Zimbambwe’s Mugabe faces split in party as fired officials go to court

What you need to know:

  • Former Presidential Affairs minister Didymus Mutasa, who signed the statement, said Zanu PF had been hijacked ahead of the controversial December congress.
  • President Mugabe last December fired his then deputy, Ms Joice Mujuru, and several top officials in a purge linked to his wife’s dramatic entry into politics.
  • The former minister said Mugabe had alienated himself from the people by failing to show leadership.

President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF party is headed for a split after senior officials fired last year indicated that they were preparing to challenge their ouster in court.

President Mugabe last December fired his then deputy, Ms Joice Mujuru, and several top officials in a purge linked to his wife’s dramatic entry into politics.

Ms Mujuru’s allies on Tuesday issued a statement challenging their dismissal from key party positions.

The officials also attacked the president for his alleged lack of leadership and accused First Lady Grace Mugabe of promoting violence.

Former Presidential Affairs minister Didymus Mutasa, who signed the statement, said Zanu PF had been hijacked ahead of the controversial December congress.

He said President Mugabe appeared powerless to stop the alleged hijacking of the party.

 “Outside Zanu PF and the country’s constitutions and any moral tenets . . . in the build-up to this illegal congress, it became clear that this clique of evil plotters had successfully waylaid First Lady Grace Mugabe and comrade Robert Gabriel Mugabe and started using them as weapons to unleash venomous and uncouth statements against anyone they perceived to be standing for the original Zanu PF values, ideals and ethos,” Mr  Mutasa said in the statement.

“In disbelief, Zanu PF and the whole nation listened to their leader berating his own protégés not only in the party, but in the government and the august house of Parliament.”

The former minister said Mugabe had alienated himself from the people by failing to show leadership.

“Instead of mapping the road for Zimbabwe’s economic recovery and major policies for uplifting our people, the congress became a farce and degenerated into a praise and worship playhouse.”

“We are, therefore, calling upon all loyal members and constitutionally-elected leaders to remain calm and promote peace as we pursue appropriate legal channels to reclaim the leadership of the party from the jaws of political vultures,” Mr Mutasa said.