Zimbabwe cabinet decisions will be made in the bedroom, says Mliswa

Former Zanu-PF Mashonaland Provincial chairperson Temba Mliswa says First Lady Grace Mugabe has to stop masquerading as a senior to vice-presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko.

Grace on Friday told Zanu-PF supporters in Gutu, Masvingo that she was more powerful than both Mnangagwa and Mphoko by virtue of her being the wife of President Robert Mugabe.

Mliswa said Grace's utterances claiming to be more powerful than members of the presidium posed a serious threat to the country's constitution as there was nowhere in the charter describing the roles of a First Lady.

"In fact, the constitution does not even recongnise such a position," said Mliswa, who is also Youth Advocacy for Reform and Democracy (Yard) chairman.

"The First Lady's utterances were a clear indication that Zimbabwe will end up having important Cabinet decisions being made in the bedroom. This poses a threat to the constitution."

Last year, former war veterans leader Jabulani Sibanda was fired from Zanu-PF after he said he would move to block a "bedroom coup" after Grace started moving around campaigning for the ouster of former Vice-President Joice Mujuru.

Mliswa said the campaign against Mujuru and her subsequent ouster had set a wrong precedence, which was why Grace no longer had respect for the country's vice-presidents.

"That was not respectful. Remember Mujuru's husband, the late General Solomon Mujuru single-handedly gave Mugabe the powers under the Mgagao and Chimoio declarations. But look at the way Grace campaigned for his wife's destruction," he said.

Yard spokesperson Obert Masaraure concurred with Mliswa saying youths were worried about Grace's utterances.

"As Yard, we are not happy by a bedroom coup muted by the First Lady. We are worried about the trajectory she is taking the country. We are worried that executive decisions will be made in the bedroom. We say Grace must stop it," Masaraure said.

"We also urge Zanu-PF to whip her into line. She is a threat to democratic structures of the country. The First Lady position is not provided for in the constitution and her utterances could cause a constitutional crisis. We recognise the supremacy of the constitution and what Zanu-PF is trying to institute through Grace is a serious constitutional crisis."

Masaraure also said Grace's claims that Mugabe would rule the country from a wheelchair showed how much she had no regard for the voters as it is voters that should have the final say on whether or not Mugabe should continue to rule.