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Farirai Machivenyika Harare Bureau
The government and Zanu-PF, yesterday dismissed utterances by expelled former Vice President Joice Mujuru apologising to the nation for her role in the alleged misrule of the country since Independence, saying the statements were self-serving and hypocritical.

In her statement released to the private media, Mujuru made her apology and pushed the “People First” mantra that fellow members of her cabal also expelled from Zanu-PF and fired from the government, have been pushing since their dismissal.

Zanu-PF Deputy Secretary for Information and Publicity Cde Monica Mutsvangwa, said the criminal allegations against Mujuru were being dealt with by relevant authorities.

“Now Mujuru wants to apologise? If she had any honour as she claims befitting a revolutionary, why didn’t she turn down all those power elevations for 34 years? Even more telling, why didn’t she resign?

“She’s now pouring scorn on what she enjoyed most, the power and its material rewards, which she’s still enjoying,” Cde Mutsvangwa said.

She added that Mujuru had since 1980 enjoyed the fruits of the liberation struggle that many sacrificed their lives for.

“There were many people who fought in the war and many never came back alive and in the last 35 years many have died in destitution and many are still living in poverty. More than any other comrades, Mujuru enjoyed recognition and the trappings of power all due to the sacrifices by many. It’s sad she seems to have been oblivious to her war time identity.

“We fellow women cadres who used to look up to her saw ourselves being shunted aside. She’s trying to sell herself as born-again to her erstwhile enemies, as a born-again in an attempt to find a new political home. She can go and she will not be the first one. Zanu-PF won’t miss her. There are others like Simba Makoni, Edgar Tekere, Margaret Dongo and Dumiso Dabengwa who have gone,” said Cde Mutsvangwa.

She said the corruption allegations on the former VP were being handled by the relevant authorities.

“There are competent bodies in the land who are handling those issues. Ultimately, it’s about what Mujuru may and may not have committed in terms of criminal acts and/or those institutions and of course, her conscience,” she said.

Cde Mutsvangwa said President Mugabe could never be toppled by power hungry people.

“Our President is a visionary leader and a consummate politician. He has seen it all over the long years in politics. It’s a fatal mistake if power hungry people see it other ways. Zanu-PF will not miss her and, as for her attempt to ride on the immortal reputation of our President Cde Mugabe, we say down with crocodile tears,” she added.

Contributing to a discussion on Twitter, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo, challenged Mujuru to sue if she believed allegations made against her and her cabal of plotting to topple President Mugabe were untrue.

“Let her grant herself her wish by taking the matter to court and we will meet her there,” he said.

Prof Moyo also questioned why Mujuru was suddenly apologising now when she never did so while still in government.

“What is she accepting now from the cold, which she could not accept when she was feeling hot hot!” Prof Moyo asked.

Political analyst Goodwine Mureriwa, accused Mujuru of trying to take advantage of the economic challenges facing Zimbabweans to push her selfish agenda.

“I think she’s just trying to take advantage of the plight of the people of Zimbabwe in the face of the economic challenges being faced in the country just like what Morgan Tsvangirai did in the 1990s, when he took advantage of the plight of workers to launch his political career.

“It’s clear that her ambitions are selfish and she simply wants to justify her entrance into opposition politics using the people. She’s trying to buy political capital from her expulsion from Zanu-PF, but unfortunately for her, she’s bound to fail because people can see her intentions,” Mureriwa said.

He said very few people were likely to take her seriously as she was expelled from Zanu-PF and the government for pursuing selfish agendas meant to undermine the President and the party.

“She was pushing personal agendas to attain her selfish goals and undermined the authority of the President and the government in the process. That’s why she was expelled from the party together with her associates.

“She was one of the big wigs to rush to exploit the diamonds in Marange for personal gains and is also sitting on a multi-billion dollar estate left by her late husband that she’s refusing to share equitably with other beneficiaries,” he added.

Mureriwa said Mujuru was exhibiting double standards and being hypocritical and her views would not find traction among Zimbabweans.

Mujuru was expelled from Zanu-PF together with seven other officials while more than 90 others have been suspended after their plot to unconstitutionally remove President Mugabe from power was unearthed just before the 6th Zanu-PF National People’s Congress in December last year.

Mujuru held various positions in government since 1980 before her elevations to be Zanu PF Second Secretary and Vice President in 2005.