Confusion rocks Zanu-PF, 'dirty dozen' throws party into disarray

CONFUSION reigns supreme in Zanu PF following the busting of what has been nicknamed the "dirty dozen" within the ruling party.

The nickname refers to Zanu PF legislators who allegedly received grants from the US embassy in return for leaking State secrets.

Pundits linked to developments claim the "dirty dozen" saga was leaked by Presidential Affairs minister Didymus Mutasa in a bid to clear himself from growing factional fights which President Mugabe has seriously warned party big wigs to stop. 

Sources in Zanu PF said Mutasa exposed legislators aligned to his faction to cover his back as pressure continue to mount from President Robert Mugabe who is castigating factionalism in the party.

In his recent speeches Mugabe has been reprimanding Zanu officials about factionalism. Yesterday First Lady Grace Mugabe waded into the war by condemning factionalism.

But Mutasa yesterday refused to comment on the "dirty dozen" saga.

"I am not the party spokesperson to comment on that issue. Why has this generated interest with your paper?" he said, adding: "I do not want to talk to the private press," a weekly private paper quoted him today.

However, a faction allegedly led by Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa has found ammunition to attack Mujuru using the saga.

According to sources Mutasa was the first person to expose the "dirty dozen" issue in cabinet, but surprisingly the majority of these legislators belong to Vice-President Joice Mujuru's faction, which Mutasa is also aligned to.