President Robert Mugabe is expected Wednesday to chair a tense Politburo meeting where the fate of Deputy Minister of Labour Tracy Mutinhiri as well as her farm in Marondera would take centre stage, impeccable sources told NewsDay.
Mutinhiri ’s farm was invaded by war veterans and Zanu PF militia on Saturday accusing her of wining and dining with President Mugabe’s archrival in the unstable inclusive government, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
Although the marauding ex-freedom fighters were sweet-talked off the property by Zanu PF provincial officials on Sunday, NewsDay has it on good authority that the Zanu PF district coordinating committee and district war veterans have written to provincial chair Ray Kaukonde airing their disgruntlement.
“Letters have since been written to the provincial chairman where it is alleged that Mutinhiri is dancing with the MDC-T,” an insider said.
“We understand she went to Nyanga where there was a women’s conference and boasted that she would soon cross floors. She even has pictures with Tsvangirai and his mother in her farmhouse.”
But a defiant Mutinhiri, who is now an ordinary card-carrying Zanu PF member, was yesterday adamant she would not vacate the property accusing State Security minister Sydney Sekeramayi of being behind her woes.
Although Mutinhiri denied the accusations saying:
“I know nothing about these allegations. They are trying to build a case. The whole issue is about the constituency. Sekeramayi is trying to build (Zanu PF’s provincial secretary for security (Lawrence) Katsiru, that’s why all these allegations are being made up,” the source said: “We expect the chairman (Kaukonde) to fast track this issue so that it is discussed in Wednesday’s Politburo meeting.”
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Kaukonde yesterday said he is yet to receive formal communication from the structures. The sources, however, maintained there would be serious discussions today to thrash out issues pertaining to Mutinhiri whom they accuse of being a “sell out” for not signing the anti- sanctions petition spearheaded by President Mugabe.
Strenuous efforts to get hold of Sekeramayi proved fruitless as his mobile phone went unanswered the whole of yesterday.
Mutinhiri claimed Sekeramayi wanted Katsiru to take over her constituency (Marondera East) in the next primary elections.
Katsiru could not be reached for comment. She said the farm invasion would not intimidate her or support base.
When the invaders were confronted by the leadership, Mutinhiri said: “At first, they resisted, but they listened when Katsiru, who was assigned by Sekeramayi and is Sekeramayi’s candidate for Marondera East, talked to them.”
She said she would consider legal action if the invaders continued disrupting her farming activities. “No matter what happens, I will stay put because this farm is my entitlement.
“It’s my empowerment, which I will forever thank President Mugabe for giving me,” she said. Zanu PF insiders believe Mutinhiri voted for MDC-T in the Speaker of Parliament elections pitting Zanu PF national chairman Simon Khaya Moyo and MDC-T chairperson Lovemore Moyo.
MDC-T’s Moyo trounced Zanu PF’s candidate to land the speakership post.
