via Ex-PM, not Mujuru to lead coalition, Mliswa – New Zimbabwe 16/09/2015
FORMER Zanu PF chair for Mashonaland West, Temba Mliswa, has berated ousted Vice President Joice Mujuru for alleged betrayal and believing she could match with MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s popularity.
A tough speaking Mliswa insisted Wednesday Mujuru had no proven credentials in opposition politics and should stand aside for the former premier to lead the proposed coalition of opposition forces ahead of the 2018 elections.
“If you are looking for a coalition outside Zanu PF, you have no choice because Morgan is the leader, because he has more seats in parliament than you guys who are coming on stage. So don’t hate me for saying that,” he said.
“You, equally, have to respect him for that … the issue is, what are you bringing to the table? It’s about institutions, it’s not about names.
Which institution do you belong to, what are you bringing to the table. Morgan is bringing 22 seats, what are you bringing? Your name is not good enough because it has not been tried and tested.”
The former Hurungwe West MP was speaking at a press briefing to announce the formation of his Youth Advocacy for Electoral Democracy, an election based pressure group he says shall push for electoral reforms and try to counter Zanu PF’s rigging tactics.
He denied he was part of the shadowy People First political party comprising former Zanu PF politicians and being branded around the embattled former VP.
Mliswa continued: “Yes, I looked into the People First policy document where they say all political parties must be under her. Well! As who! And for what reason! And what are you (Mujuru) bringing to the table?
“That statement on its own is totally reckless. You cannot say all political parties must be under her. It then belittles the political parties that have been in the struggle for a long time.”
Mliswa said Mujuru must not play victim within the messy Zanu PF power fights as she also ascended to her lofty position 2004 under equally controversial circumstances.
He also accused Mujuru of failing to clear her name during her tenure when talk swirled she was leading a Zanu PF faction angling to succeed President Robert Mugabe.
“They were supposed to stand for the truth when they were part of the system,” Mliswa said.
“The Vice President was the advisor to the President and at no point was she supposed to allow her name to be used and to be mentioned that she was leading people who wanted to oust the President.
“If there is any time that Zanu PF was supposed to split, it was at that time. My whole question which I will always say is that if you truly knew you were correct, why did you not make that decision and split the people who were supporting you who were equally victimised?”
Mliswa distanced himself from the envisaged People First project.
“It becomes very difficult as Temba Mliswa to then associate myself with a party of leaders who are not prepared to stand up for the right thing at the right time; the right thing at the right time!
“Great, what you are doing now you were supposed to do it inside. Crack the party and set it out but to do it six months later becomes pretty difficult.”
He said Mujuru was misled by social media into believing she was popular.
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