugabe and Moyo, but he said he would not lose sleep over the Information minister's insults.

"Criticism from Moyo comes to me like water on a duck's back," he said at the weekend.

"He is a big security threat to this country.

"He knows that better than anyone else."

Mutasa would, however, not go into detail about why he thought Moyo was a security risk.

Moyo and Mutasa had a very public fallout after Mugabe accused the Information minister of being a weevil and plotting to destroy Zanu-PF.

But Moyo turned the tables and instead accused Mutasa and a host of other people of plotting to unseat Mugabe, leading to their ouster from the party's top echelons.

Responding to Mugabe's remarks that he was deranged and a stupid donkey, Mutasa said he was not a fool.

"If that was the case, I would never have been where I am and doing this work for the benefit of Zimbabwe and working with him for 38 years," he said.

"I am surprised that he sees that now after all that we have done, working closely together since 1977.

"Well that is his view and he is entitled to it."

Mugabe has already said that he will not brook foreign interference in his party following Mutasa's letter to Sadc, hinting that he will not entertain the missive.

But when Mutasa was asked what his next move would be if Sadc, whose chair is Mugabe, were to ignore his letter, he said: "I will wait and see."

Mugabe returned from a five-week-long holiday to be met by scores of Zanu-PF officials who were demonstrating against Mutasa, but the former Zanu-PF top man said he was not too bothered about the protests.

"They have been protesting against me at Zanu-PF headquarters, in Mutare, Rusape, Headlands and now at the airport," he said.

"That does not affect me. It is about the illegality of their actions. They are illegal."

When asked if he did not fear for his security as he was no longer afforded government security and in the face of increasing verbal attacks, Mutasa said he had seen worse in his life.

"No, I do not feel insecure," he said.

"I have worked under worse situations in Rhodesia under (former Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian) Smith's illegal regime and during the liberation war in Mozambique."

Mutasa fell out of favour with Mugabe after allegations that he, Mujuru and many other Zanu-PF officials were plotting to oust Mugabe at the party's congress held in December last year.

This led to several suspensions and expulsions which saw heavyweights like former spokesperson Rugare Gumbo and former Labour minister Nicholas Goche being sidelined.