'We are victims of gossiping,' claims Grace Mugabe

THE First Lady Grace Mugabe has exonerated herself and Vice Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko from harbouring presidential ambitions, saying they are victims of gossiping by some political opportunists bent on dividing people.

Addressing members of the Zanu-PF Women's Affairs national executive in Harare yesterday, Mugabe who is also the Women League's secretary, said the ruling party should immediately stop disciplinary hearings and commit efforts towards development.

She vouched for the two Vice Presidents, saying at no point did she ever hear them calling for President Robert Mugabe's retirement for them to take over the State Presidency.

The First Lady said in 2013 people voted President Mugabe into office and as such, he was the only centre of power that should be recognised and respected.

"We went for elections in 2013 and voted for one president," she said.

"He is the one centre of power that we recognise. All that is being said that I will be leader; I said in no uncertain terms that I don't habour any presidential ambitions.

"Even Vice President's name is mentioned but you have never heard Vice President Mnangagwa saying, 'President Mugabe can you leave office so that I succeed you'.

"But there are mischievous people who and anti-Zanu-PF who are saying all that. I want to speak on behalf of Vice President (Mnangagwa) because he has never said anything, speaking also for myself; I have never said anything and speaking also on behalf of VP Mphoko because he has never said anything. They are committed to their party and working for their country."

"There are some people who know that women are poor who tell us that Vice-President Mnangagwa wants the President out, VP Mphoko the same. They are also mentioning my name in all that. I'm satisfied with my being First Lady. I'm satisfied with leading the women. At least I'm happy that I'm in this position in the Women's League, I'm being recognised so I'm happy because I never expected to be in that position."

Mugabe said some people were pushing for her appointment as a Cabinet Minister, but she refused.

"I have my businesses to run," she said, "I do charity work. Now I'm leading the Women's League so I have enough responsibilities. My plate is just full. It's overflowing."

She said people thought that she would do like her predecessor in the Women's League Oppah Muchinguri who doubled up as Women's Affairs Minister.

She said it is important to share positions.

"I thought about that," she said, "and decided I didn't like to do that because I have a lot of work already so it was good for a fellow woman to take up the ministerial job so that we share responsibilities."

Mugabe warned some men who were using members of the Women's League to fan factionalism in the party that they should "stop it."

In some cases, she said, men were using money to divide members of the Women's League.

The First Lady described such destructive behaviour as "satanic" adding that women should be on the lookout for such manipulative characters.

"I'm tired of hearing gossip. Gossip is just too much. Everyday the newspapers publish useless things," she said.

"It's better we ignore all the reports because newspapers publish a lot of gossip. We want development. Let us work for national development. In the same vein I want to warn men who are bent on abusing women for advancing selfish political mileage to desist from the evil practice. It's dirty, satanic. They should stop it.

"Their dirty deals have seen women being divided. Women, let us not be used by men. I'm bringing this to you because concern has been raised over factional tendencies that I was saying to be mushrooming by the day.

"Some of the by-products of factionalism are gossiping and tribalism. We should not work things based on tribalism."

Mugabe said it was useless to continue fighting political battles when the nation was expecting economic delivery.

She said: "Our focus should be on serving the people by contributing to the implementation of the Zim-Asset plan in a result-oriented fashion.

"People out there are expecting development, bringing about positive change in their lives. Now people want to use this issue of cabal (ex-VP Joice Mujuru's faction) that since they were fired from the party anyone that I don't like (Shuvai) Mahofa, or if I don't like (Eunice) Sandi, we just allege they were in that person's faction.

"Let's stop that. We have a lot of work. People want food. If you hear anyone continuing to speak ill about anyone, I think just dismiss them. We can't spend all our time speaking about disciplinary hearing. I don't like that.

"Let's stop that. Those who are now out of the party are out. Those who are still in even though we know the bad things they were doing, I think they have learnt a lesson."

Mugabe said people should learn to forgive each other and move forward.

She reiterated President Mugabe's address during the last Central Committee meeting that no one owned a position both in the government or the party.

She said people were deployed to serve the people and not to be their masters.

The First Lady donated six vehicles to six rural provinces for use by members of the Women's League.

She said the remaining provinces would benefit in due course.

The provinces that benefitted included Manicaland, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Mashonaland Central and Midlands.