Mujuru's political life hangs in balance, kept guessing

Vice-President Joice Mujuru's political life, hanging in the balance following weeks of high political drama, will now depend on a report to be written by out-going Zanu-PF Women's League boss, Oppah Muchinguri.

Muchinguri has been tasked with drafting a 'comprehensive report' of what transpired during First Lady Grace Mugabe's whirlwind tour of the country's 10 provinces in the aftermath of her endorsement as the party's choice to take over the influential organ.

Mujuru was this week named by the First Lady as the "faction leader, who needs to be baby-dumped".

The first Lady who had been earlier on speaking in riddles, finally removed the thin veil while addressing veterans of the country's liberation struggle at her Mazowe farm on Thursday and accused the vice-president of being a divisive character and extortionist.

The Zanu-PF information chief, Rugare Gumbo, in a brief address to journalists following the abrupt termination of a tense politburo meeting due to a Zesa power-cut and a malfunctioning stand by generator, said Muchinguri had been tasked to present a report "next Wednesday", which could seal Mujuru's fate on the country's political playfield.

"The issue of the Women's League was postponed to next Wednesday after the secretary for the League, Cde Oppah Muchinguri requested time to prepare a report and present it," Gumbo said.

The party was expected to debate Mujuru's political fate as demanded by the First Lady under the item; "Feedback of women's league rallies" on which Muchinguri was supposed to answer to questions from Mujuru on the reasons for the First Lady's vitriolic attacks on her.

"Everyone was easy (sic) during the meeting but obviously waiting for the report from Cde Muchinguri so that we could debate the issues she would raise and talk about the vice-president's name which was mentioned," Gumbo said.

The First Lady early this week demanded that Mujuru "resign and try tobacco farming" because "she is inept, unfit to take over as the country's leader and outright corrupt", as well as instigating a foreign funded rebellion against the country's leadership.

During the First Lady's "Meet the people rallies" held countrywide, Mujuru was named as a faction leader plotting to topple President Mugabe and was also said to be  "corrupt", demanding 10% shares in many companies, and was an illegal diamond runner and  one who  was also "abusing her position".

Reports say Muchinguri was instrumental in the rise of Mujuru in 2004 at a time when Mnangagwa looked set to become the country's vice-president with at least six provinces backing him.

Muchinguri campaigned then for Mujuru to take up the post and exactly a decade down the political lane, the Women Affairs minister is once again instrumental in uplifting the First Lady to the post of Women's  League head where she is set to replace her.

Meanwhile, in the meeting, emotions were reportedly high, with party members caucusing on how to tackle the emotive issue which could split the party or depose Mujuru from her post.

As President  Mugabe was entering the tense meeting, which was attended by almost every member, he jokingly said to Muchinguri while greeting members: "Ndimi makatanga chimoto chenyu ichi munogona here kuchipedza, "(You are the ones who started this fire, will you now be able to extinguish it?)," Mugabe quipped.

Before that, Mugabe had held a two and half hour closed door meeting with secretary for administration, Didymus Mutasa where, according to sources, dealt with allegations raised by the First Lady against Mujuru and other top officials who include Mashonaland East provincial chair, Ray Kaukonde.

Mutasa, reportedly rooting for Mujuru, has also been a subject of attacks and is now identified by the moniker 'Gamatox', a banned potent pesticide that the Intelligence minister suggested should be used to snuff out "weevils that have infested the ruling party".

Gumbo, in his brief to the media, said the politburo, which is the administrative wing of the Central Committee, the highest decision making body outside congress, also discussed congress preparations and were told by the secretary for finance, that so far they had raised over $3 million dollars towards congress.

Gumbo also said the elective congress had been brought forward from December 9-14 to December 1-7 at the City Sports Centre's  open grounds, popularly known as the Freedom Square.