FIRST LADY Grace Mugabe reportedly lashed out at Home Affairs deputy minister Ziyambi Ziyambi at a recent Zanu PF briefing in Kadoma as factionalism rocking the ruling party refuses to die down.
BY XOLISANI NCUBE
Ziyambi, who is related to President Robert Mugabe, had allegedly tried to block Grace’s trip to Kadoma where she launched a housing project.
The minister allegedly claimed there were attempts to use her to cleanse names of some party officials linked to the “Gamatox” faction.
During a briefing, Grace allegedly told Ziyambi that although she knew they were related, it was her first time to meet him in person.
A source privy to the events said Ziyambi had only learnt of Grace’s Kadoma trip through an invitation as organisers had skipped him in the planning phase.
“Ziyambi did not know about the trip and only learnt through an invitation and that is when he questioned the whole issue,” the source said.
“In the meeting held before the launch, Grace gave him a tongue-lashing for trying to stop the trip.”
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However, Ziyambi denied ever being rebuked by the First Lady, saying it was news to him.
“I don’t know what you are talking about. I am hearing it for the first time from you,” he said.
But the source was adamant that Ziyambi was given a “strong rebuke” and his chances of landing the Mashonaland West provincial chairman post were now slim.
He has been the acting Zanu PF chairman in Mashonaland West, which is Mugabe’s rural home, after the party purged suspected former Vice-President Joice Mujuru’s alleged loyalists.
But the party will have to go through provincial elections to determine a substantive chair.
“Unless he rebuilds the trust of the First Lady, his chances of getting the provincial chairman post are slim,” the source said.
Kadoma businessman-cum-politician Jimayi Muduvuri is said to have been the key benefactor of the housing scheme launched by Grace.
This is despite the fact that the same project has been linked to Mujuru.
According to sources, Muduvuri is a close ally of the former Mashonaland West provincial chair Temba Mliswa and former politburo member Dzikamai Mavhaire.
Muduvuri said officials linking him to the expelled party officials were just jealous of his relationship with the First Lady.
“I did my project well and invited key people to officiate. I know that not all people are happy, but that is politics,” he said.
“I will not be deterred from doing good things just because people are painting me red when I am black.
“It pains them that the two Vice-Presidents came and the First Lady was there too.
“So, naturally, some people would want to talk history when we are far beyond their reach.”
Grace led the charge against Mujuru last year and one of her targets was former Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs minister Ray Kaukonde.
The First Lady admitted Kaukonde was close to her family, but went on to push him out of Zanu PF.
