via Spirit mediums wade into Zanu PF fights – NewsDay Zimbabwe September 10, 2014 by Everson Mushava
ZANU PF power struggles have taken an intriguing turn after it emerged that “spirit mediums” have waded in the ruling party’s succession battles.
The development comes as traditional chiefs yesterday gathered at the First Family’s Mazowe empire to endorse First Lady Grace Mugabe as Secretary for Women’s Affairs at the forthcoming Zanu PF elective congress.
The spirit mediums — to be led by Mbuya Nehanda and others only identified as Mutota and Tangwena — are reportedly on Saturday set to preside over a big bira (traditional religious festival) on the outskirts of Harare along Mazowe Road to seek guidance from the “ancestral spirits” on the country’s political problems, including President Robert Mugabe’s succession.
NewsDay could not immediately establish the authenticity of the so-called spirit mediums and the planned festival.
But the Zanu PF sources insisted the spirit mediums were genuine and allegedly working with war veterans in Harare and some military bigwigs linked to one faction in Zanu PF.
As jostling to succeed Mugabe, who turned 90 this year, nears a climax, NewsDay has learnt preparations for the bira were at an advanced with huge quantities of traditional beer being prepared for Saturday’s event.
There were reportedly plans that the three leading spirit mediums would declare that the ancestral spirits have refused to have Zimbabwe run by a female President.
“After such declaration, the war veterans would now go to provinces armed with the message telling people they should not support Vice-President Joice Mujuru because spirit mediums have warned against a female leader,” an insider said. “The spirit mediums would also say that there would be a war within three years if one of the faction leaders fails to take over power, while any woman who dares to take over power would be killed by the spirits.”
Mujuru and Justice minister Mnangagwa are reportedly linked to the two factions battling to succeed Mugabe.
Of late, the entry of Mugabe’s wife, Grace, in the political ring has complicated the Zanu PF succession matrix that has seen members involved in internecine attacks against each other along factional lines.
Sources told NewsDay that two of the mediums Mutota and Mbuya Nehanda were currently allegedly residing at a farm outside Harare where the event would be held.
Mbuya Nehanda, whose origins were said to be Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe, and Mutota, a young man of around 26 who is believed to come from Guruve close to Zambezi River, were already at the camp while Tangwena, from Nyanga, was expected today.
“All is set except the tail of a wildebeest [ngongoni in Shona] which one of the faction members (a Cabinet minister involved in the factional wars) has promised to provide,” said the source.
Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo, however, said he was in the dark about the event and referred questions to war veterans.
But war veterans’ leader Jabulani Sibanda also professed ignorance of the event.
“This is the first time I am hearing about it. My advice to you is, let just wait and see how it will happen and through whom it will happen,” he said.
Sibanda on Friday issued a statement that Mujuru would not be challenged at Zanu PF’s December elective congress. But NewsDay is reliably informed that Mujuru could be challenged at the congress by either Mnangagwa or outgoing Women’s League boss Oppah Muchinguri.
In last week’s stormy politburo meeting, Mujuru is said to have dared Muchinguri to challenge her at the party’s December elective congress. Muchinguri is linked to the Mnangagwa faction.
The Mujuru faction has been accusing its rival faction of invoking Grace’s name to bring Mugabe’s wrath on them while advancing their factional interests.
The Women’s Affairs minister was reported to be among the delegation of about 250 traditional chiefs who visited Grace’s Mazowe business empire yesterday. Some of the party members included Mugabe’s nephew, Patrick Zhuwao, Hurungwe East MP Sarah Mahoka and Senator Monica Mutsvangwa.
One chief who spoke on condition of anonymity said they were not aware why they had been summoned to Mazowe. He claimed they were just quiet like “cats stuffed in sacks”. The chief said they had no option but to endorse Grace.
COMMENTS
What a load of absolute rubbish! Where was Rotina Mavhunga may I ask? Oh I forgot, they dumped her after the “diesel from the rocks” episode! Kikiki!!
What next in the tragic drama that is Zimbabwe with Zanu Pf firmly in control? Zvavakunyadzisa izvi!
The next thing, the spirit mediums would endorse Gracemugabe as female president. What a circus!!!!!!! Let the devils speak! !!!!!
Very backward is the best that can be said of all this
There are many Mbuya Nehandas. I don’t think this is the same Mbuya Nehanda Grace Mugabe bundled up and dropped her somewhere in Rushinga. Where were Spirit Mediums Mutota and Tangwena when the country was being destroyed by Zpf? Why didn’t Zpf do this bira in the past 34 years. Masvikiro aneyi nekutungana kwembudzi dzemuZpf? Ko masiyirei maporofita. Izvi hazvisi zvenyika zve hazvisi zveMasvikiro nekuti Masvikiro ndeenyika kwete Zpf. Dai riri bira renyika Masvikiro angadai akawanda kupfuura ava vatanzwa. KuMatebeleland kune Masvikiro sei asina kudainzwa. Dai Masvikiro chaiwo enyika avadira mhepo yakawanda vapengepenge (more) zvakanyanya chibva chaparara chiZpf chacho.
Mugarbage pretends to be a devout Jesuit catholic when seeing the Vatican. I hope the pope finds out that this excommunicado endorses witchcraft black magic mumbo jumbo false prophets devil worship !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”””
Mugabe lives like many people, in a false sense of security thinking that all is good on the other side because he was brought up in the Roman Catholic church. We all think our church denomination is going to ensure safe passsage through the gates into eternal bliss, BUT that is not what the Word of the Living God says, but I believe he like many others are bitter angry hateful and hopeless people who need the Grace, or unmerited favour of God in their lives, and find forgiveness at the foot of the cross. I see so many bitter hateful comments here, and it is sad that people struggle in deep anger when there is a person called Jesus who can put reason and understanding in our hearts and minds and deliver us from this ungodlyness into a joyful infilling of His Holy Spirit.
Can you imagine David Cameron at Stonehenge chanting ancient mystical primitive cult songs??? Or Obama smoking a peace pipe with Indians in the desert looking for inspiration , people in the first world must surely look at us in utter disbelief and amusement.
ZANU PF is all about ado over nothing. what spirit mediums are these that preside over such nonsense except those spirit mediums who whats to get pocket money for the pending Xmas and be invite to the ZANU PF yearly parties in the name of congress.
ZANU yaora!