Madhuku slams opposition for wrong focus

Instead of focusing attention on Zanu-PF's squabbles, the opposition should intensify its recruitment drive in preparation for the 2018 elections, says Lovemore Madhuku, interim leader of the National Constitutional Assembly.

Madhuku said every opposition should be preoccupied with engaging ordinary people to secure more votes and win coming elections.

Asked about the likely scenario at the next elections in light of the Mujuru camp factor, Madhuku said: "The opposition has no reason to be engrossed in other political parties' politics but should maintain its contact with the people. This is what we are doing as the NCA, as we should expand our support base ahead of the 2018 polls. I have no good reason to make further comments about Zanu-PF for now."

Meanwhile, Rtd army Brig Asher Walter Tapfumaneyi, former CIO operative and principal director for Presidential Affairs, has threatened the Joice Mujuru camp with extinction before 2018.

Brig Tapfumaneyi recently told delegates at a panel discussion held at the Southern African Political Economy Series that, the Mujuru camp would be history by the time the 2018 elections are due.

"Our political commissar is at work and by 2018 the so called Mujuru camp will be no more. Elections are still far away for us to do what should be done. Watch this space," Tapfumaneyi said.

Observers said among other options, Zanu-PF would use prosecutions to silence the Mujuru camp.

Top Mujuru allies face treason charges for allegedly plotting to assassinate President Robert Mugabe among other serious charges.

Mujuru is already accused of plotting the assassination plan and dozens of corruption charges during her term of office.

A taskforce led by Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa is finalising the compilation of criminal evidence against Didymus Mutasa, former Zanu-PF secretary for administration.

"I am leading a special taskforce unearthing serious evidence against Mutasa for police to act," Chinamasa reportedly told party supporters at Vengere Hall in Rusape last week Friday.

Allegations levelled against Mutasa include illegal land allocations, murder, under age sexual activities and fraud.

Addressing the Zanu-PF congress last December, Mugabe said: "Once evidence has been fully gathered all who have flouted the country's laws regardless of political position will be tried according to the provisions of Zimbabwe's constitution."

Mugabe said he was disappointed to learn that instead of representing women's empowerment, Mujuru was working against progress of the country ‘and planning to assassinate me'.

Charles Mangongera, a political analyst, said Tapfumaneyi's threats confirmed that he is deeply embedded in the Emmerson Mnangagwa faction and would do everything possible to completely disseminate the Mujuru camp.

"They would most likely use the arrest threats to cow the Mujuru camp into not challenging Mugabe and his followers among other options," said Mangongera.

Methuseli Moyo, a respected Bulawayo based political analyst, said Tapfumaneyi was warning of more drama as the 2018 election approaches.

According to Moyo, what Tapfumaneyi was threatening could be a mere wish, since there were more anti-Mugabe people than those sympathetic to the 91 year old Zanu-PF leader.

"Since the majority of people who happen to be anti-Mugabe have become interested in the intra-party fighting, Zanu-PF does not have the capacity to accomplish the silencing Tapfumaneyi is talking about.

"Tapfumaneyi should realise that it is no longer a fight against Mujuru and a few others, but the majority of people," Methuseli said.

There are calls for Mujuru to form a political party to wrestle power from Mugabe and Zanu-PF 2018.