Go Mujuru, I Say Go For It!

Every regular reader of this post - friend and foe - knows that I hardly cough without deliberately spewing generous doses of spittle on ZANU.PF, Robert Mugabe's party.

I harbour such hatred of authoritarian dictatorship that vitriol and venom is part of my objective commentary on this political animal that has tormented my country Zimbabwe since 1980.

But now that the charade 'ZANU.PF Elective Congress' - which opposition party spokesman Obert Gutu referred to as a 'praise and worship gathering' (what else can he say, he IS opposition!) is now over, Zimbabweans can breathe a collective sigh of relief.

However, one resolution that party owner (NOT leader!) Robert Mugabe failed to effect was outright expulsion of his national deputy president Joice Mujuru.

The 'disGraced vice president Mujuru' – whatever that means – is not exactly in the top ten of my favourite women. She termed my late party president, Joshua Nkomo, a senile old man. She also ignored the massacre of my fellow tribesmen – 20 000 of them – in the1980s. Her late husband Solomon was one of the leaders in the Zimbabwe National Army then, so she cannot claim innocence.

Now that Mugabe and his 'young wife' – if ever she is – have decided to throw political mud all over Joice, I really wouldn't give a shoot. She deserves the insults – gosh even loads of looted money can't protect her! However, what beats me is how Mugabe can summon so much hatred for a comrade of four decades over a period of mere three months, simply based on unfounded rumours that she is part of an assassination plot. Were it true that former party spokesperson 'comrade' Rugare Gumbo was part of this plot, why has handcuff - happy ZANU.PF police commissioner Augustine Chihuri NOT arrested them?

Alternatively, if Mugabe expelled Gumbo from ZANU.PF, why is he stammering over the expulsion of Joice Mujuru? He told his excitable delegates that he would 'do it by this Wednesday', yet the congress is a hire and fire forum. His problem is Section 97 of the National Constitution – 'Removal of President of Vice - President from office'. As I commented last Friday on Studio 7 Zimbabwe, it is a joint resolution of both Senate and National Assembly that can only resolve Mujuru's fate. Apart from transgressions like serious misconduct, violation of constitution, physical and mental incapacity, the expulsion resolution must be backed with an investigative committee on Standing Rules and Orders. Mugabe has another 'safe' route though – writing a letter to Speaker and 'recall' Mujuru as ZANU.PF Member of Parliament, then risk a by election.

Whatever fate befalls Mujuru this week, it is a blessing in disguise. She can form a more progressive ZANU.PF or even join the swelling ranks of opposition. In 2018, Joice Mujuru can then be presidential candidate to prove her worth. After all, if your enemy's enemy is your friend, why not vote Joice Mujuru for 'woman president' in 2018!

Rejoice Ngwenya is an independent political analyst and writes in his own capacity. This publication is extracted from his Facebook page.