Grace Mugabe blasts war vets

THE First Lady Grace Mugabe yesterday candidly declared that she is content with her position as secretary for Women Affairs in Zanu-PF and does not harbour any ambitions to take up a top post in the revolutionary party.

This puts to rest speculation, including that she was aiming for the revolutionary party's Vice Presidency, formulated by the private media ahead of the 15th Zanu-PF Annual National People's Conference set for Victoria Falls next month.

Addressing thousands of Zanu-PF supporters in Mbare, Harare, Mugabe had no kind words for a few war veterans, some of whom she said were fake, who are sowing seeds of division and rekindling factionalism in the ruling party.

She said she was not fighting for any position in the party, but was expending her energy towards fulfilling the promises Zanu-PF made to the people when it resoundingly won a new five-year term in 2013.

"People are suffering while we're fighting for positions," she said. "I'm standing here as the wife of your President and as someone whom you chose to lead the women.

"I'm ending there and I don't need any other position. They might say whatever they want that Amai needs a top post. I was given work to do by the people and I've got the energy.

"There are some people who become unsettled when they see me working for the people and they start gossiping, but when they do that I double my efforts because I've got a mandate to deliver to the electorate."

The private media has tried in vain to set up the First Lady against Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa by fabricating stories that the two led factions in Zanu-PF and are competing to outdo each ahead at the upcoming December 7 to 13 conference.

VP Mnangagwa on Wednesday told parliamentarians that he was not in any way embroiled in a factional and succession tussle with the First Lady. MDC-T legislators had asked VP Mnangagwa if the First Lady's rallies were not giving him sleepless nights.

He responded: "If you look at me, do I look like someone who doesn't sleep? My wife is here and you can ask her if I don't sleep well."

At the rally in Mbare, the First Lady said by virtue of fighting the liberation war, a handful of veterans of the struggle did not want to be reprimanded and were not open to advice.

In fact, she said, it was emerging that some of the war veterans creating confusion in the party were bogus and were trying to portray her as someone who hated freedom fighters. "I'm not going to be gagged or silenced," the First Lady said.

"There are some war veterans who are doing silly things in Zanu-PF and we say down with them. We've genuine war veterans, but someone wants to boast that he fought the war. Where was that?

"We know you were stealing clothes meant for the liberation fighters and you can't cock a gun.

Mugabe did not name the war veteran whom she said was in the habit of stealing people's clothes during the liberation struggle.

She added: "People are used to blackmailing others and if I reprimand them they say I no longer like the war veterans. I've my mouth and you can only silence me by shooting and killing me. I will not hesitate to speak against bad behaviour in Zanu-PF.

"I've a big hero at home (President Mugabe) who stayed in prison for 11 years and couldn't go out to mourn his child when he died. My brother also went to war and it's baffling for someone to say I don't like war veterans.

"Some say Grace Mugabe can never tell them anything, but Zimbabwe is for everyone. If that was the President's behaviour, because of the power you gave him, could we be happy today? Factionalism is there in Zanu-PF and I warned those doing it and the next thing is they want to demonstrate against me. Try it and we will see!"

The First Lady paid tribute to Gogo Idah Hwiza who housed freedom fighters who bombed fuel tankers in the then Salisbury in 1978, at her home in Mbare.

The event delivered a fatal blow to the Rhodesians and provided a defining moment of Zimbabwe's war of liberation as whites realised that the battlefront was now at their door step. Prior to this act, the liberation war had been mainly confined to the rural areas, small towns and farming areas.

"When she was approached, it didn't take long for her to accommodate the eight freedom fighters," said Mugabe. "The job was done and this is the day Ian Smith suffered a major blow because the fuel was being used to commit several atrocities in and outside the country."

The First Lady called for peace and urged the youths to desist from committing acts of violence.

This comes after a Chitungwiza man, Proud Mupambwa, axed his two friends to death following a misunderstanding last weekend before taking his own life while in police custody.

The private press attempted to link Mupambwa to Zanu-PF, but Mugabe said the incident had nothing to do with the ruling party.

"Let's solve our issues amicably because you commit murder over a simple issue," she said. "Divert that energy you use in fighting towards working for yourself or your family."

Mugabe took time to give people updates on the progress the government has made in implementing its economic blue print, Zim-Asset.