Goche is a Rhodesian thief: Mutsvangwa

via Goche is a Rhodesian thief: Mutsvangwa 22/11/2014

DEPUTY Foreign Affairs Minister Chris Mutsvangwa on Friday labelled Labour Minister Nicholas Goche a “Rhodesian thief” and “chancer” in yet another illustration of the bitter fall-out within the ruling Zanu PF party.

Mutsvangwa was this month appointed the new war veterans’ leader replacing Jabulani Sibanda who was sacked from the ruling party.

Goche is among a group of senior Zanu PF officials who have been accused by the state media of plotting to assassinate President Robert Mugabe ahead of the party’s December congress.

Mutsvangwa told the state-controlled Herald newspaper that Goche is a beneficiary of the first legal provision at independence in 1980 that indemnified those who were guilty of different crimes during the liberation war.

“There are chancers coming from nowhere like Goche. (He) was part of the Rhodesian security apparatus until 1979 on the eve of the Lancaster House. He (Goche) is a defector from the Rhodesian intelligence apparatus, maybe an infiltrator. Because of his defection he ended up at an assembly point,” Mutsvangwa said.

Goche has been one of Mugabe’s most trusted cabinet ministers having served in diplomatic postings and once headed the feared Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) as State Security Minister.

He also served as foreign affairs minister before his current posting as labour minister. Mutsvangwa said Goche had benefited from a blanket law passed at independence to cover crimes committed during the war.

“He went to Zambia saying he had money from Rhodesia and people accepted him because they thought he was genuine. He came back to Zimbabwe and the Rhodesians said he could not join the new government because he was a thief.

“So a law had to be passed in parliament, the first law ever to be passed by Zanu PF soon after independence in 1980 was the indemnification of anyone who had committed crimes during the Rhodesian era. Goche stole money where he was working,” he said.

Goche is a key ally of Vice-President Joice Mujuru who is under pressure from hawks within Zanu PF who include Mutsvangwa.

Mutsvangwa is a member of the Emmerson Mnangagwa faction that is battling to control Zanu PF ahead of the December congress.

Mutsvangwa claimed, Mujuru, was now holding Zanu PF members “hostage” adding Mujuru should “pledge allegiance to Mugabe and “behave accordingly”.

Mujuru has been accused of leading a faction of the ruling party reportedly plotting to “take-out” Mugabe ahead of an elective congress set for December.

Senior Zanu PF officials who include eight provincial chairpersons have been suspended over the past six weeks for allegedly plotting to oust Mugabe at the December congress.

The top casualties include former Zanu PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo who was suspended for five years while former war veterans’ leader Jabulani Sibanda was summarily fired from the party.

The purge is being led by Mugabe’s wife, Grace, who has accused Mujuru of plotting to oust her 90-year-old husband.

Grace has also accused Mujuru of corruption and nepotism.

Mujuru has however denied the charges vowing to stay the course in the face of incessant calls from Grace and her backers to step down or risk being “baby dumped” at the congress.