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Minister Khaya Moyo

Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
Zanu-PF is unmoved by reports that Zimbabwe People First leader Dr Joice Mujuru was mulling a coalition with MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai for the 2018 harmonised elections.

In an interview last night, the revolutionary party’s Secretary for Information and Publicity, Cde Simon Khaya Moyo, said coalitions are weaved by weak political parties but Zanu-PF was so formidable that it did not require them.

“We are a people’s party. We do not need any coalition. It is those that are desperate who have no following that need coalitions. We are not concerned at all. To us that is immaterial. They might have as many coalitions as they want, we remain unmoved because we are a revolutionary party,” said Cde Khaya Moyo.

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“We have a huge following as evidenced by our resounding election victory in the 2013 general elections. We will not lose sleep over their coalition. Why do you need a coalition? Why don’t you stand on your own?” asked Cde Khaya Moyo.

Asked what message he had on suggestions that some party cadres from Zanu-PF were considering jumping ship to join ZimPF, Cde Khaya Moyo said it was up to them.

“I am not a n’anga or a soothsayer that would know what would happen tomorrow. People are free to do what they want. We are a party of rules and procedures. We have clear programmes that are for the benefit of our people,” he said.

Analysts have noted that revelations of a coalition between Dr Mujuru and Mr Tsvangirai confirmed that the deposed former Vice President had been working against President Mugabe since her time in Government as the second person in command.

Over the weekend, a senior member of Mujuru’s Zimbabwe People First party told the media that despite public denials, Dr Mujuru was poised for a power-sharing deal with Mr Tsvangirai, culminating in a ploy that has been in the works since 2007 and which was initiated by Dr Mujuru’s late husband, Retired General Solomon Mujuru.

Rtd Gen Mujuru had already begun working with Mr Tsvangirai ahead of the March 2008 general elections.

According to the whistleblower website WikiLeaks, Gen Mujuru believed that President Mugabe would lose the elections and he had pledged to support Mr Tsvangirai.

In the same cable, Mr Tsvangirai told then US Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr James McGee that he had spoken to Gen Mujuru who had since realised that support for Simba Makoni, who had — at the instigation of the Mujurus — launched his Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn party, was thin and it was better to support him (Tsvangirai) as an alternative to President Mugabe.

The Mujuru cabal then went around Zimbabwe telling Zanu-PF supporters to vote for a Zanu-PF councillor, National Assembly member and Senator and then Tsvangirai for President, culminating in the split of the Zanu-PF vote in favour of Tsvangirai who led President Mugabe in the first round of the presidential contest before losing the run-off.

In an interesting development this week, former United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe Charles Ray — who succeeded Mr McGee — told an online news site that Dr Mujuru “… is pragmatic enough to work with the MDC and has the intelligence and ability to find ways to work effectively with the international community”.

Mr Ray tipped Dr Mujuru for leadership saying he did “believe she sincerely had the best interests of the country at heart”, leading observers to conclude that the US was the power behind ZPF.

Analysts queried why the Americans were keen to commend Dr Mujuru to the Zimbabwean voter, saying Mr Ray’s utterances proved that Dr Mujuru had all along been a Western Trojan horse.

Dr Mujuru, just like several characters causing a ruckus in Zanu-PF today, was exposed by WikiLeaks after nocturnal meetings with the American envoy while President Mugabe was out of the country where she sought the backing of the US government.

Dr Mujuru met Mr Ray secretly at one of her properties on December 16, 2009 in a meeting that was arranged by Mr David Butau.

In the meeting, whose cables were released by WikiLeaks, Dr Mujuru told the US ambassador that the “Zanu-PF old guard” was giving way to young blood that included her.

Dr Mujuru, according to the cable said: “Let’s work together.”