via ‘Mujuru must come clean on rigging’ – NewsDay Zimbabwe February 24, 2016
OPPOSITION parties have challenged former Vice-President Joice Mujuru to come clean on her claims that she was unaware of Zanu PF’s election rigging machinery although she had been in the system until her expulsion from both government and the ruling party in 2014.
by XOLISANI NCUBE
Mujuru recently claimed in an interview with a United Kingdom-based newspaper, The Sunday Times, that she was unaware of the alleged election rigging machinery, adding if indeed it occurred, “it was a very small clique that was doing it”.
But MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu said Mujuru was being “economical with the truth”, as she was part of the system that plotted the rigging and she should help the country in exposing “the evil machinations perpetrated by Zanu PF”.
“It’s really difficult to believe what Mujuru is saying on election rigging, considering her position then both in the party and government. She is being economical with the truth, at least in our view. Instead of trying to cover-up for the evil machinations that have been perpetrated, she should help us expose this charade that has caused the untold suffering of many Zimbabweans through rigging,” he said.
Gutu said while Mujuru was welcome to join the opposition ranks, she should be aware of and be prepared to face the “brutality of Zanu PF”.
“She has to be prepared to face the brutal regime which thrives on intimidating people and at times, raping our women, torturing them and destroying people’s property. She has to brace for that,” Gutu said.
People‘s Democratic Party spokesperson Jacob Mafume said the former VP should tell the truth unless she was “an innocent beneficiary of the rigging system”.
“I hope she was joking because for us in the opposition, she has no value. We want someone who knows that elections were rigged, how, by who and how they can be stopped. But we believe she is lying. Believing that Mujuru does not know that elections were rigged is like believing that there are two suns circulating mother earth,” Mafume said.
Mujuru, who now leads the opposition Zimbabwe People First, was kicked out of both government and Zanu PF on allegations of plotting to kill President Robert Mugabe, a charge she has persistently denied.
Political analyst Eldred Masunungure said although Mujuru could have been kept in the dark by the State machinery due to her perceived links to the opposition as far back as 2008, it would be difficult for ordinary people to believe that she did not know how elections were rigged.
“It’s a challenge that she has to deal with, because no one will accept her explanation when everyone suspects that the 2013 elections were rigged,” he said.
“For a person who understands Zanu PF politics, it should be known that Mujuru was being suspected then that she could be working with the opposition and also claims that she never wanted elections to be held then. It could be true that she was kept in the dark.
“People should give her the benefit of the doubt on that matter because this rigging was not done by the party or formal government structures, but by a clique which managed and monitored this Israeli group [Nikuv] that carried out the rigging.”
The opposition has accused the Mugabe-led government of manipulating election results in successive elections held since independence in 1980.
COMMENTS
Hazvishamise izvi – if she tells the truth, she will end up like Solomon in no time at all, and she knows this. Also, bear in mind that if she tells the truth, it may implicate numerous people in ZANU who are perceived to be on ‘her side’, and Grace & company will jump on their throats very quickly.
What is clear is that, Joice Mujuru was, over the years, a mere place-holder occupying sinecure(s) in both the Zanu pf party & government. This explains her ignorance of anything – including the killers of her own husband, who were obviously part of her zanu pf party & government. Nxaaaaa!
So, if this ex-VP knew nothing about how Zanu pf party & government operated what experience then is she even banking on to lead Zimbabwe? Only a dull fool would not have cared to know what was happening under her nose. Surely the rigging and all state sanctioned killings were happening under her nose. It doesn’t matter whether Mugabe and any other people wanted her to see & know about it or not. Fact, is any normal person with eyes & brains occupying the vantage points that Joice occupied would simply have seen & known the goings-on. Nxaaaaa.
At best, she is just playing a very dumb liar. At worst she is just a moving zombie. Ngaatibvirepo mhani muchembere uyu. Nxaaaaaa.
RIGGING, INTIMIDATION AND VIOLENCE A REALITY IN ZIM ELECTIONS
The rigging did not start in 2013. They use multi-faceted and well integrated systems and approaches. Remember they have over stayed in power and now use short cuts to remain in power. These are the dangers of over staying in power you only care for yourself not anyone else and perfect the art of rigging.
The rigging started well back 1980 and only escalated when the MDC was formed in 1999. The worst rigging was done in 2008. Why are people easily forgetting? It took more than a month for zec to release the presidential election results only because ZANU PF knew very well that they had lost the election to MDC-T. So, they created enough time to alter the results. Look in elections they knew for sure that they have won through rigging results are released in few hours if not minutes. People should wake up. Therefore, for Mujuru to appear not to know anything is a complete lie. I think she is ashamed and people should rather help her to open up so that she can contribute to the progress of the country better. Under the current conditions Mujuru should forget and never dream of winning an election if ever she is real. May be she is posturing. Another advice to Mujuru it does not add any value to the opposition by recruiting already recruited opposition members from MDC-T, MDC, PDP or any other party. Remember of the Makoni effect and its impact-suffering of the people. Instead she and her party should concentrate on recruiting ZANU PF members from mash central , east, west and areas such as Chiredzi and BeitBridge ZANU PF strongholds supporting provinces and districts.
Chadura Hake Byo.
It’s not like one has to get permission from mdc to form a political party and join the oposition ranks.
If it is true that mdc know there was rigging in zanupf why don’t they provide the evidence. Mujuru is not working for any opposition party except for Zimbabwe People First and therefore does not need any welcome from any opposition party, that would soon became her opposition if a miracle happen and she wins the election.
The only people who really matter are the voters not some jealous failed excuse of some politicians.
Mujuru can only say what she can prove, not hearsay.
Why don’t you guys ask Tswangirai, he was a member of zanupf for a long time. He should know as he always come up with the accusations after loosing anot election.
People from mdc are all invited to join people first no one has to get permission from mdc, zanupf, or any other party.It important to note that, to win election, we need the numbers, so these attacks on Cde Teurai Ropa from these opposition parties should be ignored. The job at hand is recruiting members and voters.
We don’t want to be cry babies like these guys. We won’t have a second chance. People First ‘JOYCE THE ONLY CHOICE’
RIGGING, INTIMIDATION AND VIOLENCE A REALITY IN ZIM ELECTIONS
The rigging did not start in 2013. They use multi faceted and well integrated systems and approaches. Remember they have over stayed in power and now use short cuts to remain in power. These are the dangers of over staying in power you only care for yourself not anyone else and perfect the art of rigging.
The rigging started well back 1980 and only escalated when the MDC was formed in 1999. The worst rigging was done in 2008. Why are people easily forgetting. It took more than a month for zec to release the presidential election results only because ZANU PF knew very well that they had lost the election to MDC-T. so, they created enough time to alter the results. Look in elections they knew for sure that they have won through rigging results are released in few hours if not minutes. People should wake up. Therefore, for Mujuru to appear not to know anything is a complete lie. I think she is ashamed and people should rather help her to open up so that she can contribute to the progress of the country better. Under the current conditions Mujuru should forget and never dream of winning an election if ever she is real. May be she is posturing.Another advice to Mujuru it does not add any value to the opposition by recruiting already recruited opposition members from MDC-T, MDC, PDP or any other party. Remember of the Makoni effect and its impact-suffering of the people. Instead she and her party should concentrate on recruiting ZANU PF members from mash central , east, west and areas such as Chiredzi, BeitBridge and other districts ZANU PF strongholds.
Chadura Hake Byo.
It is unlikely that more than a small handful of people knew the details of the agreement with Nikuv, let alone the technicalities of exactly how they manipulated the voter’s role. There have been stories of Zanu PF MPs who were as stunned as the opposition at their good fortune.
Mujuru was probably not one of the chosen few since her rival faction leader was most likely at the centre. But it is also likely she knew some details from one or two sympathisers amongst that small group. For her to say more than that it was a small clique would prematurely expose such sympathisers…. 2018 is still 2 years away.
Mujuru would be well advised to ignore frustrated exhortations from the opposition. If she is to outwit her former associates in Zanu PF, she will have to play her cards smarter than leaders who walked, boldly and wide eyed, into an open trap.
unfair expectations. Most players in the qpposition are former Zanu how come they do not know about ZANU s rigging. Thats being silly.
Firstly these opposition parties should not act like they are doing Joice any favours. She is after all not doing asking to join their parties, she has her own.
Secondly and I don’t know who can stress this to these idiotic opposition parties, what if there was no rigging in the elections. If they slept through rezoning of councils and discricts because they were more interested in the gravy train does not mean that people rigged the elections. If their rallies are filled with youths that then do not bother to go and vote how is that rigging elections.
Each and every party should be focused on building its support base. This personal attack policy does not work, because whilst high drama is entertaining to the public its the actual works of a party that will get them over the line.
I would like for these parties instead of making reactionary statements to other peoples statements if they took up space in out papers and radio and tv stations to highlight what they are doing to build Zimbabwe, campaigning is something people should do for 5 years instead of the last three months before and election and hope that because we say we are democratic have the support of outside countries we will triumph over Zanu. I am appalled and to a great extent not even inspired to vote for anyone which is a thing that most of our youths suffer from because you cannot vote for people that spend their time character assassinating each other instead of building an opposition movement that will free this country.
The existing opposition party should take a book from Mujurus book, that she has been quiet is not a bad thing, it is better to not talk if talking will reduce you to the level of an immature child. Because truth is these parties do more damage to themselves before the media than even Zanu could dream of.
You could not be more right. Sometimes one gets the feeling that our “leaders” – both opposition and ruling have no clue what the fight is really about. Like all normal human beings we just want to build a better society for ourselves and our children so the person who brings the building plans is really not the issue, what is important is whether the plans can result in a house that we are all proud of. What we yearn for in our leaders is a Moses who silently works out the details of the journey not an Aaron who specializes in high sounding nothings. Back in 1976 the Comrades chose a “spokesman” – the results are there for all to see, 40 years hence!!