People First rattles Zanu-PF

There is gnashing of teeth in President Robert Mugabe's warring Zanu-PF, as the party prepares to embark on more brutal purges of its senior officials and at least a dozen legislators perceived to be sympathetic to former VP Joice Mujuru.

Well placed sources said yesterday that the move to expel more of its cadres had taken an urgent tone following the recent decision by disaffected party stalwarts to break ranks with Mugabe and coalesce under the banner and principles of the "original Zanu-PF" that will operate as Zanu-PF under the slogan, People First.

"Mashefu (party bigwigs) are rattled by the formation of Zanu People First and they are now just lashing out in anger at anyone suspected of supporting Mai Mujuru and former minister Didymus Mutasa. There will be plenty of blood on the floor in the next few weeks," a senior Zanu-PF official said.