News / National
Mujuru planning 2018 Parliament Coup
01 Jun 2016 at 06:59hrs | Views
Former vice president and Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) interim leader, Joyce Mujuru, is allegedly planning a parliamentary coup for 2018 involving some peeved Zanu-PF legislators, which should help her new party gain significant seats, and bargaining power to form a coalition administration with MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, Spotlight Zimbabwe, can exclusively reveal.
According to one of ZimPF's founding elders, who spoke at length with this publication last month in confidentiality, the secret plan to win control of parliament when in motion, is expected to see the disgruntled Zanu-PF MPs resigning en masse from the ruling party, and crossing floor to participate under ZimPF parliamentary tickets.
So serious is the alleged ploy, that a coterie of ruling party legislators with closet Mujuru links and allegiance who survived Mugabe's purges in 2014, which resulted in Mujuru's humiliating downfall and ouster early last year, is said to be ready to resign from parliament altogether and force early polls, in the event that vice president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, takes charge before Mugabe finishes his term in office, as is now being widely speculated.
Under to the new Constitution Mugabe or Mnangagwa should he sweep to power has no choice but to call for another round of presidential and parliamentary elections, if more than two thirds of the legislators quit.
Recent revelations in the media by the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans' Association secretary-general, Victor Matemadanda, that some top Zanu-PF officials and inner circle of First Lady, Grace Mugabe, are lying and deceiving her to curry political favour when they are actually Mujuru pawns, give credence to growing reports of Zanu-PF members believed to be visiting Mujuru's camp at night to cut political deals, to secure their future, as all hell is expected to break lose once Mugabe is out of the presidency.
Upon its swearing in, the 8th Parliament of Zimbabwe 2013-2018 had 160 Zanu-PF seats; 49 for the MDC-T and 1 Independent seat.
"Our critics are always saying we do not have grassroots support," said the ZimPF elder who has promised Spotlight Zimbabwe, a one on one interview, where he will reveal himself and give details of the party's 2018 campaign manifesto at the right time.
"They are wrong because there are quite a number of Zanu-PF members and parliamentarians who are following us. Obviously they don't want to jeopardize themselves, but come 2018, people are going to be shocked about our nationwide appeal, because a good number of current Zanu-PF MPs want to come to us, and are willing to contest under our ticket."
The elder also warned that there is likely to be anarchy in the country, should Mnangagwa prematurely seize control of the country, as the party is aware of his "clandestine maneuvers" to become President before 2018.
"If that is to happen, there is going to be anarchy in this country. I will not be surprised if Zanu-PF collapses. Mugabe is the one holding them together for now, but Mnangagwa cannot play that role. MPs from the other factions will likely resign from parliament, and your guess is as good as mine, in terms of what will happen next because they will sure not be joining any other opposition party, but us."
Mujuru refused to reveal her strategy in beating Zanu-PF in 2018, during an interview in March with South Africa's Sabc Television station.
"Now to the issue of your campaign, and to people first. Edgar Tekere left Zanu-PF, mounted a formidable challenge against Zanu-PF. He failed. What would you do differently?" asked the reporter.
"You think I'm that naive, to tell you what I will do. You think so? Those are our secrets," Mujuru retorted.
According to one of ZimPF's founding elders, who spoke at length with this publication last month in confidentiality, the secret plan to win control of parliament when in motion, is expected to see the disgruntled Zanu-PF MPs resigning en masse from the ruling party, and crossing floor to participate under ZimPF parliamentary tickets.
So serious is the alleged ploy, that a coterie of ruling party legislators with closet Mujuru links and allegiance who survived Mugabe's purges in 2014, which resulted in Mujuru's humiliating downfall and ouster early last year, is said to be ready to resign from parliament altogether and force early polls, in the event that vice president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, takes charge before Mugabe finishes his term in office, as is now being widely speculated.
Under to the new Constitution Mugabe or Mnangagwa should he sweep to power has no choice but to call for another round of presidential and parliamentary elections, if more than two thirds of the legislators quit.
Recent revelations in the media by the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans' Association secretary-general, Victor Matemadanda, that some top Zanu-PF officials and inner circle of First Lady, Grace Mugabe, are lying and deceiving her to curry political favour when they are actually Mujuru pawns, give credence to growing reports of Zanu-PF members believed to be visiting Mujuru's camp at night to cut political deals, to secure their future, as all hell is expected to break lose once Mugabe is out of the presidency.
Upon its swearing in, the 8th Parliament of Zimbabwe 2013-2018 had 160 Zanu-PF seats; 49 for the MDC-T and 1 Independent seat.
"Our critics are always saying we do not have grassroots support," said the ZimPF elder who has promised Spotlight Zimbabwe, a one on one interview, where he will reveal himself and give details of the party's 2018 campaign manifesto at the right time.
"They are wrong because there are quite a number of Zanu-PF members and parliamentarians who are following us. Obviously they don't want to jeopardize themselves, but come 2018, people are going to be shocked about our nationwide appeal, because a good number of current Zanu-PF MPs want to come to us, and are willing to contest under our ticket."
The elder also warned that there is likely to be anarchy in the country, should Mnangagwa prematurely seize control of the country, as the party is aware of his "clandestine maneuvers" to become President before 2018.
"If that is to happen, there is going to be anarchy in this country. I will not be surprised if Zanu-PF collapses. Mugabe is the one holding them together for now, but Mnangagwa cannot play that role. MPs from the other factions will likely resign from parliament, and your guess is as good as mine, in terms of what will happen next because they will sure not be joining any other opposition party, but us."
Mujuru refused to reveal her strategy in beating Zanu-PF in 2018, during an interview in March with South Africa's Sabc Television station.
"Now to the issue of your campaign, and to people first. Edgar Tekere left Zanu-PF, mounted a formidable challenge against Zanu-PF. He failed. What would you do differently?" asked the reporter.
"You think I'm that naive, to tell you what I will do. You think so? Those are our secrets," Mujuru retorted.
Source - spotlight
