Zimbabwe: First Lady Takes on Vice President

VICE-PRESIDENT Joice Mujuru's struggle nom-de-guerre was Teurai Ropa (Spill Blood) and she will need to draw on her (until recently) celebrated liberation war courage to salvage a political career now on the brink after she was brutally savaged by Grace Mugabe on Thursday.

Addressing supporters at a Bindura stadium in Mashonaland central - Mujuru's political base, President Robert Mugabe's wife told the VP: "Those positions which you hold were given to you and you can be removed. It is possible."

The First Lady added: "You say when Mugabe is gone you will take over his estate, come and take it today. What is stopping you from doing so since you use this road when you go to your home and the gates are open?"

More significantly, Grace accused Mujuru of corruption including illicit diamond dealing and extorting shareholdings in private companies.

"The person leading (Zanu PF) factions is the same person who accuses me of being involved in diamond deals, yet it is them that own a diamond mine," said First Lady.

"That person also moves around saying I want to acquire money using unscrupulous means when it is known that I started my businesses from scratch.

"It is that same person who goes around demanding 10 percent shareholding in companies. If you go to any company now, the name of that person is mentioned.

"You lead factions, you extort companies and you are involved in illicit diamond deals, so you cannot say you are not corrupt."

You shall be exposed

The First Lady also took particular exception to attacks on her person which have been encouraged, she believes, by Mujuru and her supporters.

Said the First Lady: "You have bought newspapers to write bad things about me. You think our silence is being foolish, the day of reckoning is coming. You shall be exposed.

"(You're) are going around the country saying Mai Mugabe is bad; she is hated by the President's relatives, but tell me what about you? So your husband's relatives love you?

"They say those who live in glass houses should not throw stones, soon we will expose your deeds. You tell people that Mugabe and his wife are looting diamonds, but don't you have a diamond mine?

"You are busy extorting people and getting 10% in every company, we know that. You are corrupt."

At another stop Monday in Gwanda on her country-wide meet-the-people tour, Grace also complained about a do-nothing vice president ill-suited for the job who was content to sit in their office, enjoying the perks while her husband did all the grafting.

Information Minister Jonathan Moyo later said the First Lady was not referring specifically to Mujuru but speaking in general terms about the qualities of a vice-president.

But Thursday's tirade was unequivocal in its targeting.

"Mukadzi mukuru kupedza nguva kuita makuhwa, kutaura zvakaipa pamusoro paFirst Lady, instead yekushanda, uri busy kufunga zvakaipa. Unofanira kunyaraso (A very senior leader wasting time spreading malicious gossip about the First Lady instead of working to address the country's problems. You should be ashamed of yourself!" Grace Mugabe told her ecstatic supporters.

View the original article here