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Job Sikhala

Herald Reporters
REPRESENTATIVES of the faction led by Vice President Dr Joice Mujuru and MDC-T member Mr Job Sikhala met in Harare last week to discuss modalities of joining forces ahead of election 2018, further confirming widespread reports that the VP and her cabal were the “moderates’’ that Mr Morgan Tsvangirai said he had been working with pursuant to his abortive “new Zimbabwe”.

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A meeting was held in Harare last Friday between some members of the Mujuru camp that has been working to unconstitutionally unseat President Mugabe, and Mr Sikhala to discuss preparations of a likely merger between MDC-T and the Mujuru faction.

The parties proposed making VP Mujuru president and Mr Tsvangirai the deputy or alternatively prime minister just like the arrangement in Russia between President Vladimir Putin and premier Dmitry Medvedev.

The parties also said Simba Makoni should be part of the arrangement as he was close to both VP Mujuru and Mr Tsvangirai.

The First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe recently revealed that the launch of both Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn and the MDC was mooted in VP Mujuru’s house.

At the meeting, Mr Sikhala revealed that he planned to launch a frivolous Constitutional application quoting the First Lady’s statements calling for the resignation of VP Mujuru as evidence that President Mugabe was no longer running the country as decisions were being made by his wife.

“Job (Sikhala) said he knew his application will not go anywhere, but was just a ploy to draw public and media attention and also shape the politics of the country,’’ said a source close to developments.

Mr Sikhala said he wanted the prevailing political situation in Zanu-PF to remain as the party’s congress drew nearer.

“Sikhala said he wants VP Mujuru to be first and Tsvangirai second or else Mujuru can be president and Tsvangirai PM just like the Russian scenario of Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev,” said the source.

“Sikhala said Cde Mnangagwa has taken over, but it will be difficult for him to gain support in Manicaland, Dotito and Matabeleland. Sikhala said he will check on all early 80s Herald papers that quoted Cde Mnangagwa wanting to ensure people in Matabeleland are killed (fumigated). He said he will use the information against Cde Mnangagwa so that he does not ascend to be president,” said the source.

The source said Mr Sikhala discussed the role of Zanu-PF political commissar Cde Webster Shamu whom he said impregnated a 15-year-old girl, one Tapiwa Sithole, currently studying at a university in the UK saying the case could see him arrested.

“Job also consulted on what was likely to happen within the security services,” said the source. “Discussions evolved around who would take over the President’s Department. He revealed that an army officer will take over, though name not known.

“He also enquired on which camps were General officers like Air Marshall Perrance Shiri, Commissioner-General Paradzai Zimondi, Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri and Lieutenant General Phillip Valerio Sibanda.”

The revelations came as Mr Tsvangirai yesterday threw his weight behind VP Mujuru and accused the First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe of seeking to assume leadership of the country in her place.

Mr Tsvangirai spoke as the full opposition arsenal comprising quasi-political NGOs, private newspapers and websites have gone into overdrive defending VP Mujuru while castigating Amai Mugabe for exposing the shady dealings that have made Dr Mujuru’s continued vice presidency quite untenable.

Mr Tsvangirai said the First Lady would never succeed in whatever she was doing, the same language being used by VP Mujuru’s allies who are seeking to oust President Mugabe using all means, including forming alliances with opposition parties.

Analysts have questioned why Mr Tsvangirai was optimistic that the First Lady would fail in wiping out corrupt elements in Zanu-PF if he was not in alliance with those accused of corrupt tendencies like VP Mujuru. In any case, the analysts said, Zanu-PF’s internal fights had nothing to do with Mr Tsvangirai and Amai Mugabe never said she wanted to take over leadership of the country and Zanu-PF.

VP Mujuru has been leading a faction accused of planning to depose President Mugabe and recently a plot to assassinate the Head of State by her allies was exposed leading to the suspension of Zanu-PF national spokesperson Rugare Gumbo.

Amai Mugabe has been vocal in denouncing the nefarious plans by VP Mujuru’s camp, exposing a number of corrupt activities allegedly undertaken by the VP.

VP Mujuru has roundly been condemned in Zanu-PF, but has won surprising sympathy from opposition parties, NGOs and the private media, where she is believed to own 10 percent of shares.

Mr Tsvangirai yesterday jumped to VP’s Mujuru’s corner, and attacked the First Lady through baseless accusations.

“What is happening in Zanu-PF is that there is serious abuse of the people,” he said. “What is happening is not different from what happened during Mao Tse Tung’s days.

“When the big man’s inevitable exit is unavoidable, what happens is that nonentities, opportunists take advantage because there is a political vacuum.

“Mao’s wife tried take over the leadership of the Communist Party because Mao was dying and unfortunately the gang of war did not succeed. The same applied to Malawi when (Kamuzu) Banda and Mama (Cecelia) Kadzamira tried to take over the leadership. Aren’t we seeing history repeating itself in Zimbabwe?”

He added: “How can a fight between two women affect you having a meal on the table? How does that help you in any way? Give us a break, get away from the circus.”

Amai Mugabe has just been nominated to take over as the Zanu-PF Women’s League boss at the party’s National People’s Congress next month.

Mr Tsvangirai also set himself on a collision course with Sadc Heads of State and Government after he accused them of subverting “democratic processes” in Zimbabwe for the past 14 years.

Mr Tsvangirai attacked Sadc for failing to support his party since 2000 and discredited the 2002 polls in which President Mugabe won by 56,2 percent.

He based his arguments on a report recently released by two South African judges, Dikgang Moseneke and Sisi Khampepe.

The 2002 polls were declared free, fair and credible by observers from Sadc, the African Union and many other international organisations.