Zanu (PF) chairmen cry foul after alleged Mugabe plot

via Zanu (PF) chairmen cry foul after alleged Mugabe plot 17 December 2014

More than 100 Zanu (PF) district chairpersons, who were suspended ahead of the party’s congress on allegations of supporting Joice Mujuru in her alleged plot to oust President Robert Mugabe, say they are being victimised by hard-line party youths linked to Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The told The Zimbabwean this week that they fear for their lives because some of the youths have threatened them with death.

A few days before congress, they were hauled before the party’s provincial headquarters in Gweru and issued with suspension letters citing their involvement in a meeting held at Lake Chivero, where they were accused of having joined Shurugwi North MP Francis Nhema and Foreign Affairs minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi in deliberations to oust Mugabe.

Nhema was subsequently fired from his youth and indigenisation ministry, but it later emerged that the gathering had nothing to do with politics. It was a seminar on self-help projects and management of small-scale businesses organised by the Shurugwi Development Committee.

“We are innocent. We never plotted against Mugabe. Our like wives and children are also being victimised at gatherings like churches and we really fear for our lives because the youths say Mnangagwa is now VP and so they will eliminate us,” said one chairman who refused to be named.

Suspended Tongogara C, ward 2 chairman Jerry Magwege said: “I will remain a true son of Zanu (PF). We were suspended just because there were some people who wanted to make political scores at congress but now that event has passed and no one is concerned with what is happening to us,” he said.

Cornelia Muperiri, the Midlands provincial secretary for information, did not respond to questions send to him while his mobile phone was not being answered when sought for comment.