Mugabe avails $3 million to stage a coup against Mutsvangwa

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe's government has reportedly availed $3 million to the War Veterans' ministry to wrestle control of the Christopher Mutsvangwa-led Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans' Association (ZNLWVA), NewsDay reported.

The fund reportedly controlled by War Veterans' ministry permanent secretary Walter Asher Tapfumaneyi was recently put together to try and stage a coup against the Mutsvangwa executive, which has fallen out of favour with Mugabe after demanding that he steps down from power.

Yesterday, Mutsvangwa accused Mugabe of releasing nearly $3 million to Tapfumaneyi at a time the country was facing a debilitating cash shortage in an effort to lure provincial leaderships across Zimbabwe.

"He (Tapfumaneyi) went on to rope in a reluctant Minister Tshinga Dube as a veneer of political cover to his nefarious attempts at a leadership coup," Mutsvangwa said.

"To sweeten the deal he offered monies, but not from his own pockets. He dangled a slush fund of $1 million diverted from a measly $3 million from the Treasury. Here he is in his G40 grove of using the public purse to pursue petty political agendas on the sidelines of legitimate government business."

Tapfumaneyi, however, scoffed at the allegations saying he did not have $1 million and neither was he trying to bribe anyone to follow him.

War Veterans' minister Tshinga Dube although confirming that government released $3 million to his ministry, denied it was meant to fight the Mutsvangwa-led ZNLWVA executive.

Mutsvangwa warned Tapfumaneyi that he would not hesitate to drag him to court if he continued fighting them.

Dube said the money released by government was meant for school fees for children of the former combatants which was long overdue.