Joice Mujuru is 'Judas Iscariots' - Mugabe

President Robert Mugabe has labelled his former deputy Joice  Mujuru as  "Judas Iscariots"  and a very great believer in witchcraft who was motivated by money to betray the party.

Addressing the party's National Consultative Assembly in Harare yesterday, Mugabe spoke of the alleged plan to unseat him through a "coup de tat", allegations that claimed the scalp of Mujuru and her allies.

"…they were leaders of a subversive activity that was a silent planning of a coup de tat. We witnessed their spirited attempts at undermining Zanu PF through jockeying for executive posts in three wings of the party," Mugabe said.

"I don't know what happened to Judas Iscariot but our Iscariots under Gamatox are trying this and that and tell people they are there but they are dead, dead alive. However, the devil doesn't die, he is not dead, they tell us."

"So the likes of Didymus Mutasa, I notice he is priding himself now, he told us he has so many wives and priding himself in having all those wives.

"Rugare Gumbo, he has done this before in Mozambique and those who were with us will know we dug an underground room where those who had revolted in 1978 as we were at the Anglo-American talks and thought they would succeed, he was one of them and we kept them down there. We were feeding them well. We gave them food didn't we?" Mugabe asked.

Mugabe again gave details of Mujuru's alleged witchcraft escapades and how she allegedly used tadpoles and tried to engage leader of the Johane Marange apostolic sect to ordain her as leader.

Mujuru has denied ever plotting to remove Mugabe and being involved in witchcraft.

"Don't call people Gamatox unnecessarily. The real ones are there. Others might have been associated slightly. They have changed and have faith in the party. We give them a chance in the party.

"Let them strengthen themselves if they had been weakened," Mugabe said.