Mnangagwa ally’s house burnt down

via Mnangagwa ally’s house burnt down 18 December 2014

VICE president Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ally, Lewis Matutu, escaped death after his house was burnt down by unknown assailants in Zvishavane as factional fights in the ruling Zanu PF party turn violent.

Matutu was among the first party activists to accuse sacked vice president Joice Mujuru, former national chairperson Simon Khaya Moyo, former secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa and former national commissar Webster Shamu of plotting to unseat President Robert Mugabe at the just ended congress

The attack on his home in the Midlands province comes barely a week after Mnangagwa also escaped attempts on his life when poison was reportedly sprinkled in his Harare party office during the just ended congress.

Matutu, a tough-talking secretary for administration in the Zanu PF youth league who publicly told Mugabe that Mujuru was planning to topple him, said the ex-VP’s faction is after his life.

“I know they are after my life because I am the first person to openly tell the president that Mujuru wanted to take over the presidency.

Soon after the chaotic August Zanu PF youth league conference, Matutu, together with seven youth chairpersons approached Mugabe to brief him on how the Mujuru camp used money to influence the youth league elections.

Matutu also told Mugabe that he was increasingly being isolated and was surrounded in the party presidium by people teaming up to unseat him.

“Mangosara mega President nekuti vamugere navo vese kutop table ikoko havachakudii vanotodawo chigaro chenyu ichocho (You are now isolated Mr President because all those sitting with you at the high table no longer want you, they are plotting to unseat you,” Matutu said.

A visibly angry Mugabe then asked Mujuru to respond to the allegations to which she said they were all part of a sinister plot to remove her from the vice-presidency.

However, Mugabe eventually booted Mujuru out and replaced her with Mnangagwa.

“They (Mujuru faction) think I was responsible for Mujuru’s ouster and they are trying everything to destroy us,” said Matutu.