via Zhuwao condemns Moyo violence threat – NewZimbabwe 09/02/2016
YOUTH and empowerment minister Patrick Zhuwao has condemned as “deplorable” threats of violence against senior Zanu PF officials ahead of the ruling party’s crunch politburo meeting on Wednesday.
Zhuwao, a member of the politburo and President Robert Mugabe’s nephew, appeared to be referring to threats by war veterans to block ministers Jonathan Moyo and Saviour Kasukuwere from attending the meeting.
War veterans leaders, secretary general Victor Matemadanda and chairperson Chris Mutsvangwa, have been engaged in a war of words with Kasukuwere and Moyo over the last few days.
Addressing journalists in Harare on Monday, Zhuwao said any form of aggression against party members could not be tolerated.
“Should I, by any chance, make a mistake, I am willing and ready to be advised of the mistake that I would have made,” said Zhuwao, a key ally of the targeted ministers.
“You can never advise me of any mistake that I make by threatening violence on me or my body. I don’t believe that is proper.
“Furthermore, it is highly disrespectful to even attempt to then bar members of the politburo from attending a meeting that has been called by the President and First Secretary of the ruling party.”
Zhuwao added that if the two ministers were barred from attending the meeting this would be tantamount to undermining President Robert Mugabe since he is the one who appointed them to the politburo.
A demonstration is reportedly being planned to back Kasukuwere and Moyo with some 10,000 party supporters expected to gather at the ruling party headquarters ahead of Wednesday’s meeting.
Meanwhile, the war veterans appeared to backtrack on their threat to block the ministers, saying Tuesday that they had exposed Moyo and it was now up to Mugabe to decide what to do with his minister.
The ex-fighters accuse Moyo of being an enemy agent deployed to destroy the ruling party from within.
Moyo is reportedly part of the claimed G40 faction which is said to be backing First Lady Grace Mugabe to succeed her 92-year-old husband.
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