End beckons for Mujuru

Vice-President Joice Mujuru's time as the country's number two looks set to come to a screeching halt, amid indication she has been deserted by the majority of her acolytes, while First Lady Grace Mugabe on Monday piled more pressure on the beleaguered Zanu-PF second secretary.

Mujuru was characterised by the First Lady as a "fool who has surrounded herself with foolish people" and should "resign forthwith".

President Robert Mugabe's wife once again came out guns blazing, telling thousands of college students at her Mazowe Children's home that Mujuru had wasted time in her decade long tenure as the country's second in command.

"She must resign forthwith," she said, adding that: "For the past 10 years she has been in office as the vice president, there is nothing to show off. It has been 10 years of waste. I think this has given us a lesson."

The meeting was attended by outgoing women's league boss Oppah Muchinguri, senate president Edna Madzongwe, deputy women's league secretary Eunice Sandi Moyo and MP Sarah Mahoka, among other top party officials.

The rally, which was organised by Sylvie Utete Masango, a member of the Public Service Commission and Charity Manyeruke, a lecturer of political science at the University of Zimbabwe, saw party heavyweights previously known to be backing the besieged Vice-President, among them Martin Dinha (Mashonaland Central Provincial Minister), chanting "down with Mujuru" slogans.

The First Lady said she had video evidence of Mujuru speaking ill of the first family, evidence she said was unquestionable.

"I set up Mujuru and I now have recording of her in a mini-skirt, speaking ill of me and the president…ngaaende izvozvi (she should resign now)," she said to deafening applause from the youths. "We are tired of this stupidity, ngaaende izvozvi."

Mujuru has been under a barrage of attacks from the First Lady who has lead a campaign to "baby-dump" her from her post, saying she was now a threat to the presidency as she wanted to overthrow President Mugabe.

The First Lady said during her 10-year stay as vice-president, Mujuru has specialised in wealth accumulation and plotting to take over from the president.

"I really loved her, I had nothing evil against her, but her behaviour is what I hate. I used to defend her until I saw it for myself. I told her something, while we were at the show (Agricultural show) and she went around with it claiming that ‘Amai Mugabe is now confiding in me, she is now closer to be under my armpit'. I was shocked to hear what I had told her coming from people," she said.

The First Lady revealed that Mujuru had tried to ensnare an unnamed person following the trap in which the VP is allegedly heard talking about her elaborate plot to oust the President.

"I still did not believe that, I then set a trap and told someone closer to her to record her, she was recorded while she was wearing a mini-skirt, I don't know whether she wanted to lure this person or not because the way she was dressing, it's embarrassing for a person of her stature. Do you know what she was saying in that video? She was saying why is Grace not telling her husband to step down?" the First Lady said.

"I asked the president if that is want they had agreed in their private meetings since we don't attend them, and he was shocked. For her being in power is all about money and amassing of wealth."

She said while the First Family has worked hard to establish the family businesses in Mazowe, Mujuru was on a mission of extortion of existing white businesses, promoting corruption and fanning disunity in the party.

"She must go, the writing is on the wall. The problem is that she is surrounded by foolish people who are fooling her. She is a fool, a daft person who can't read the situation that she is no longer wanted. What can Ray Kaukonde advise her?" she queried.

Newly elected Zanu-PF deputy youth secretary, another well-known Mujuru ally, Kudzanai Chipanga shocked the crowd when he said: "Pasi na Mai Mujuru (down with Mai Mujuru)."

"The last time I was here, I did a slogan against Gamatox, people called me asking if I had sold out. Yes, I have sold out and I have exposed you, and today I am going to do another slogan, down with Mujuru," he said much to the amusement of the crowd.

Also in attendance were Environment minister Saviour Kasukuwere, Zanu-PF politburo member Patrick Zhuwawo and War veteran chairperson Christopher Mutsvangwa.

Mujuru has also been accused of masterminding an elaborate assassination plot against President Mugabe.

However, in a statement at the weekend Mujuru denied all the charges leveled against her, coming just short of labeling the First Lady a "liar".

As the internal fissures in the ruling party threaten to spill-over ahead of a watershed congress, Mujuru allies have fallen by the way side, among them nine provincial chairperson, party spokesperson Rugare Gumbo was slapped with a five year suspension, while war veterans former leader Jabulani Sibanda was expelled.