News / National
Grace Mugabe speaks about VP 'ambitions'
21 Nov 2015 at 16:10hrs | Views
The First Lady and Zanu-PF Secretary for Women Affairs, Dr Grace Mugabe has slammed journalists for peddling falsehoods about her political career.
Addressing thousands of Zanu-PF supporters at Murehwa Growth point in Mashonaland East province, Dr Mugabe, rubbished media claims that she has ambitions to be vice president, saying she is content with leading the Women's League.
"The current Vice Presidents are capable leaders," said Dr Mugabe.
"I was in Mberengwa yesterday with the Vice Presidents, and I made it clear that we don't want the electorate to be confused by claims that the December conference is going to elect me as the vice president. No, I am a person who is learned, who has read the party constitution, so there are no elections at the conference. I am there as the First Lady only so journalists stop telling lies. Even when the President goes out of the country, have you ever seen me becoming Acting President? So why do you lie, is it poverty pushing you to write falsehoods?" she added.
The First Lady also slammed some elements in Zanu PF bent on dividing the party for selfish reasons.
"I won't be silenced from speaking about factionalism, we don't want to be controlled by a small group of people. I have confronted one war veteran and told him point blank that he is causing factionalism and now he and a few click of war veterans are now saying I don't like war veterans, taking fake stories about me to the media."
"Zimbabwe is for everyone, a war vet and one who is not a war vet are all equal. We don't want a few war veterans to destabilise the party and the country, we want people, real war veterans who want unity, unity behind President Robert Mugabe, who was recently described by one American envoy as 'the Lion of Africa," she said.
Dr Mugabe saluted her home province for playing a pivotal role in liberating the country and remaining behind the revolutionary Zanu PF party after independence.
She said even though the demon of factionalism had unfortunately settled in the province, the people have and must not forget their history, especially the liberation war.
"Of course, sellouts are everywhere, but Mashonaland East has remained steadfast behind the party," said Dr Mugabe.
Dr Mugabe emphasised the importance of peace in the country, warning the people, especially youths, who did not experience war, to learn from the turmoil in Iraq, Egypt and Libya caused by Western aggression.
On empowerment, Dr Mugabe explained the ZIMASSET economic blueprint, highlighting the need for value addition and protection of the local industry from cheap imports.
"Let us protect our local industry, we must stand firm against the importation of products that are available locally, no to importation of chickens, vegetables and tomatoes. We must value add our products and work hard in production so that we stop importing things that we can produce," she said.
Concluding her speech, the First Lady handed over donations to the province.
Some of the goods were sourced by her son, Russell.
Dr Mugabe handed over 18000 litres cooking oil, 3184 kgs clothes bales, washing soap, salt, 572 tonnes compound D fertiliser and 42 tonnes maize, among other things for the people in the province.
Another donation came in from of complete suits for all chiefs in the province and bicycles for their police officers.
Murara Irrigation Scheme in Mutoko, and Chitora Irrigation Scheme received two tractors, two disks, a planter and 10 knapsack sprayers each.
Dr Mugabe explained that tractors that will be handed over to the people are not for free, but people will receive them in groups and pay the loan as groups, which is easier than individual loans.
Dr Mugabe was yesterday in Mberengwa, and met the people of Harare in Mbare on Thursday, before today's rally in Murehwa, which was graced by Zanu PF Politburo members and legislators, among them Dr Sydney Sekeramayi, Nyasha Chikwinya, Joel Biggie Matiza, Edna Madzongwe, Walter Mzembi and Saviour Kasukuwere.
Addressing thousands of Zanu-PF supporters at Murehwa Growth point in Mashonaland East province, Dr Mugabe, rubbished media claims that she has ambitions to be vice president, saying she is content with leading the Women's League.
"The current Vice Presidents are capable leaders," said Dr Mugabe.
"I was in Mberengwa yesterday with the Vice Presidents, and I made it clear that we don't want the electorate to be confused by claims that the December conference is going to elect me as the vice president. No, I am a person who is learned, who has read the party constitution, so there are no elections at the conference. I am there as the First Lady only so journalists stop telling lies. Even when the President goes out of the country, have you ever seen me becoming Acting President? So why do you lie, is it poverty pushing you to write falsehoods?" she added.
The First Lady also slammed some elements in Zanu PF bent on dividing the party for selfish reasons.
"I won't be silenced from speaking about factionalism, we don't want to be controlled by a small group of people. I have confronted one war veteran and told him point blank that he is causing factionalism and now he and a few click of war veterans are now saying I don't like war veterans, taking fake stories about me to the media."
"Zimbabwe is for everyone, a war vet and one who is not a war vet are all equal. We don't want a few war veterans to destabilise the party and the country, we want people, real war veterans who want unity, unity behind President Robert Mugabe, who was recently described by one American envoy as 'the Lion of Africa," she said.
Dr Mugabe saluted her home province for playing a pivotal role in liberating the country and remaining behind the revolutionary Zanu PF party after independence.
She said even though the demon of factionalism had unfortunately settled in the province, the people have and must not forget their history, especially the liberation war.
"Of course, sellouts are everywhere, but Mashonaland East has remained steadfast behind the party," said Dr Mugabe.
Dr Mugabe emphasised the importance of peace in the country, warning the people, especially youths, who did not experience war, to learn from the turmoil in Iraq, Egypt and Libya caused by Western aggression.
On empowerment, Dr Mugabe explained the ZIMASSET economic blueprint, highlighting the need for value addition and protection of the local industry from cheap imports.
"Let us protect our local industry, we must stand firm against the importation of products that are available locally, no to importation of chickens, vegetables and tomatoes. We must value add our products and work hard in production so that we stop importing things that we can produce," she said.
Concluding her speech, the First Lady handed over donations to the province.
Some of the goods were sourced by her son, Russell.
Dr Mugabe handed over 18000 litres cooking oil, 3184 kgs clothes bales, washing soap, salt, 572 tonnes compound D fertiliser and 42 tonnes maize, among other things for the people in the province.
Another donation came in from of complete suits for all chiefs in the province and bicycles for their police officers.
Murara Irrigation Scheme in Mutoko, and Chitora Irrigation Scheme received two tractors, two disks, a planter and 10 knapsack sprayers each.
Dr Mugabe explained that tractors that will be handed over to the people are not for free, but people will receive them in groups and pay the loan as groups, which is easier than individual loans.
Dr Mugabe was yesterday in Mberengwa, and met the people of Harare in Mbare on Thursday, before today's rally in Murehwa, which was graced by Zanu PF Politburo members and legislators, among them Dr Sydney Sekeramayi, Nyasha Chikwinya, Joel Biggie Matiza, Edna Madzongwe, Walter Mzembi and Saviour Kasukuwere.
Source - zbc
