Zimpapers Logo

Farirai Machivenyika/George Maponga Harare Bureau
THE First Lady Cde Grace Mugabe yesterday warned Zanu-PF supporters against rallying behind factional leaders who are in their positions at the discretion of President Mugabe, saying such people could be removed from office at any time.
She was speaking to thousands of people who thronged Mucheke Stadium in Masvingo at a rally held under her ongoing “Meet The People” tour.

She warned party supporters that they risked being exposed if such leaders were removed from their positions at the forthcoming National People’s Congress.

“You should know that you were appointed to that position so don’t abuse it. There’re many cadres who’re deserving of that post so don’t take it for granted,” said Cde Mugabe.

The First Lady said she was aware of some senior party leaders at the forefront of fomenting factionalism using money.

“We’re aware of what senior leaders here are doing,” she said.

“I won’t expose you here in public but be warned, your wayward days are numbered.”

Cde Mugabe said it was disheartening that some of the leaders continued to ignore repeated warnings by President Mugabe to shun factionalism and continued bribing people to get votes.

She said such people would soon be disciplined.

“If President Mugabe summons you and tells you he knows what’s happening, you must know what it means. If you’re warned and don’t listen, you’ll bear the consequences,” Cde Mugabe said.

She challenged senior officials backing certain candidates to assume top positions in the party to do so openly and give people an opportunity to freely elect leaders of their choice.

She said leaders were anointed by God.

“Leadership comes from God. I know that when they say ‘Mai Mugabe we want you to lead us’, there’re some who have their preferred candidates.

There’s nothing wrong with that, that’s freedom of expression, but if you’ve a preferred candidate, why go through the back door? Let them come out in the open like we do with President Mugabe.”

She added: “If you’ve a preferred candidate bring him or her in the open and tell us his or her attributes and if we find them better than the one proposed then we accept them but for you to convince us is a tall order.’’

The First Lady also blasted some senior Zanu-PF officials in Masvingo for trying to confuse the Women’s League members by bribing them to attain political power.

“True, things are said not to be in order here and I don’t think it’s a good thing,” she said.

“I think some of you were called and reprimanded but nothing has changed.

“We talked about reconciliation, that’s why I find this continued factionalism disturbing.

“We respect you people of Masvingo, even the President calls Cde Hungwe uncle because his mother’s totem is Gumbo. Most people from Masvingo’s totem is Gumbo that’s why they respect me, so what’s wrong with that?

“You confuse women who will end up not knowing what to say or do because you’d have bribed them. In Zanu-PF, if you’re not careful, women will take over because 52 percent of the population in Zimbabwe are women.’’

Cde Mugabe said time was now up for the senior officials who sought positions using money.

“Time is up for those who are using money to bribe women!”

The First Lady challenged Zanu-PF leaders not to waste time campaigning for top positions but to instead concentrate on delivering promises made to the electorate during last year’s emphatic victory in the harmonised elections.

She said Zanu-PF leaders should be at the forefront of engendering socio-economic development in Zimbabwe through Zim-Asset.

The First Lady warned party youths against engaging in violence, saying the vice had no place in Zanu-PF.

She urged Zimbabweans to ignore calls by the MDC-T to embark on mass protests, saying the opposition was a creation of Western nations vainly trying to reverse the land reform programme.

Cde Mugabe castigated senior officials who acquired several farms using their positions during the land reform, but were underutilising them.
She said those with multiple farms should cede them as they risked being exposed in a looming land audit.

The First Lady also lamented the proliferation of child rape cases in Zimbabwe and attacked some traditional healers for misleading people infected with HIV that they could get cured by sleeping with young girls.

Amai Mugabe donated 30 tonnes of seed to Zanu-PF Masvingo province that will be distributed by national Women’s League secretary for security Cde Shuvai Mahofa.

The First Lady also donated 10 tonnes of mealie-meal for distribution to vulnerable people such as orphans, the elderly and the disabled.

The First Lady’s Masvingo rally was attended by top government and Zanu-PF officials among them Justice Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo, Environment, Water and Climate Minister Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, Energy and Power Development Minister Dzikamai Mavhaire, Zimbabwe Chiefs Council president Chief Fortune Charumbira and Senate President Edna Madzongwe.