CIZC wprried over First lady’s reckless political statements

First Lady Grace Mugabe

The utterances by the First Lady, made in front of thousands of Zanu (PF) supporters, are akin to inciting violence against known and perceived opponents of President Robert Mugabe within and outside the ruling party.

This is so given the violent nature of President Mugabe’s loyalists who of late have enjoyed impunity which has allowed them to perpetrate political violence willy nilly.

Since the axing of former Vice President, Joice Mujuru from Zanu (PF) on allegationsof planning to topple President Robert Mugabe, there has been an upsurge of intra-party violence within Zanu (PF) as President Robert Mugabe’s loyalists bay for the blood of his (President Mugabe) perceived opponents and we fear the recent remarks by the First Lady could further worsen the situation.

We have every reason to fear that the First Lady’s utterances could take the country back to the bloody era of 2008 when about 200 MDC-T supporters were murdered by Zanu (PF) activists who sought to safeguard President Robert Mugabe’s continued stay in office.

If anything, the statements by the First Lady explain Zimbabwe’s history of contested elections and also confirm sentiments by President Robert Mugabe that he will not be removed from office by the stroke of a pen (implying elections).

The First Lady’s remarks reveals the unresolved succession issue within Zanu (PF) and CIZC remains concerned that this has the potential to fuel political instability which comes with disastrous effects on the national economy.

CIZC implores the First Lady to desist from reckless statements that have the potential to cause unnecessary conflicts in the country.

Moreover, the country’s Constitution is clear on Presidential term limits and goes further to lay out conditions for the removal of the President from office under Section 97 and President Robert Mugabe is certainly not immune in any way to the conditions outlined in the country’s Constitution.