Mujuru was burnt to death in a mysterious fire that broke out two weeks ago at the Beatrice farmhouse he had occupied. Mujuru's widow, Vice President Joice Mujuru, has called for an inquest and said she suspects foul play.
Official sources said Biti refused to take back allegations he made at an MDC rally in Mutare last weekend that Zanu (PF) was responsible for the assassination of the most decorated General in Zimbabwe two weeks ago.
Insiders told The Zimbabwean there was a ferocious fight in the cabinet meeting, with Zanu (PF) ministers led by Shamu demanding a retraction from Biti.
A defiant Biti refused to retract, insisting Zanu (PF) was responsible for several murders, including those of MDC supporters.
"Makauraya (You killed him)," Biti reportedly said. The sources said his unprecedented move stunned Mugabe and even Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
"Everyone was shocked I tell you," one minister told this newspaper. "Biti refused to take back his statement, and said he would apologise over his dead body. (sic)"
Another minister who said Mugabe remained silent throughout the heated exchange. There was a sense of disbelief, he said, and Tsvangirai "shook his head in disbelief."
"It was like nothing we have ever seen before. You could cut the tension with a knife," he added.
An angry Shamu was said to have admonished Biti and accused him of inflaming tensions for cheap political gain. He demanded proof that Zanu (PF) was responsible for the murder.
Tsvangirai reportedly sprang to Biti's defence and said ministers should not personalise issues. The sources said Tsvangirai calmed the meeting after counselling that ministers must give the ongoing forensic investigation a chance and stop speculating.
All this time, Mugabe was said to be quiet as Shamu and Biti slugged it out. Efforts to obtain comment from Biti were futile at the time of going to print.
The MDC secretary general told a rally in Mutare over the weekend that Mujuru had been killed by Zanu (PF). "We hold Zanu (PF) responsible for the killing of General Solomon Mujuru," he said. "Zanu (PF) invests in violence and they now engage in burning people. That’s the Zanu (PF) we know. Violence is in their DNA. That’s what they know best and their fingerprints show violence."
President Mugabe has described the mysterious fire as "inexplicable." But he has remained silent over calls for an inquest. Pathologists and forensic experts say the truth can never be known because the crime scene had been contaminated and was not cordoned off.
A myriad questions have been raised over the death of Mujuru, a kingmaker who installed Mugabe Zanu leader in the 70s. He was an influential power broker in the Zanu (PF) succession politics. He was said to be the only man in the Politburo to stand up to Mugabe.
Biti also refused to retract the statements at a Press conference held at his New Government Complex offices on Wednesday afternoon. "We are very happy that the police are carrying out massive investigations and of course no one can prejudge what happened,” Biti said.
"We regret the pain that has been caused by the reports in the newsrooms. But I must say this is a very difficult time for Zimbabwe, we have lost a proper hero, you just need to read the history of Zimbabwe like some of us have done," he said.
"What is critical is to know that there are a few deaths that have united Zimbabweans than that of General Mujuru and that is happening as a tribute to the man and to the liberation.
"He was the nerve centre of the armed struggle from the time that he left to join the struggle in 1962 and even from that time he was chairperson of Zapu's youth district at Mpopoma before he was briefly detained."
Post published in: News