via Zanu PF quashes Mujuru resignation reports 12 November 2014
ZANU PF yesterday dismissed speculative social media reports suggesting that Vice-President Joice Mujuru had tendered her resignation to President Robert Mugabe on Monday.
According to the reports, Mujuru allegedly cited mounting political pressure from her rivals who are relentlessly pushing for her ouster.
Party spokesperson Rugare Gumbo dismissed the reports which initially appeared on an online publication, ZimEye, on Monday before going viral on social media networks.
“Nothing like that has happened. It’s all nonsense. It is hogwash,” Gumbo said.
“It’s propaganda aimed at pressurising her to resign. She is currently the acting President right now. It’s the social networks peddling factional rumours.”
Mujuru and Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa are, according to the Zanu PF politburo, leading two distinct factions fighting to succeed Mugabe who turns 91 next February.
The politburo, at its last meeting, agreed to set up a committee to investigate factionalism in the party.
The online report claimed that Mujuru tendered her resignation as Mugabe was preparing to leave for Lusaka, Zambia, to attend the burial of Zambian leader Michael Sata.
According to the report, Mugabe allegedly spurned Mujuru’s letter and ordered her to “take responsibility for what she started”.
Of late, Mujuru has been under pressure from party hawks who are pushing her to step down over allegations of corruption and plotting to topple Mugabe.
First Lady Grace Mugabe, during her “Meet the People” rallies, opened Pandora’s Box when she publicly called on Mujuru to resign, describing her as corrupt, inept, lazy and involved in secret schemes to unseat Mugabe.
Grace also claimed that opposition MDC and Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn parties were both formed at her house.
Since then, the Vice-President has been at the receiving end with top party officials and the State media name-calling her and stage-managing demonstrations to force her to quit.
The State-controlled media is maintaining pressure by frequently writing exposés about her alleged corrupt activities.
However, Mujuru, who has been Mugabe’s lieutenant since 2004, has stood her ground and dared her rivals to prove their claims.
Her loyalists have dismissed the corruption allegations levelled against her as part of a smear campaign to tarnish her image as she was viewed as a strong contender to succeed Mugabe.
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