Zanu-PF plot against Mujuru exposed

Zanu-PF Women's league boss, Oppah Muchinguri on Thursday revealed the camp allegedly led by Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa had plotted the blocking of rival, Vice President Joice Mujuru in the succession race ahead of an elective congress in December.

Muchinguri, who has been escorting First Lady Grace Mugabe during her countrywide rallies, told thousands of Zanu-PF supporters gathered at Mucheke Stadium that her faction mooted the idea of throwing the president's wife in the political arena to prevent the Mujuru faction from becoming too powerful.

"Takaona kuti pane vamwe  vakamirira kuti vapinde pachigaro cha baba VaMugabe takavarova nemunyati, tikavatamba inonzi tingoringo tikati regai titore Queen mother, mai vauye vatungamirire vazotonga kuti vasazotora chigaro chikuru," Muchinguri said.(We realised that there were some who wanted to take over from Mugabe but we plotted against them and decided to use our mother to come and take over because she is a worthy candidate).

Mnangagwa, Information minister Jonathan Moyo and Water minister Saviour Kasukuwere,  also attended the Mucheke rally.

The remarks give credence to speculation and theories that the coming in of Grace into politics was a Mnangagwa faction project to block Mujuru from her ascendency to power when Mugabe finally retires or is incapacitated.

A jubilant Muchinguri celebrated the success of the plot as Grace has seemingly derailed all of Mujuru's ambitions to become the country's next president.

"We had to do this because it was the same people who were undermining us and intimidating us to support their cause to replace baba VaMugabe (our father Mugabe) but we have put it to an end by the coming in of Amai," she added.

Muchinguri received backing from Grace when the First Lady took over the podium where she threatened to influence her husband to fire members of the rival Mujuru faction from powerful posts in the party and government.

"You need to know that faction leaders were appointed and you must not take that advantage to pursue personal interests and divide people.

"There are a lot of people who are able and have the capacity to take those positions and be warned that you will be left alone," Grace said.

The First Lady also revealed that she harbours ambitions to lead the country.

Mnangagwa also backed the plot jovially when he was called up to give a slogan on behalf of politburo members who were present.

He strongly repeated a slogan supporting Mugabe and his wife several times much to the chagrin of supporters.

"Pamberi nava Mugabe namai vacho pasi nemhandu,"(Forward with president Mugabe and his wife and down with enemies) said Mnangagwa without coming out clear as to who the enemy was.