Mutasa acknowledges Zanu (PF) factionalism

Mutasa`s weekend remarks came amid speculation of intense jockeying for positions within President Robert Mugabe's Zanu (PF) ahead of harmonised elections scheduled for later this year.

Speaking at Mutare Press Club, Mutasa, who is also the Headlands MP and Presidential Affairs Minister said the ongoing fighting within the party, particularly in Manicaland province, was clear evidence that factions existed in the party.

Zanu (PF) is believed to be ridden by two factions, one led by Vice President Joice Mujuru and the other by Legal Affairs Secretary and Defence Minister, Emmerson Mnangagwa.

“I asked them (Mujuru and Mnangagwa) during one politburo meeting but they denied it. But later, when I attended a Provincial Coordination Committee meeting in Mutare I heard that some people belong to Mai Mujuru. It hurts me so much.

“I told them (faction members) that if you don’t respect and listen to your leadership then you must withdraw your party membership. I was clear then as I am now,” Mutasa said.

He said he asked the Manicaland local membership why one group suggested Mnangagwa’s name during the 2004 vice presidency instead of his.

Mujuru later landed the post after the party agreed to give a chance to a female leader, in a move some saw as a strategy to block Mnangagwa after a failed boardroom coup in Tsholotsho.

“Ndakavabvunza ndakati hoo ndosaka vamwe muri kuendesa zita ravaMnangagwa pamberi.Ko munondotsvaga vaMnangagwa uko kuMidlands ini ndozokudzwa nani? (I asked them why they were choosing Mnangagwa from the Midlands province when I was there, a senior member of the party,”said Mutasa.

This has been interpreted as a sign that Mutasa harbours an ambition to succeed Mugabe.

“As we speak, I cannot hide that there are factions in the party because there are some people who are saying the suspended party chairman Mike Madiro and Mabika`s stock theft case must be swept under the carpet because it destroys the party,” he said.

Madiro and his deputy Dorothy Mabika who reportedly belong to the Mnangagwa faction are facing charges of stealing 10 cattle that were donated towards President Mugabe birthday bash in 2012.

But, the pair, through their defence counsel, are denying the charges, saying the case was mere political persecution by their opponents in the party.

Mutasa denied this saying he was not the one who initiated the arrest but police bumped into the matter while investigation theft of diamonds money.

He said the two were free to separately file a `persecution case` to the police so that it can also be investigated.

Mutasa openly blasted Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa for trying to sweep Madiro`s case under the carpet under the pretext that it would destroy the party.

“We have our Minister of Justice from Zanu (PF) who is writing petitions that the charges must be dropped. We don’t talk that way, we don’t govern the country and run the party in that manner. We believe the case must go through a full trial.

In short, the factions exist because if some people want to obstruct the course of justice while others are saying let justice prevail then it is clear there are factions and we cannot deny or hide it,” said Mutasa.

Chinamasa is also reported to be a member of Mnangagwa camp in Manicaland.

Mutasa claimed Madiro and Mabika were violating their bail conditions by travelling outside the areas they were restricted to.

“It troubles some of us as to why police will let Madiro and Mabika violate their bail conditions. They should be residing at their given addresses pending finalization of the matter but they are moving around the province. Madiro was seen together with Chinamasa holding campaigns in Makoni but what does their bail conditions say?” said Mutasa.