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The First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe greets thousands of zanu-pf supporters on arrival for a rally at Somhlolo Stadium in Lupane, Matabeleland North, yesterday. — (See story on Page 2). — (Picture by Elias Saushoma)

Nduduzo Tshuma Bulawayo Bureau
INFORMATION, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo yesterday lashed out at three newspapers for claiming that the First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe “called for the ouster of Vice President Joice Mujuru” at her rally in Gwanda on Monday.

Prof Moyo, speaking to reporters in Lupane yesterday where the First Lady addressed the seventh rally of her “Meet the People Tour”, said reports in the privately-owned NewsDay and Daily News were the “infertile imagination of their creators”.

“It appears, unless if one is conflicted by concrete evidence, that this was the work of people in Harare, in these newspapers, who were not at Pelandaba Stadium in Gwanda yesterday because Dr Mugabe never said anything of the sort,” said Prof Moyo.

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He said the First Lady was addressing the qualities that a vice president should have, and not an individual.

“This is some infertile imagination of the creators of this story. She was addressing the qualities that a Vice President and second secretary of Zanu-PF should have,” said Prof Moyo.

“And the people writing this story admit that no name was mentioned, and they say just because there’s only one Vice President it means it is referring to her. Zimbabwe has not had only one Vice President. We have had former and late Vice Presidents Joshua Nkomo, Simon Muzenda, John Nkomo, Joseph Msika and we can draw from them the qualities that are necessary now that we are going to be selecting the Vice Presidents (at December congress).” Prof Moyo insisted: “It was more and only about the office, not occupant, past or present, but the office as it relates to aspiring candidates.”

He explained: “She (First Lady) mentioned that for the Vice President and Second  Secretary (of Zanu-PF) drawn from the former Zapu there are now five aspiring candidates. Surely, we need some criteria to guide us.

“Do we choose someone who will just sit there and do nothing and piggyback on the President? Or we choose someone who has the qualities like Dr Nkomo, like Cde Muzenda, like Cde Msika had, which was to assist the President discharge his mandate? This is what she was talking about.”

Prof Moyo said there was a difference “of day and night” between focusing on the office and the requirements of that office, and an individual.

“This is a sign that there’re some among us who would like to kick up some dust, do-up confusion, mischief and so forth,” he said.

“Unfortunately for them, the national broadcaster is rebroadcasting these addresses in full for the people to hear the message without any contamination, and they don’t need any newspaper to tell them what she said.

“They’ll hear for themselves, and for this we must all be grateful for ZBC because apart from just getting the message directly, those who’re trying to distort, misrepresent and so forth are going to be left with egg on their faces because their attempts will be exposed for what they are – mischief and imaginations that at the end of the day are not creative, are not meaningful and will be rejected by the people.”

What the Daily News said:

Grace savages Mujuru again

By Jeffrey Muvundisi in Gwanda
“Some think because if you are vice president you just stay there and do nothing while Mugabe works for you, we want people who are capable, we do not want a liability, hatimude (we don’t want her).”

What Southern Eye said

Grace drops bombshell… Mujuru under fire

By Albert Ncube
“Some think because you are Vice President you just stay there and do nothing while Mugabe works for you,” she said. “We want a Vice President who helps the President, not just one who relies on Mugabe. We no longer want that. We want people who are not capable (sic). You mustn’t think because you have a post you are there forever. You must work for it.”

What NewsDay said:

Grace Mugabe calls for Vice President Mujuru’s ouster

By Albert Ncube
“Some think because you are Vice-President, you just stay there and do nothing while Mugabe works for you,” she said. “We want a Vice-President who helps the President, not just one who piggybacks on Mugabe’s back. We no longer want that. We want people who are capable. You mustn’t think because you have a post you are there forever. You must work for it.”

What the First Lady really said

“Vamwe nokuti ndakataura kuti vanhu vakajaira kuberekwa kumusana kwaPresident, vamwe vanongofunga kuti kungonoita Vice President kunongodzi ndiri Vice President ndakangogara mu office VaMugabe vachingondishandira. Hatichadi izvozvo, we want people who are capable. Hatidi! Hatidi! Hatisikuda munhu anove liability isu. Hatimude! Anongoswera agere bedzi, pfungwa kana. Ndozvandirikuti chingotanga wazviongorora.”