‘State security behind Mujuru ouster’

via ‘State security behind Mujuru ouster’- Newsday January 20, 2015 by Moses Matenga

DISGRUNTLED Zanu PF officials agitating for the nullification of the party’s December congress resolutions have claimed that the votes of no-confidence against former Vice-President Joice Mujuru’s allies were spearheaded by State security apparatus.

The disclosure came as Mujuru allies yesterday instructed their lawyers to attach affidavits compiled by party members, who were allegedly forced to sign the votes of no-confidence petitions against them in the run-up to the Zanu PF December congress.

Mujuru’s supporters also claimed that they had unearthed fresh evidence suggesting that the no-confidence votes were stage-managed.

“The lawyers were instructed to include that in their application. Affidavits of people harassed will be attached. There were
people from State security who would visit officials early in the morning, in most cases around 2am, to harass them and force them into signing the petitions,” the source close to the camp said yesterday.

“This (harassment) happened across provinces and we have several people who were tortured and harassed. The role of the military in all this is very questionable.”

The disgruntled Mujuru camp members spoke as political analysts and other loyalists urged the former Vice-President to be cautious in her bid to form a political party as they were still Zanu PF members.

Political analyst Takura Zhangazha said: “It is least likely that they will form a party before they go to the courts to challenge the validity of the congress. If they do that, it will likely be called Zanu PF and challenge the validity of the December congress.”

“Any party they form is likely to be Zanu PF. All will be confirmed when they decide to field a candidate in Mt Darwin, which is Mujuru’s stronghold, and then we will see what name they would use, but I don’t think they would want to lose the name,” Zhangazha added.

But Pedzisai Ruhanya, another analyst, said Mujuru was no longer wanted in Zanu PF and if she tried to fight from within, she would face an uphill battle.

“I don’t think she has any life in Zanu PF given the allegations levelled against her. She has to stand up and confront her rivals and prepare to be victimised, framed and prepared for more vicious attacks, but that is the way to go if you seriously want to achieve. Those who want to run the country must take the risk. [President Robert] Mugabe needs to be confronted by people who are courageous,” Ruhanya said.