Grace drags Mugabe into 'dirty' Zanu PF factionalism

AFTER wide spread speculation that she is being used by a faction led by powerful Justice Minister Emmerson Mnagwagwa, the First Lady Grace Mugabe today finally came out in the open supporting  Mnagwagwa, a move which has unprecedentedly dragging her 90-year-old husband President Mugabe into the party's dirty factional fights.

During her much hyped cross country rallies aimed at introducing her to Zanu PF supporters after she was nominated to head the women's powerful post in the party, undiplomatic Grace sought to dismiss speculations that she was being used by one of the factions fronted by Mnagwagwa saying 'the First Family does not support any faction' but today she spilled the beans and declared her open allegiance to Mnangagwa's faction.

But during her speeches punctuated by scathing attacks on Zanu PF big wigs which she accused of fanning factionalism in the party Grace presented herself as the ultimate solution to divisions that have rocked the ruling party.

Today, while addressing ex combatants at her Mazoe Orphanage, she launched another fierce polemic against Vice President Joice Mujuru and ordered her to resign.

While she continued with her scathing attack on Mujuru and her apologists she declared openly her allegiance to Mnangagwa long viewed as her ally in Zanu PF succession battles.

Subtly, she urged people to rally behind Mnangagwa arguing that "although he was voted by 8 provinces to be VP but he did the honorable thing and let Mai Mujuru take the post."

Ironically although the party has warned party officials against using hate speech, Grace and her perceived supporters today continued to use the controversial 'gamatox' chant perceived to be an attack directed to Zanu PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa who is allegedly belongs to Mujuru's faction.

President Mugabe who is in dilemma to address the chaos in Zanu PF has postponed the politburo meeting twice this week in what political pundits say indicates the ageing leader's incapacity to handle the party any further. Mugabe is under intense pressure to reprimand his wife whose venture into politics has amplified chaos in the ruling party.