via We were tricked: Chiefs – NewsDay Zimbabwe 11 September 2014 by Everson Mushava
SOME traditional leaders yesterday sensationally claimed that they were tricked into endorsing First Lady Grace Mugabe’s new-found political career during their tour of her private orphanage centre in Mazowe on Tuesday.
The chiefs said they had been misled into believing that the tour was just to help them appreciate the First Lady’s charity work, but were taken aback when Chiefs’ Council president Chief Fortune Charumbira railroaded them to endorse the First Lady’s candidature as secretary-designate for the Zanu PF Women’s League.
“We were told that we were going to see the First Lady’s projects. But when we arrived there, it turned out that the meeting had been organised to show solidarity over her appointment to be secretary of the Women’s League,” said a chief who declined to be named for fear of reprisals.
Grace has lately been apparently using the orphanage as a campaign springboard to launch her political career after she separately hosted thousands of Zanu PF youth and Women’s League members at the centre last month.
The groups in turn “unanimously” endorsed her candidature, effectively ruling out any contest for the post ahead of the ruling party’s elective congress in December.
Grace’s nomination has triggered fierce factional wars in the ruling party, forcing Mugabe to publicly defend her amid fears that the 90-year-old Zanu PF leader was plotting to anoint her successor.
Vice-Presiddent Joice Mujuru and Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa are reportedly locked in bitter factional fights to succeed Mugabe.
The Mujuru faction, seen to be against Grace’s rise, has accused the Mnangagwa faction of supporting Grace’s rise as a choreographed move to neutralise Mujuru’s power base.
As if to confirm the allegations, incumbent Women’s League boss Oppah Muchinguri, believed to be a Mnangagwa ally, has lately turned herself into Grace’s blue-eyed girl.
Chief Charumbira, also believed to be an ally of Mnangagwa, led the 250 traditional leaders in praise-singing of the First Lady, describing her as a philanthropist saying there was nothing unusual about her rise.
The chiefs’ leader could not be reached for comment yesterday as he was reportedly travelling to Gweru for the traditional leaders’ annual conference.
However, analysts slammed the chiefs’ Mazowe trip saying it confirmed that the traditional leaders were partisan.
Mnangagwa, during a question-and-answer session in Parliament yesterday, defended the chiefs’ Mazowe trip saying they had gone there to see the “Queen”.
MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora said the country’s Constitution was very clear that chiefs should not dabble in internal party politics and Chief Charumbira ought to know that better.
“That they can go to Grace’s property to show support for the proposed position in Zanu PF leadership shows that the chiefs are acting in a partisan manner,” Mwonzora said.
“It is not allowed under Section 15 of the new Constitution. It is unconstitutional, illegal and extremely patronising for the chiefs to do that.”
Political analyst Alexander Rusero said the chiefs’ behaviour posed a constitutional challenge.
“Very soon we will see the war vets, the war collaborators and other groups stampeding to visit Mazowe to endorse Grace. Having a Constitution is one thing and adhering to it is something else,” Rusero said.
COMMENTS
Tricked! Surprise! Surprise! How gullible we are and how slow to learn.
“Mnangagwa, during a question-and-answer session in Parliament yesterday, defended the chiefs’ Mazowe trip saying they had gone there to see the “Queen”. A clear indication of the chiefs playing politics. Boot-licking at its highest.
Chiefs have been getting tricked for centuries. Today’s world has no place for old men dressed in animal skins with bones stuck through their noses!!! This is the technological age you fools.
These chiefs have a lesser place in Zimbabwean society than prostitutes. At least a prostitute knows the difference between being tricked and being bought!
defended the chiefs’ Mazowe trip saying they had gone there to see the “Queen”. Sic
Zimbabwe stopped having chiefs years ago . They should be referred to as Zanu pf AREA Political Commissars.
who still has respect for chiefs. we really stopped having real chiefs during colonialism where they stood against the oppressor. why stampeding to appreciate disgrace’s orphanage then what. You are right Doctor do Little they are poisoned areas militias
Fortune Charumbira was deputy minister of Local Government in a Mugabe government. He was appointed on a ZANU(PF) ticket to that post.
Smell the coffee. Fortune is a ZANU(PF) agent in the Chiefs Council.
Hence, the Chiefs Council is a ZANU(PF) League of Traditional Leaders.
When will this stranglehold on Zimbabwe be relaxed by this one Robert Mugabe???
Cry Zimbabwe!
This is a granfiose lie fuelled by factionalism. These chiefs have in the pasr declared that Mugabe should rule until kingdom come. How is this different from the enforsement of an extended dynasty? Let us wake up folks!There was no trickery here.
Simple really. These uneducated village idiots were tricked cos they are stupid stupid stupid. !!!!!!!!!!!!!”!!!!!
Chiefs are what? They seem chosen for their ignorance. They are part of the past clinging on and holding us back.
These chiefs try very hard to look important but since before Colonisation they have sold us to the highest bidder. Ma sellouts.
Chiefs, chiefs and chiefs. You never cease to amaze us. You say you were tricked because you were told you were going to see the Queen. As chiefs you should know we don”t have a monarch in Zimbabwe. The known Monarch is the VaRozvi Kingdom. So grace is not a queen. No wonder you were tricked; it is because you don’t know your country’s history. Those calling you fools, may be right.
National Constitution or no constitution ZANU PF does not respect anything even its on laws right in the ZANU PF constitution. Their election laws states one must be 15 years in national politics, but they overide that. Anyway, this is happening so that they set precedent even for leadership at the highest office. When Bob leaves offices any one with enough claut will take over. Using the same parameters used by Grace. Confusion is the order of the hyenas.