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Nduduzo Tshuma Political Editor
FIRST Lady Cde Grace Mugabe yesterday castigated some elements within Zanu-PF and the media for trying to sow seeds of division between her and Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Addressing an estimated 10,000 strong crowd at Mataga Growth Point in Mberengwa, Midlands Province, she said she and the Mnangagwa family have a longstanding friendship dating back before he was elevated to the VP post and before she became First Lady.

The private media has been in overdrive claiming that the First Lady was leading a faction that wanted her elevated to the Vice President’s post at the Zanu PF annual conference set for Victoria Falls in December.

As a result, the papers claim, the First Lady had fallen out with VP Mnangagwa.

Cde Mugabe, according to a source, raised the same issue in a briefing before the rally. She revealed that she consulted both VPs Mnangagwa and Mphoko when she was approached to lead the Women’s League and both leaders gave her their support and encouragement, the First Lady is said to have told leaders in the briefing.

“People want to abuse me and VP Mnangagwa,” she told the crowd later. “VP Mnangagwa is a very good and close friend; I don’t want to lie to you. They’ve been sending me many things at State House; I don’t fear eating anything from the Mnangagwas. I’ve respect for this man.

“People want to confuse Zimbabweans. According to our Zanu PF constitution, we hold a conference each year to evaluate what we’ve done for the people at the end of that year. Now some people are saying Mai Mugabe is touring the nation because she wants to be Vice President. How?

“Our leader is here, the motive is to confuse people. President Mugabe is our leader, VP Mnangagwa is his deputy. Have you ever heard that I had remained acting when the President travels? Have you ever heard that! Nonsense, talking about useless things.”

Cde Mugabe said even if President Mugabe was to fall sick, the constitution is clear that either of the two VPs stand in his place.

“There’s nowhere that’s written that by virtue of being his wife, share a bed with him, eat from the same plate, there’s nowhere where it’s written that I should take over.

“We’ve laws, we follow the law, I’m an educated person, I’m called Dr Mugabe. I read and understand the constitution, they want to make me an ignorant person, I don’t usurp other people’s power.”

The First Lady said it was within her rights to interact with the people even if she wasn’t Women’s League boss.

“Some of these things are coming from some within our midst who aren’t progressive. You don’t appreciate good leaders that have been given to you. This man here is a hard working man,” she said.

The First Lady said President Mugabe and his two deputies form a hardworking team that espoused the principle of servant leadership. She said VP Mnangagwa was a disciplined cadre with an impeccable liberation war history.

Cde Mugabe said leaders are chosen at the party’s congress held every five years.

She castigated the media for claiming that she was eyeing the Vice Presidency.

“We don’t want to disturb others from executing their duties because of some creative people who are bent on causing fights among others when there are no fights. There are no fights! The only war is to improve our economy. We’re fighting those who don’t want us,” said Cde Mugabe.

“So you heard, we follow the constitution because everything we do, we follow laid down rules. There’s nowhere it’s written that when you’re secretary for women’s affairs you become Vice President or President, there’s nothing like that, don’t be misled, it’s all lies.

“The job I was given is secretary for women’s affairs, it’s the reason I’m here.”

The First Lady said the constitution is clear on the presidency and when she tours, she’ll be implementing what she would have been sent to do by the three leaders.

She said sitting with the leaders at the top table in Politburo meetings was a privilege.

“I’m still new in Zanu PF. People want to talk baseless things; I’m still new and learning. I want to learn and be taught. I was asking VPs Mnangagwa and Mphoko to teach me as they come a long way and have experience. I want to learn from you, I don’t want my good working relations with good people to be spoiled,” said Cde Mugabe.

She paid tribute to VPs Mnangagwa and Mphoko for attending the rally.

“They saw it fit to come with us giving us support because they recognise the work we’re doing and that it’s important to be close to us, urging us on what we’re doing,” she said.

“There are some mischievous people who go around saying VPs Mnangagwa and Mphoko shouldn’t go where the First Lady goes, I don’t understand that because we’ll be working for our party Zanu PF.”

The First Lady said the President and his two deputies could not be separated as they’re one entity.

She said some people twisted her recent statements that she sits with the two leaders and they take notes insinuating that she was belittling them.

Instead, the First Lady said the two leaders would be taking down issues from the party’s women’s wing that the structure wants to be addressed.

“How could they not take notes when I’m the leader of the women, they come to me raising their wishes and I relay to them and they write down because there are many things that the women want,” said Cde Mugabe.

“Yes I live with President Mugabe but at times I can’t raise everything with him. He has deputies so as leader of the Zanu PF women’s wing, I’ve a right to tell them some of our wishes but people want to take it in another context that fits them. No!”

The First Lady said the Women’s League was important to the party because without its participation the party would disintegrate.

She praised the Midlands Province for shunning factionalism calling on the structure to maintain unity.

Meanwhile, the First Lady exposed a dirty scheme by the People First project fronted by former VP Joice Mujuru of trying to mobilise people at the expense of Cde Mugabe.

As she was calling on the people to remember the legacy and the ideals of the liberation struggle, the First Lady said they should be wary of being used by negative forces.

“I hear this is Rugare Gumbo’s home area. He’s always been a problem since the war, the biggest sell-out. Don’t entertain him.

“He’s going around with a paper written “munhu wese kuna amai” (everyone to mother) without a name. If you see that paper without a name don’t entertain him because that paper belongs to Mujuru.”

The First Lady said in Zanu-PF they are not shy to put pictures on their material.

She called on the people to be resolute in the face of illegal Western sanctions.

She said the people should not be swayed into joining western funded organisations like the MDCs driven by the love of money.

Cde Mugabe called on the people to emulate President Mugabe in resisting western machinations to reverse the gains of the country’s Independence.

She said only the President and herself remained in the Western sanctions list, but she was not pained as she would rather defend her country.

She called on traditional leaders to create awareness among their subjects to protect the environment by desisting from random cutting down of trees without planting others.

The First Lady also appealed to Vice President Mnangagwa to make sure that roads in the area are attended to for farmers to be able to transport their produce.

Cde Mugabe urged farmers to use the tractors secured by President Mugabe from Brazil, reminding them that the equipment was not for free as farmers would have to pay for them later.

She said more tractors were being imported from Belarus that were secured by VP Mnangagwa for the A2 and commercial farmers.

After the rally, the First Lady handed over four tractors to Mataga Irrigation Scheme, rowing discs and planters and 10 knapsacks. She also donated two tractors to Chimwe Irrigation Scheme, rowing discs and planters and 10 knapsacks.

The tractors were accompanied by 10,000 litres of diesel from the First Lady.

She also donated 350 tonnes of maize on top of the 650 that she donated to the province, 130 tonnes of rice, 16 suits, shirts and shoes each to the chiefs in the area and an equal number of bicycles for the chiefs’ aides.

Zanu-PF national political commissar Cde Saviour Kasukuwere chipped in with 40 computers to be distributed to schools in the area.

The First Lady also handed over cooking oil, soap, sugar and salt, which were donated by her eldest son Russel Goreraza.

Cde Canada Malunga also pledged to sink five boreholes in the area while others came in with various donations.