Joice Mujuru's response to Mugabe - Full text

Press Statement by former Vice President Joice Mujuru

"Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the fantacical and sexual lewd allegations made against me by the leader of my political party Zanu-PF on the occasion of his birthday celebrations this past weekend.

I would like to congratulate His Excellency RG Mugabe on attaining 91 years of age and wish him many more birthday celebrations.

That said, I am at a loss as to how I continue to be the subject matter of Presidential conjecture and fantasy based on outright lies.

I was born into the Apostolic faith and once at school became a member of the Salvation Army. I am a committed Christian and was the leader of Apostolic Churches as Patron , and I have been committed to Christian life and values, all of my life.

It is disturbing that , the allegations that I tried to or was part of a conspiracy to assassinate the President have now been reduced to allegations of witchcraft, whose versions change on a daily basis. I am sure even the ordinary Zimbabwean has become tired of this story in its various guises. It's a charade which has lost steam.

I have said it before and I repeat it again, handiyite zvakadaro ini, I am innocent of all these charges and I am ready to face the allegation(s) in open court or any other public forum within the Zanu-PF constitutional structures.

I fought for the liberation of this country and hold the ideals of the liberation struggle and Zanu-PF close to my heart. I have not betrayed my party nor its leadership.

I have kept quite out of respect of R G Mugabe as party leader, and my considered silence should not be viewed as a sign of weakness or guilt.

My focus is on national building and avoiding the unnecessary destruction of the party I belong to, Zanu-PF, by Amafikizolo who are motivated by self interest and do not put the people first."

Joice Mujuru